press release

Tuesday, Dec.11, 2003

ALKIRE APPOINTED TO WATER BOARD

At its board meeting yesterday, the South Bay Irrigation District (SBID) Board appointed James C. Alkire, a retired Navy Commander and local real estate agent, to represent Chula Vista residents living in SBID Division 3. The Division roughly encompasses the eastern portion of western Chula Vista from Hilltop Drive to Interstate 805 and from Main Street to H Street.

Alkire also will represent SBID Division 3 on the Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority, a public agency that provides water service to 177,000 residents of National City, Bonita, and western and central Chula Vista.

An Ohio native, Alkire has been a Chula Vista resident since 1976. He earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from National University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of West Florida. During his more than 20 years in the Navy, he was an aviator and served as a department head on the USS Ogden and the USS Guam. He currently works for Shields Realty in Bonita.

Alkire said he is keenly interested in water issues and plans to focus on keeping rates as low as possible, while still providing the best level of reliability and water quality.

Editors' Note: Alkire replaces former director Cary Wright, who resigned from the board in November. Wright had served on the board since 1980. Alkire's term will expire with the next regularly scheduled SBID election, in November 2004.

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