::: COMMUNITY NEWS

Director Bill White, left, received thanks and congratulations for his contributions to the CSD board from President Wayne Kuntz after announcing his resignation Wednesday.

Director Bill White resigns from CSD board

Published Thursday, February 22, 2007

Director Bill White announced his resignation from the Community Services District board at the end of the monthly CSD board meeting Wednesday.

"I've talked with both Director Kuntz and our general manager, Ed Crouse, and I've made the decision to resign my position … The effective date will be the last day of February," White said quietly. He added that the reason for his resignation was "of a personal nature" and did not elaborate.

He then thanked staff and his fellow board members.

"We hate to see you leave," said President Wayne Kuntz. "Good luck and God bless."

"Thank you. I'll still be around," a smiling White responded.

White was the top vote-getter when he was elected to his first four-year term on the CSD board in 2000 and when he was reelected in 2004. About 20 months remain in his term.

After saying White will be difficult to replace, Crouse outlined the board's options for dealing with the vacancy on the five-member board. "You can do nothing and the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors can step in and tell you to do something. That something could either be appoint somebody or put it on the next general election ballot, or hold a special election," Crouse told the board. He estimated the cost of a special election at about $35,000.

Instead of holding a special election, the board has typically opted to appoint a new director to fill a midterm vacancy, Crouse said. The process takes place in a public forum where the board interviews candidates, deliberates, and then votes on the appointment in open session, he explained.

Kuntz described the selection process as "a brand new ball game," with no carryover from the November election.

By law, the district has 60 days after the effective date of a director's resignation to initiate the process for filling a vacancy, but the seat does not have to be filled within that timeframe, the board was told.