Szabadi seeks another term on IWD board

Editor’s Note: The 2024 Presidential Election will be Tuesday, November 5. The Idyllwild Water District has three Board of Directors seats to fill. While there are four candidates on the official ballot, one, Steve Kunkle, has already withdrawn from the race and announced that he will not accept a Board seat even if he is one the three candidates with the most votes.

The three candidates seeking election are incumbent Board President Dr. Charles Schelly, incumbent Board Vice President Peter Szabadi and challenger Jessica Priefer. All three have consented to an interview with the Town Crier. Since he no longer is seeking a seat on the IWD Board, there is no interview with Kunkle.

Peter Szabadi, 82, was born in Hungary. He came to the United States and New York City at age 14. He graduated from City College and earned his law degree from New York University. He moved to San Francisco in the 1970s and then to Los Angeles in the 80s. He began visiting Idyllwild in the middle of the 90s. After marriage to his wife Michèle Marsh, he moved here permanently in 2005.

He was appointed to the Board in 2017 and has served two terms. His legal experience is the important quality that he offers the Board.

“I have overseen and analyzed a lot of situations,” he said. Then described a recent action with which he is proud of his involvement.

“There is always problem with staffing in a small community,” he acknowledged “I’m proud that I was instrumental in bringing Bill Rojas [the current IWD general manager], he was a former employee. But he has good technical knowledge and encourages greater cooperation among the districts.”

Szabadi was also reluctant to claim that climate change has any noticeable or important effect on the District, which depends on groundwater and Strawberry Creek for its water supply.

“It’s difficult to say, although we’ve experienced some dry years, we do have sufficient resources,” he stated.

He feels upgrading the pipeline system and maintaining the water tanks are necessary. There is about $200,000 allocated for these projects per year, he noted.

The sewer plant is designed, and the staff is doing a great job bring the infrastructure up-to-date, according to Szabadi.

“But since I joined the Board, the big issue is replacement of the sewer facility,” he affirmed. “We are trying our best to get as much federal and state funding to finance the cost of replacing the treatment plant.”

Once the plan is complete, he expects the District will submit its first grant application later this fiscal year.

When asked about the seven general managers in the past 10 years, Szabadi replied, “It very difficult for small districts to recruit the right person especially for general manager. Usually, they are close to retiring or looking for more. The Board is doing its best trying to find the person with technical and organizational abilities.”

Consolidating the three districts – Fern Valley, Idyllwild and Pine Cove – is not an issue for him now.

“I was instrumental in pushing the idea of unifying the districts, but it never went anywhere,” he conceded. “We have developed a cooperative plan that addresses everyone. It’s easier to encourage more cooperation on technical problems now and sharing equipment.

“Besides the people living in the other water districts very much want to keep those districts separate,” he accepted.

On the issue of Board compensation, Szabadi does favor an increase. “I think a change to the present rule is appropriate and return to the rate of three to four years ago,” he averred. “Yes for $100, but directors can donate a portion of the increase to the benefit of the district.”

He also recognized that Jessica Priefer, the FVWD assistant general manager, on the IWD board is not a conflict. If she becomes a director, he said, “I hope it results in greater cooperation between Idyllwild and Fern Valley.”

Besides the time devoted to the water board, Szabadi has been on the board of the Idyllwild Art Alliance and invests time in photography, many of which appear in the Town Crier.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here,” he said in conclusion. “I anticipate a lot of community activities. The Board takes a great deal of time and hopefully the right manager is here.”