Christine Silva for Pinedale County Water Board
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Christine Silva
For
Pinedale county water board
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Christine Silva
Your Advocate for
- Reliable water
- Transparent decisions
- responsible stewardship
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Hello! My name is Christine Silva. I'm a native of Fresno who has lived in the district for over a decade.
I was drawn to run for the board in 2024 because over the years I read several local news stories that pointed out the district's legal and financial struggles with the City of Fresno. Decisions by the majority of the long-term sitting board members have cost US, the customers, well over $400,000! Ongoing votes by the same majority, over the last decade, to continue litigation have added substantial legal fees and judgements against the district. I will strive to bring more financial accountability to the decisions that are made on OUR behalf. Support me to take away EGOS and focus on FACTS.
On a personal & professional note, I'm a mom and have been working at Fresno Unified for over 20 years, supporting Instructional Superintendents for more than a decade. In addition, I have been a “short term” appointed Board Member on the PCWD board since January 2025. This will be my first “ELECTION” as I am running for a 4 year term.
The Pinedale County Water board hasn't had a contested election on the ballot since 2007. There are three seats up for election.
I would appreciate your support by voting for me this November.
-Christine Silva
20+
Years of Public Service
10+
Years residing in the Pinedale County Water District
100%
Commitment to Transparency
Campaign Priorities
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My platform centers on providing sustainable water management, fiscal responsibility, and fostering community engagement for responsive and transparent governance.
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Reliable water
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Help guide the district & board to a more robust and reliable water system. Including, addressing critical monitoring and 24/7 reliability issues. Currently there is NO BACKUP power generators for our 5 wells. With a district power outage we could be without water for houses & fire hydrants within an hour of an emergency.
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transparent decisions
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Bring clear transparency to issues & decisions asked of me while on the board. Make sure the public has timely online access to all board agendas and meeting documents that are allowed by law. THE DISTRICT HASN'T BEEN CONSISTANTLY IN COMPLIANCE OF THIS. I prioritize resident feedback and education to ensure water policies reflect community needs and values.
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responsible sustanability
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Yes! This means making sure water is available for generations. BUT let’s face it, it also means stewarding OUR MONEY. This district is a CHOICE not a requirement - The City of Fresno provides water and sewer all around our district. The district already uses the city to process our sewer waste.
We need to be open to investigating if, and when, it makes sense to consolidate services. This becomes even more important as the district deals with the future costs of treating wells, drilling a new well, installing water meters, an aging infastructure, etc.
show support for
CHristine Silva
for Pinedale County Water Board
- want a front yard sign -
I would love to bring you one
Want a flyer or have a conversation?
LET me know
Connect with CHRISTINE
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E-mail: Christine@electsilva.com
Phone: (559) 552-6255
PRESS RELEASE
First-Time Candidate Christine Silva Challenges Board Majority in Pinedale Water District's First Contested Election Since 2007
Silva voted against lawsuit that asks to nullify election results
Fresno, CA — October 2026
The Pinedale County Water District will hold its first contested board election since 2007 on November 3, 2026. For the first time in nearly two decades, sitting board members face genuine uncertainty about whether they will defend their seats — and that dynamic has shaped the district's recent decisions.
Among the challengers is Christine Silva, running for the first time after being appointed to the board less than 2 years ago. Silva is making financial accountability the centerpiece of her campaign — and she's putting her money where her mouth is by voting against the board majority's recent decisions.
The Lawsuit Vote
On July 22, 2026, the board voted 3-2 to authorize litigation against the County Registrar of Voters over the district's election boundaries. Silva and Director Dutcher voted no. The lawsuit was filed nine days later — while the candidate filing window was still open. An amended complaint filed October 2, now asks that the election results not be counted and a new election ordered at Fresno County expense. The district has over 5,000 registered voters.
The boundary dispute itself is not new. Board records show the district first learned of it in June 2020 and raised it again in January 2023. No action was taken. The first recorded board direction to act came in September 2024 — more than four years after the issue was identified. Then, in July 2026, the board voted to litigate.
Silva's position is clear: this is not the path forward.
Silva's Statement
"I joined this board to bring financial accountability. The board voted 3-2 to file this lawsuit. I voted against it. We already have a long-standing dispute with the City of Fresno that's still in the appellate courts, and it's committed us to a sewer surcharge for the next 10 years. Adding another legal battle isn't responsible.
While I believe every vote counts and eligible voters should have their say, this board has known about this boundary issue for years. They waited until the 11th hour to file this lawsuit — right in the middle of candidate filing. That's not how you build trust with the community. That's not the direction I want to take this district."
Background
The case, PCWD v. Kus (Fresno County Superior Court No. 26CU02177), concerns whether sewer-only customers are part of the district for voting and candidacy purposes. The district's position is that they are; the County Registrar of Voters has used a boundary map that excludes them.
The district also faces a separate, ongoing legal matter with the City of Fresno over a 2007 sewer agreement, which remains in appellate court.
About the Election
November 3, 2026: Four candidates, three seats open. First contested board election since 2007.
Media contact: Christine Silva. christine@electsilva.com Phone: 559-552-6255
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