Updated: Voters Like Incumbents On Water Boards

Updated at 5 a.m.

Water boards are important to Southern California residents, but they aren't very glamorous. Voters decided Tuesday to stick with incumbents. After all, when the tap is turned and water comes out, why mess with success?

With 105 precincts reporting, voters made incumbents Betty Olson and Charley Wilson 1-2 for the Santa Margarita Water District board of directors.

With five candidates running and voters asked to choose three, Olson pulled 27.3 percent of the votes and Wlson 24.9 percent. Challenger Chuck Gibson of Ladera Ranch also pulled a solid number, 21.3 percent.

Here is the breakdown of that race:

• Betty Olson: 24,313 votes, 27.3 percent
• Charley Wilson: 22,184 votes, 24.9 percent
• Charles "Chuck" Gibson: 18,951 votes, 21.3 percent
• Fred Carr: 12,163 votes, 13.6 percent
• Stan Dziecielski: 11,500 votes, 12.9 percent

There were two men vying to be the Division 6 representative on the Municipal Water District of Orange County. Incumbent Jeffery Thomas won 61.7 percent of the vote to defeat Rancho Santa Margarita resident Don Chadd

Here is the breakdown for that race:

• Jeff Thomas: 43,225 votes, 61.7 percent
• Don Chadd: 26,836 votes, 38.3 percent

Chadd is the retiring general manager of the Trabuco Canyon Water District.

In the Trabuco Canyon Water District, Jim Haselton and Stephen Dopudja were running uncontested.

Original story

With more than half the precincts reporting, a pair of incumbents were running 1-2 for the Santa Margarita Water District.

Betty Olson had 27.2 percent and Charley Wilson 24.9 with 61 of 105 precincts reporting. Newcomer Chuck Gibson was in third for the last seat on the board with 22 percent.

• Sign up to receive the daily Patch newsletter.
• Follow RSM Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

They led Fred Carr (13.5 percent) and Stan "The Water Man" Dzielcieski (12.5).

Incumbent Jeffrey Thomas, with 150 of 228 precincts reporting for the Municipal Water District of OC Division 6, held 62.9 percent of the vote over Don Chadd's 37.1. Chadd is the retiring general manager of the Trabuco Canyon Water District.

In the Trabuco Canyon Water District, Jim Haselton and Stephen Dopudja were running uncontested.