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As their terms on the Zone 7 Water Agency Board of Directors come to an end, two outgoing directors reflected on their accomplishments and experiences serving on the board and explained why they are not running for reelection in this year’s primary.
Residents in Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin will be choosing from among eight candidates for four at-large positions on the Zone 7 board. The board is made up of seven directors who oversee the agency that provides flood control for the Alameda County part of the Tri-Valley and serves as the potable water wholesaler for the area.
Director Dawn Benson is one of the three incumbents who will not be seeking reelection this June. She said the reason behind that decision was that she has a lot of projects coming her way at her job over at the East Bay Municipal Utility District and didn’t think it was wise to serve on the board during her upcoming busy schedule.
“It was probably best that I step out at this moment in time,” she told the Pleasanton Weekly.
A Dublin resident who has been with the board since 2022, Benson said she has had the pleasure of working with her fellow directors to ensure Tri-Valley residents had a reliable, clean water supply.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve my community,” Benson said.
From overseeing the agency getting the highest possible financial rating and working on the agency’s flood management plan, to addressing PFAS — otherwise known as forever chemicals — in the valley’s groundwater, Benson said working with her fellow board members on these projects has been one of the highlights during her four-year term.
“Our budget could not be in better financial shape,” she said. “I think what we’ve accomplished, since my term, in the last four years is truly remarkable.”
“I believe our water supply portfolio is much better than we’ve ever had before,” Benson added. “We have done more for the PFAS monitoring and preserving the water quality for the valley … I’m not aware of any other agency that has even come close to what we’ve done.”
Benson pulled papers to run this spring but ultimately did not file. However, she said she is thinking about possibly running again in 2028 because she believes her work is not done.
She said she loves the water industry and what Zone 7 does for the community, which is why she said she will always be an advocate for the work the water agency does.
“I love serving the community,” Benson said. “I believe in what we do, wholeheartedly.”
The other incumbent who will not seek a second term is Catherine Brown, a Pleasanton resident who was elected in 2024 to serve a two-year term after former director Olivia Sanwong left the board prior to her four years being up.
Brown said she did not seek reelection because she feels fulfilled by her two years on the board, during which she gained a comprehensive understanding of the water agency, and wishes for others to have a similar experience. She also said it was encouraging to see how on top of things the agency and board have been regarding the valley’s water supply and flood control.
“It’s been extremely rewarding,” Brown said. “I joined to help be part of any problem solving that might be needed and, as I’ve learned, Zone 7 is very well on top of the water supply and flood control issues.”
While she recognized her term was much shorter than the average director, she said she still felt like she brought a lot of meaningful experience to the table given her past work as an environmental scientist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at the San Francisco office.
Still, she felt it was only fair that others get a chance to see how the agency works and to serve their community.
“I wish a lot of luck to everybody who’s going to throw their hat in the ring,” Brown said.
Incumbent Dennis Gambs is also not running for reelection, previously telling the Weekly he was ready to retire from the agency. Director Sarah Palmer is the only incumbent facing off against seven new challengers, with four seats open on the June 2 ballot.
