October 11, 2018 Page 3
Election 2018
Two El Segundo Residents Vie for West Basin Division IV Board
Born in Hawthorne and
raised in the South Bay, Joe
Lococo “played, worked
and raised a family” in
the area and is a long-time
El Segundo resident. He
retired after a 32-year career
in the airline industry,
working most recently as
a supervisor for one of the
major carriers. Lococo’s
community involvement
includes 23 years of
volunteer work with the
Westchester/Playa del Rey
girls’ softball program as
a president, board member
and coach.
Herald: What led you into pursuing a
director seat for West Basin? Why do you
want to run?
JL: As a resident of El Segundo, I have
had the opportunity to tour West Basin’s
recycling plant. I am impressed with their
commitment to developing local water supplies.
What really motivated me to run was
when I saw the March 15, 2018 Daily Breeze
article by Megan Barnes regarding the decisions
the Board made to hire the current
general manager. He is being paid more than
most city managers, superintendents and
police chiefs. I feel the West Basin Board
lacks leadership. There are opportunities for
better management staffing, reduced costs
and increased water recycling.
Herald: Why should voters elect you and
what do you bring to the table that is unique?
JL: I am not a politician, or water expert
-- however, a regular Joe.... If you read about
what this board is doing in terms of hiring
practices, use of public funds and past history,
I strongly believe I can help right this ship.
I believe in keeping water rate increases low
and having transparency and accountability.
Herald: What decision/policy of the current
board to you most agree with/disagree with?
JL: Ocean desalination is important to
be studied, but I would need to make that
decision when the organization finalizes the
environmental impacts. I disagree with the
hiring practices and cronyism. I think the
agency has shown tremendous potential, but
can do more.
Herald: What are the two most important
water issues the District faces and how would
you address those?
JL: Maximizing water recycling and determining
if ocean desalination is the right
future for West Basin Municipal Water District.
Herald: What other priority item would
you bring to the Board should you be elected
-- and why?
JL: I would ask to look into the practices
of the Board in regards to requesting RFPs
(Request For Proposal) for contracts, outreach,
travel and other expenditures. We have
a responsibility to the public to be fiscally
responsible and I am
convinced there is a
lot of waste.
Herald: What is
your stance on a
desalination plant in
El Segundo (or elsewhere)?
JL: This is a very
important issue and
highly debatable. I feel
as a coastal agency, it
is important to tabulate
this as a future supply.
I do believe that there
could be environmental
impacts to the marine
environment, as well
as, high energy use. If these issues can be
addressed, then it could be a viable source.
We need the staff to conclude an analysis
before a decision can be made. I believe it
should be a science-based approach. I will
not vote to move forward with the proposed
facilities if the host city opposes. This is a
local matter, and I would not overrule a twothirds
majority vote. I stand for and respect
local control.
Herald: What is your position on dealing
with rising water rates?
JL: Water rate increases are inevitable as is
anything. It is the Board’s job to make sure
they rise appropriately and based on proper
investment into the water systems. I am very
against government waste and would ensure
that doesn’t happen should I get elected.
Herald: What is your position on dealing
with water scarcity?
JL: I agree with the approach West Basin
has taken. They have been a leader in conservation
and water recycling for over two
decades. They are literally creating new water
supplies. I would like that to be maximized!
Herald: What are your thoughts on impacts
specifically to El Segundo residents/
businesses?
JL: El Segundo is fortunate to host the
water recycling plant, as well as being right
next to the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant
in Los Angeles. While we should be proud
of hosting, we also have to ensure that our
residents are not impacted significantly or
carry the burden of construction or operation.
Herald: What water programs are most
important and why?
JL: Conservation of water supplies and
water recycling. We are fortunate that West
Basin does both. I would push the staff to
see how we can recycle more!
Herald: Is there anything else you can
think of that we didn’t ask that you feel is
important?
JL: Yes... How would I respond to anyone
who might think that I do not have experience?
I would say that’s not true. I possess
integrity, ethics and morals that will far raise
the bar of experience. •
Candidate and Current
Division IV Director Scott Houston
Born in Arizona,
Scott Houston lived in
several states across
the country growing
up with a father in the
construction industry. A
Chevron project brought
the family to California
in 1993 and he graduated
from Torrance’s West
High School. Houston
holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Business
Administration from
Michigan Technological
University. He is an 18-
year El Segundo resident.
Houston’s professional
experience includes public relations for technology
companies as well as management in
the manufacturing and printing industries.
In addition to his service on the West Basin
Board, he currently works in communications
consulting.
Local community involvement included four
years on the Capital Improvement Advisory
Committee (CIPAC), a host/reporting role
on El Segundo TV covering business and
feature stores, and a 7-year stint on the Tree
Musketeers board. Houston also volunteered
for the Run for Education and The Friends
of the El Segundo Public Library.
