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Shaoyang led the early vote count in the Alameda County Water Conservation Bureau director election with more than 65% of the vote, and said he would use local experience to promote rate transparency, curb water fee increases, and expand public participation.
Fremont Fourth District OfficerSugar City Councilman Yang Shao received more than 65% of the primary votes in the Alameda County Water Conservation Department (ACWD) District 3 Director election held on the 3rd, far ahead of current ACWD Director Paul Sethi. Later, Shao Yang was also seen at the voting party of Dublin Mayor Hu Xin and both of them congratulated each other as soon as they met. In an exclusive interview with this newspaper, Shao Yang said that he hopes to bring 12 years of local public service experience to the Water Conservancy Bureau to control the increase in water fees and give residents more opportunities to participate in decision-making.
According to the preliminary voting results updated by the Alameda County Election Office at 2:07 am on the 4th, Shaoyang received 7,358 votes, with a vote rate of 65.54%, and Sisi received 3,869 votes, with a vote rate of 34.46%. The difference in vote rate between the two was 31.08 percentage points.
Shaoyang served as a Fremont Unified School District Commissioner for four years before serving on the Fremont City Council for eight years. He described moving from school district to city council and then running for the Board of Directors of the Bureau of Water Conservation as “different seasons” in his political career. He said he has established good relationships with local communities and overseas Chinese groups over the years, and hopes to bring these experiences to the Water Conservancy Bureau to maintain contact with various groups and listen to residents’ opinions more directly.
Shao Yang said that he was always in a calm mood while waiting for the invoice to be issued. This campaign made him once again realize that along with fighting for votes, he was also fighting for the trust of the residents.
When it comes to water charges, Shaoyang said the rising cost of living has put pressure on many residents. There is still room for improvement in the financial management of the Water Conservancy Bureau, and decision-making on rate adjustments should also be more transparent. He noted that some residents had protested against increases in the past, but in the end the Bureau of Water Conservation raised the rates anyway. He hopes the next public hearing on water fee adjustments will provide more opportunities for residents to speak and that the board of directors will be able to fully hear residents’ opinions before making a decision.
The Water Conservation Bureau is currently working on a water tariff increase plan. According to the official website of the Water Conservation Bureau, the board of directors is expected to hold a hearing on the plan on December 10 and consider issuing a formal notice. The scope of the adjustment is still to be decided and the board of directors may review it in February next year. If approved, the new rate may come into effect from March 1.
Summary FAQ
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According to the results updated by the Alameda County Election Office on the morning of the 4th, Shaoyang received 7,358 votes, or 65.54%. Current director Sethi received 3,869 votes or 34.46% of the votes, with Shaoyang clearly ahead by 31.08 percentage points.
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Shao Yang expressed that he hopes to bring 12 years of experience in local public service to the Water Conservancy Bureau, with a focus on controlling water fee increases, improving financial management transparency, and giving residents more opportunities to have a say in rate adjustments and major decisions.
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The Water Conservation Bureau has started preparing a surge plan. The board of directors is expected to hear the material on December 10 and decide whether to issue a formal notice. If passed later, it could be reviewed in February next year and come into effect from March 1.
