CSDA’s Board of Directors, CEO, members, staff, and the media were on hand to honor the association’s Legislators of the Year during a virtual presentation held January 27. CSDA’s Board President, Ryan Clausnitzer formally presented the awards to the recipients and individuals from special districts around the state tuned in to watch the live event. Two members also provided personal testimonies from working with the legislators.
Cary Keaton, General Manager for the Solano Irrigation District remarked, “Representative Garamendi has long been an advocate in helping special districts, and particularly water agencies, fulfill their mission of delivering reliable resources to our communities.”
Heather Nichols, Executive Director of the Yolo County Resource Conservation District said, “Cecilia understands the natural resource challenges people in her district face. She has been consistently supportive of our work to provide our communities with technical assistance to improve forest health, watersheds and agricultural sustainability.”
This is the first time CSDA’s Board of Directors chose to honor two legislators for the award and Representative Garamendi is the first Congressmember to be selected. Representative Garamendi was chosen for his introduction of legislation to include special districts in future COVID-19 relief funding, as well as specifically defining special districts in federal code. Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry was honored for her steadfast guidance as Chair of the California State Assembly Local Government Committee, including continuous bolstering of local control policies and coordinating local government partners throughout the pandemic. In 2020, both lawmakers provided exceptional support, partnership, and understanding of special districts and the communities they serve.
In his acceptance, Representative Garamendi stated, “I am honored to be the first Member of Congress to receive CSDA’s Legislator of the Year Award.” He continued, “We must support all of California’s communities and the front-line workers who deliver our essential services by working to secure COVID-19 relief for state and local governments including special districts.” Please see a clip of his acceptance speech here.
In her acceptance, Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry said, “I’m honored for this recognition and gratified to be able to help my local government colleagues during these times of crisis. As Chair of the Assembly Local Government Committee, and a former Mayor and Councilmember, it is important to me to help shape policy empowering local government leaders with the flexibility they need to continue to provide essential services to Californians in rural and urban communities alike.” Please see a clip of her acceptance speech here.
For the latest information related to federal COVID-19 relief funding legislation, including the recent re-introduction of the “Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act,” please visit: https://www.csda.net/advocate/take-action/covid.