Relatively quiet race for sanitary district Relatively quiet race for sanitary district (October 31, 2001)

Few issues, but one candidate still mired in controversy

by Don Kazak

The East Palo Alto Sanitary District for years was a hotbed of political infighting and controversy. Things are quieter now, at least regarding the issues.

There are three candidates for two open seats in next week's election: A. Peter Evans, a former member of the district's board, Todd Gaviglio, and Edrick Haggans.

Evans and Haggans, a former sanitary district board member, were both unsuccessful candidates in last year's City Council election, while Gaviglio is a political newcomer.

Evans made headlines last week for an anti-Semitic outburst at an East Palo Alto City Council meeting that has led to possible charges of a hate crime. The police have brought their evidence to the San Mateo County District Attorney's office for review.

Evans served on the board twice before, during its more turbulent years. He was elected, recalled by the voters in 1994, reelected and then rejected by the voters two years ago.

It was at that point that a faction led by former board member Dennis Scherzer took control of the district. Scherzer is now the district's general manager.

"Financially, the district is doing well," Scherzer said.

While there are no immediate issues to resolve, future concerns include the district's capacity to accommodate development in the city and whether the district remains an independent entity or becomes part of the city government.

Gaviglio, a 11-year East Palo Alto resident, is a former teacher and principal in the Ravenswood City School District who is now the principal of John Gill School in Redwood City. He was the principal of Green Oaks Elementary School in East Palo Alto before being recruited to work in Redwood City.

Gaviglio, 38, said he is running "to give something back to the community." In addition to his education work, Gaviglio is a longtime member of a cultural group, Raices de Mexico, which performs folk dances.

Gaviglio said he hopes to return to the Ravenswood district in the future.

Haggans, 62, is a manager at Home Depot in East Palo Alto and a 25-year East Palo Alto resident. He served part of an unexpired term on the board in 1983.

He is concerned about the future build-out of the city taxing the capacity of the sewage system, and is also interested in maintaining the current low sewage residents for residents.

Haggans also thinks there could be a way to reuse, as irrigation water, the "millions gallons of treated wastewater" that gets pumped in the bay now from the regional sewage plant in Palo Alto.

Evans, 62, the third candidate, could not be reached for comment by the Weekly.

-- E-mail Don Kazak at dkazak@paweekly.com