Candidate follows family legacy at water district

Jeff Smith Jeff Smith of Agoura Hills is following in the footsteps of his late in-laws, Ann and Ben Dorgelo, who together served a total of more than three decades as directors of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. Smith will fill Jim Friedl's seaon the water board. Friedl was ap- pointed to the board when Ann Dorgelo died shortly after an- nouncing her retirement.

Friedl chose not to run for re- election because of his new re- sponsibilities as general manager of the Conejo Recreation and Park District. Since Smith was the only candidate to file for the board seain District 5, which covers a smalsection of Agoura Hills, he wilbe ushered in by appointment.

An Agoura Hills resident for 10 years, Smith said he wants to serve on the board to "maintain (Ann Dorgelo's) legacy and fol- low her example."

Smith, 53, said he believes his 18 years of experience in engi- neering, technology and manage- ment is a great match with the re- sponsibilities required by the director's position.

"The bottom line is the water district is an engineering com- pany," Smith said. "It matches my interest in that way."

Smith is married to Kathrin Dorgelo, Ben and Ann's oldest daughter. The couple purchased Kathrin's childhood home after the Dorgelos chose to spend part of their retirement on the road in their recreational vehicle.

A former "rocket engineer," Smith is now a contractor who runs his own business, the Pull- out Shelf Co., in Agoura Hills. Between his technical experience as an engineer and customer ser- vice experience as a small busi- ness owner, Smith says he has the necessary tools to serve as an ef- fective director.

"I am thrilled that Jeff will be serving on the water board and can't help but think that my mom is smiling about it herself," Kathrin Smith said.

Smith's parents both served on the board. Her father, Ben Dorgelo, served on the board dur- ing the '80s and '90s. When he died, his wife Ann stepped in, holding the position until last year.