Padgett resigns as LVMWD president

In a move that caught the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District by surprise on Monday, Vernon Padgett resigned as president of the LVMWD Board of Directors.

The 72-year-old Calabasas resident was elected to the board in 1998 and became president last year.

Padgett will remain on the board and a new president will be elected at the director’s meeting next Tues., Jan. 22.

LVMWD presidents serve on a rotating basis for two years.

The board discussed at its previous meeting the possibility of changing presidents after just one year—similar to the local city councils—but took no action.

Ann Dorgelo, a 19-year board veteran, is the LVMWD vice president.

In a one-sentence letter submitted to the water district and the board, Padgett gave no reason for his resignation, but said later in an interview that he will focus his attention on the election this fall in which he plans to seek a second term.

"I want to devote more of my time to the coming election campaign in which I hope to make substantial change in the constitution of the board," said Padgett.

A group known as Citizens for Lower Water Rates supported Padgett in the ’98 election. Boardmembers Glen Longarini and Charles Caspary gained the citizens’ backing in 2000. In addition to wanting lower water rates for the district’s 65,000 customers, Padgett proposed elimination of the annual LVMWD parcel tax levied against landowners. He also complained that the Rancho Las Virgenes Composting Facility in Calabasas had been operating inefficiently.

His actions often ran afoul of the board’s conservative element.

Padgett pushed for the lower water rates in his campaign three years ago, but it wasn’t until last year that the board approved a 10 percent reduction.

"I must say I was frustrated," Padgett said, but he added, "I got some things accomplished."

Boardmember Glen Longarini said Padgett probably functions better in a background role, not as president.

"Vern probably is not as much a parliamentarian as some folks might be, but he has a lot of knowledge about the district and he’s been there for a while," said Longarini, who gave Padgett credit for his work on behalf of the consumer.

"As a board president you have to speak for the entire board," Longarini added.

"As boardmember he can say whatever he wants. It might unleash him a bit," he said.

The LVMWD Board of Directors meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at district headquarters, 4232 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas.