Water board selects Lee Renger for vacancy

Lee Renger Lee Renger was appointed to the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD) board of directors Tuesday, filling the vacancy left by Vernon Padgett’s abrupt resignation last month. The term expires in January 2007.

Renger was one of four candidates who expressed interest in serving the remainder of the Padgett term. Other applicants included Michael Harrison, Jack Solomon and John Mueller.

The Division 3 director represents Calabasas and nearby unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, including Stokes Canyon where Renger has lived for 37 years.

At Tuesday’s board meeting, only Renger and Harrison appeared before the panel to pitch their qualifications.

Renger, a retired electronic engineer, said he had planned to run for a water board seat during the next regularly scheduled election, but when Padgett resigned he jumped at the opportunity to apply for the position rather than campaign in an election.

Hal Helsley, a former LVMWD director for 20 years, spoke on Renger’s behalf. He noted that Renger’s critical thinking skills and scientific background would be beneficial to the board.

Renger’s scientific background apparently trumped Harrison’s broad public experience as an environmental champion. Harrison, an attorney, served on the Calabasas City Council and was a former mayor. He established a local education committee and education fund and worked on numerous environmental committees for the city.

Although Renger has no public service experience, the board voted 3-1 for his appointment, citing the need for a director with an engineering background.

Director Joseph Bowman noted that while he admired Harrison’s commitment to the environment, he believed that the district was already staffed with people well-versed in environmental issues. He said that an engineer would “add another dimension” to the composition of the board. “We need a little more help on that side of the fence,” Bowman said.

Director Ann Dorgelo said that she had a long telephone conversation with Renger, who impressed her with his knowledge of how the water district operates.

Board President Charles Caspary cast the lone vote for Harrison.

Renger called himself “environmentally-minded” and said he has attended many water board tours with his wife, Kathie, a biologist/ botanist.

Renger’s experience in engineering is broad. He previously worked in medical engineering on cardiac pacemakers and drug pumps. He also taught an engineering course at Cal State Poly in San Luis Obispo.

Had the board of directors failed to fill the vacancy by Nov. 11, Los Angeles County officials would have filled the seat either by appointment or special election.