I strongly believe in public service and am hopeful that I can combine my commitment to our  community with my professional expertise to serve the West Basin Water District, Division I,  and the people it represents. 

As a lifelong Carson resident, I am proud that I am raising my family in the community where I  was born. I have a deep, personal stake in the future of our water district and the health of the  environment where we all live.

My years of service working on water, electric, and public works projects have given me deep  insight into our community's environmental challenges and opportunities – especially when they’re in my backyard.

Professionally, for more than 25 years, I have been a proud member of IBEW Local 11, where I  currently serve as the Business Development Manager, representing more than 11,000  members and 350 electrical contractors. I believe my ability to build bridges between diverse  stakeholders – from environmental groups to business leaders, labor leaders, and government  officials – would be invaluable in addressing our water district's complex challenges. Combined  with my boots-on-the-ground, hands-on experience working in water facilities, I have a unique  perspective that gives me an up-close understanding of how the district’s critical systems  operate and, more importantly, how they fail. 

Carson has historically been treated as a dumping ground, with numerous landfills, ongoing  issues with the Carson River Watershed contamination, and consistently high rankings in statewide pollution metrics. The AQMD's record number of odor-related complaints tells only  part of this story. These aren't just statistics to me; they're daily realities that drive my passion for positive change. I drink the same water as my neighbors and breathe the same air as their  families.

Through my work with the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and the Samoan Heritage  Committee, I’ve also demonstrated my commitment to ensuring all voices in our community  are heard and represented.

I know how to achieve meaningful results. I played a crucial role in establishing ARCHES  (Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems), securing $1.2 billion in federal  funding for renewable hydrogen solutions. As a ZEERO Roundtable & Collaborative committee  member, I've helped shape the Port of Long Beach's path toward a carbon-neutral future. 

The recent fires have highlighted how critical water infrastructure is to our community beyond  just safe drinking water. If appointed, I commit to focusing on several key priorities: 

● Ensuring safe, clean, and reliable drinking water through infrastructure maintenance  and upgrades to serve West Basin customers 

● Advocating for environmental justice, especially in underserved communities

● Promoting water conservation and sustainability initiatives 

● Advancing workforce diversity and inclusion within the water district 

● Creating local job opportunities through strategic investments and workforce  development programs 

I'm ready to bring my expertise, passion, and dedication to the West Basin Water District Board.  My unique combination of technical knowledge, environmental advocacy, and community  leadership makes me an ideal candidate to help guide our water district toward a more  sustainable and equitable future. 

Thank you for considering my candidacy. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the critical work of the West Basin Water District. 

Sincerely, 

Tommy Faavae