Michael LaFata new Fern Valley Water director

By JP Crumrine
Correspondent

At its special meeting last Thursday, the Fern Valley Water District’s (FVWD) Board of Directors unanimously appointed Michael LaFata to fill the board seat vacated by Gary Erb in October.

LaFata and Dawn Finlayson were the only applicants seeking the appointment.

During the discussion, Chair Jon Brown said the board faced a choice between two aspirants, who “… both seem competent and interested. Both have business experience.” And Director Kevin Scott, added, “Both are very different and acceptable.” After further discussion, Brown moved to appoint LaFata and the vote was 4-0 in his favor.

The board interviewed each candidate separately. LaFata said he has lived in Idyllwild almost four years. He retired from the automotive industry in 2019 when he and his wife were living in Orange County and they have two children.

He said he managed and recruited managers for large Mitsubishi Motors dealerships in the Western Region.

In response to a question about his interest in serving on the board, he replied, “I know how things work. I’m capable of doing what’s asked.” For more than 10 years he was on a local homeowners’ association, where he learned to listen to and address questions and issues from constituents.

If selected, he indicated a strong interest in learning more about and helping with FVWD’s construction program. “I’m fascinated by construction,” he told the board.

The board next met with Finlayson. This was her second effort to join the FVWD board. In July 2022, current Director Chrissie Teeling was chosen to fill the vacancy created when Walt Bonneau Jr. resigned. They were two of three candidates.

Finlayson has lived on the Hill since 1990 and the majority of that time she has been a Fern Valley resident. She is the owner of Village Hair Creations. She and her husband have an adult son.

She has been on her church’s board as well as a desert homeowners’ association. With this experience, she wrote in her application, “I think it is important to do service in my community and I would love to make new friends on the Hill.” She described her long interest in water and its chemicals. Working with people’s hair, she saw how chemicals have different results. Former Idyllwild Water District General Manager Tom Lovejoy would often discuss with her how the chemicals in water could interact with the chemicals in her lotions and colorings and alter the expected results.

“He helped me understand how it affected my business,” Finlayson said.

After telling, LaFata and Finlayson the result, Brown praised both and said, “It was a very difficult decision and greatly appreciated your interest and time.” LaFata’s first board meeting will be in January.