Three incumbents on the Dublin San Ramon Services District Board of Directors are poised to regain their seats through one-person races this November.
Division 1 Director Dinesh Govindarao and Division 5 Director Arun Goel will not appear on the ballot, as they were unchallenged. Instead, they are prepared for board-appointment to represent a large portion of San Ramon’s Dougherty Valley and eastern Dublin, respectively.
In Division 3, Richard (Rich) Halket is also expected to return to office, as he is the only eligible candidate in western Dublin. But Halket and a disqualified candidate named Javier Lopez Rivero will appear on the ballot.
In the directorial position, these leaders set policy regarding water, recycled water and wastewater services, according to the DSRSD website. And where Govindarao and Goel found common ground in the importance of water sustainability and community partnerships, Halket did not respond to emailed questions by Tuesday morning.
Govindarao was appointed to office by the board of directors in February 2023, filling the vacancy left by Marisol Rubio, who was elected to the San Ramon City Council in November 2022.
“I have been committed to exploring strategies for a more diversified and resilient water supply, maintaining financial stability, cultivating a culture of high level of customer service and community engagement, and promoting water conservation to our community,” Govindarao told the Pleasanton Weekly.
Govindarao holds a master’s degree in public health and a bachelor’s degree in genetics with a minor in business. He also serves as a chief medical officer for a large state agency, a board member for the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation and as an alternate member on the city of San Ramon Library Advisory Committee, according to the DSRSD website.
Moving forward, he wants to work towards a more resilient water supply by collaborating with Tri-Valley and regional partners.
He also wants to focus on financial stability while balancing funding needs with “reasonable rates for potable water, recycled water, and wastewater”, he said.
In Division 3, incumbent Halket is set to take office, following the residency disqualification of his lone challenger.
Rivero was deemed ineligible after moving out of Division 3, though his name will still appear on the November ballot due to the timing of his relocation. If he were to win the election, the district would appoint someone else within Division 3 to take office. But Rivero plans to run for office again sometime in the future, he told the Weekly.
As for the eligible candidate, Halket has been elected to the board five times over the past 20 years. During this time, he served as board president for four non-consecutive years, according to the DSRSD website.
He brings to his candidacy a bachelors in geology and a master’s in hydrogeology.
Outside of the district, he works as a finance and human resources executive for a solar energy systems manufacturer. Halket has also worked as a public accountant and spent 10 years in the enterprise software industry, with another 10 in hydrogeology consulting.
In Division 5, the board of directors are set to appoint Goel.
He told the Weekly that his long-term goals for DSRSD are ensuring sustainability and community engagement in water management.
He supports expanding storage facilities and building a “diverse water portfolio” to become more resilient to potential water shortages, he told the Weekly. He also wants to raise awareness about water conservation and build partnerships with local agencies.
Goel holds a masters and bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, focused on hydrology, transportation, and construction management.
Given experience as a DSRSD director and former Dublin City Council member, he said, “These roles have allowed me to make a meaningful difference, and I’m passionate about continuing to build on that momentum.”
DSRSD provides water and sewer service to Dublin and parts of San Ramon, as well as sewer service to Pleasanton by contract.
