On March 17, 2015, Saddle Creek CSD General Manager Peter Kampa was appointed by unanimous vote to the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) Board of Directors.  CSDA, with headquarters in Sacramento, is a statewide association that provides education, training, informational resources, networking opportunities and special programs that specifically benefit special districts.   It is truly an honor for me to once again serve on this 18 member board.  I was on the CSDA Board from 1998 through 2013, serving in various leadership roles on the Board before being selected as incoming President in 2013.  When a CSDA Board seat once again came available in early 2015, the Saddle Creek CSD Board of directors supported my nomination which I gladly accepted.  Serving on the CSDA Board provides me a front-row seat and strong voice in not only the policy and actions of the state association in support of special districts like Saddle Creek, but also inside information and influence on the decisions made at the state capitol.  The state legislature’s actions rarely seem to make life easier as a local government agency; trying to provide low cost, high quality local services.  In fact without the efforts of associations such as CSDA, the state lawmakers would be acting unchecked and uninformed in their decisions affecting the Saddle Creek CSD services, and we would not be able to provide the excellent community services we provide today.  I commit to the Saddle Creek community and CSD Board of Directors to faithfully fulfill my duties on the CSDA Board to protect and support rural special districts and high quality local services.