Herald: What led you into pursuing a
director seat for West Basin? Why do you
want to run?
SH: Serving on CIPAC introduced me
to the infrastructure needs of a city -- the
“non-glamorous” but vital services we rely
on daily including streets, sewers, trees, parks
and public facilities. This sparked my interest
in water, particularly since West Basin’s
recycling plant is located in our community.
I also had a strong interest in local government
and public service having previously
run for El Segundo City Council. When a
Board seat opened after our former director’s
retirement, I jumped at the chance to run four
years ago and am honored to represent West
Basin’s Division 4 that includes my adopted
hometown of El Segundo.
Herald: What were your chief accomplishments
during your term? Why should you
be re-elected?
SH: I advocated for conservation and
water use efficiency during the drought. I
authorized expansion of our facility with a
goal to nearly double production from 40 to
70 million gallons of recycled water daily. I
distributed 1,500 free rain barrels to residents
working with non-profits including the El
Segundo Woman’s Club. I’ve built working
relationships with elected officials, business
and environmental groups, homeowners,
and other stakeholders to make informed
decisions. I’m a proactive and energetic
representative committed to results – with a
track record of good fiscal management and
staff accountability to ensure safe, reliable
and affordable water.
Herald: What decision/policy of the current
board to you most agree with/disagree with?
SH: The issues facing the Board are complex
and varied. I’m proud of several things including
our robust capital improvement program,
our conservation rebates and classes, and our
improved community outreach efforts. But
I do not want to say one is more important
than another or this was more disappointing
than that because each of the issues our board
addresses, and we deal
with many, is important
and has real life impacts
on our community. So
for me to clarify any one
issue as more important
or more disappointing
would be a disservice to
any of the other issues
we address.
Herald: What are the
two most important water
issues the District faces
and how would you address
those?
SH: The volatility of
imported water supplies
and increasing costs.
These are supplies we rely on from aqueducts
providing water from the Colorado River and
Northern California. Both sources are greatly
stressed due to climate change and susceptible
to major earthquakes that could interrupt our
supply of fresh water into Southern California.
Besides the erratic nature of these two sources,
costs of imported water continue to escalate
while we can no longer count on consistent
year-over-year water deliveries to meet our
needs. I continue to prioritize reducing West
Basin’s dependence on imported water through
robust conservation efforts, rebates and education
programs, and increasing recycled water
production and infrastructure.
Herald: What other priority item would
you bring to the Board should you be elected
to a second term -- and why?
SH: Over my first term, I have successfully
increased our community outreach efforts,
including the use of social media to provide
information to the public as well as championing
a new website that is user-friendly
and provides our agendas and minutes in a
timely manner. I will continue to push for
more transparency at the Board. I am currently
advocating to televise our meetings so the
public can witness first-hand the important
items that come before us and our decisionmaking
process as your public servants.
Herald: What is your stance on a desalination
plant in El Segundo (or elsewhere)?
SH: As a Board member, I must remain
neutral on the proposed desalination project
West Basin is studying because the draft
Environmental Impact Report will come
before the Board for a vote on its certification
at a future date. My role is to ensure
the District has a safe and reliable supply of
water, and to make an informed decision on
this potential project.
The Board has only authorized preparation
of an EIR. No decision has been made
to build a desalination facility. A number of
future determinations must be made before
this project can move forward. As a Board
member, it’s imperative for me to understand
how a desalination plant will impact the environment
of our Santa Monica Bay and its
costs to ratepayers while also weighing future
water supply security for the South Bay. I look
forward to reviewing the details of the EIR
and public comments in the months ahead.
Herald: What is your position on dealing
with rising water rates?
SH: Affordable water is paramount to me
as a Board member representing Division 4.
While we are asking you to use less, our costs
continue to rise that pay for infrastructure and
staff so water flows uninterrupted to your tap.
By Brian Simon
Though not part of a local municipal election,
the race for the West Basin Municipal Water
District’s Division IV director position carries
a great deal of interest in town. Not only does
the agency have its water recycling facility in
El Segundo, but the two candidates vying for
the spot on the board are also residents here.
That said, Division IV encompasses a wide
geographical area that also includes Culver
City, West Hollywood and Malibu as well as
the unincorporated communities of Topanga,
Marina del Rey, North Ladera Heights, Windsor,
Lennox, Del Aire and Wiseburn.
Incumbent Scott Houston hopes to garner a
second term on Nov. 6, while challenger Joe
Lococo looks to unseat his opponent. Both
candidates spoke about their backgrounds, their
views on key water issue and their priorities
as they move towards Election Day. •
Candidate
Joe Lococo
See Scott Houston, page 6
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