Upset at West Bay Sanitary District

22-year-old law student ousts president of 15 years

Twenty-two-year-old law student John Carcione upset the apple cart in the West Bay Sanitary District Tuesday, gaining 2,612 votes--or 34.8 percent of the vote--and unseating the 15-year president of the board, John Inglis, Jr.

Inglis, 67, who had served on the board for 20 years, gained only 2,192 votes (29 percent of the vote) and finished last in the race for two four-year seats. Incumbent David Knight, 65, was the most popular four-year candidate, gaining 2,696--almost 36 percent--of the vote.

In the race for one two-year seat, incumbent Donald Van Creveld, 38, sailed to an easy victory over challenger Russell Burrows, 82.

Carcione, grandson of the "Green Grocer" Joe Carcione, ran an energetic campaign that raised more than a few eyebrows and questions about the district's actions. But the campaign failed to attract a high voter turnout, with a total of 11,365 votes cast in 55 precincts.

"The last time that anyone unseated an incumbent was when I was elected in 1983," said district manager Carl Schrader, who served on the board for 14 years before he was appointed manager this year.

Carcione's allegations of "spiking" among the current board attracted the attention of media and voters alike. The former district manager of the sanitary board, Charles W. Thomas, Jr. resigned in April among allegations of bribery and embezzlement.

Interviewed on Tuesday night at a celebration party at the Stanford Park Hotel, Carcione said that he would pursue the concerns he raised during his campaign about the legality of Schrader's appointment.

"I won't leave any stone unturned," he said. "I will work together with other members of the board to tackle any problems."

Carcione's first priority is to bring the sanitary district into the hi-tech age by creating its own web site, which will help disseminate information to the 50,000 residents served by the agency in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and East Palo Alto. His second priority is to tackle environmental issues, such as the desalination of the Bay, he said.

"I'm very excited to get in there and make a difference," said Carcione, who regards his relative youth and inexperience as an attribute rather than a hindrance because he will bring a fresh perspective.

Carcione's father, Joe, joked that his son was only just born when his opponent, John Inglis, was elected to the board.

--Vicky Anning