ELECTION CANDIDATE - NOVEMBER
2008
- GARY
J. LYSIK
- Chief
Financial Officer
-
- Castaic
Lake Water Agency
- BOARD
MEMBER AT LARGE
What's the deal with the
banner-toting-EXPERIENCE-claims that have recently
become common in political races? This whole idea
of "I should be in office because I've got the most
experience" is so ironic. Don't get me wrong. There
is something to be said for know how. I've spent
25 years perfecting my craft and have a
TRACK RECORD of accomplishments to show for it.
Still, I'm concerned that
often longevity is
mistaken for effectiveness.
Many candidates falsely cling to the message
of 'experience'. They do so hoping to get voters to
buy in to the often phony notion that spending 8-10
years in the same position develops the skill set
necessary to be effective.
The thing I love most about the people in our
valley is that we refuse to be manipulated or
fooled. We all can think of someone who has been
working for many, many years at the same task
without making a valuable contribution. What we've
come to KNOW is that
longevity does not
automatically mean that best practices are being
used.
I am the best choice to
fill the BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE seat with
the Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA). Given the
agency's financial struggles and increasing
concerns about supply and demand, the agency has
a profound need for expert financial
leadership. NOT ONE of the 11 board members
currently seated have expertise in Municipal /
Government finance since the majority have come
from 'water' backgrounds. Consequently
opportunities for strategic financial positioning
and advancement in order to keep rates from soaring
are lost. Because of this significant handicap,
the CLWA is bleeding
money. The pain is evidenced in an
anemic bottom line and a desperate scramble to
raise rates and find additional sources of
affordable, clean water. Needless to say, the
frenzy creates pockets of fiscal vulnerability that
are passed on to us consumers who feel the
financial burden of being forced to pay higher
rates.
Over the past several years, the CLWA has been
subjected to several law
suits, unfavorable court rulings, and
questions regarding financial standing. CLWA has
been plagued with charges
of fiscal mismanagement and missed funding
opportunities while the financial cost
to Santa Claritans has surpassed the cost of
living. In fact, we have seen
double digit percentage
increases in water rates with more
promised on the horizon.
Castaic Lake Water Agency does not need another
seasoned WATER EXPERT seated on the board. They
already have 10. In that regard their cup runneth
over. Castaic Lake Water
Agency needs a board capable of exercising solid
fiscal judgment …the kind that
comes from specialty training.
As Chief Financial
Officer for the City of Calabasas and
most recently named TOP
CFO by the San Fernando Valley Business
Journal, I have the skill set and the expertise
needed to make the board complete.
If you're tired of picking up the
tab…paying for high gas / fuel prices; paying
for mismanagement; paying for settlements and law
suits; paying for bad home loans; paying for an
incomplete team, November
4th is your time to make a CHANGE.
Vote
GARY J. LYSIK
FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY for a CHANGE
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