Page 2 - Alexandra Arboleda

ALEXANDRA
ARBOLEDA
Protecting Our Water for Future Generations
By Susan Cushing
Certainly, no one seeks a seat on the Central Arizona Water Con- servation District (CAWCD) board of directors for fame or financial gain. An unpaid position, involv- ing long meetings and difficult choices, it’s also one of those races on the ballot that too few voters know much about.
Ironically, all the other hotly debated issues that fill the media could conceiv- ably become moot, if our water resources are not managed properly. Managing our Colorado River supplies and the Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal is the re- sponsibility of this 15-member board, and this year, five of those seats are up for grabs November 8.
As Arizona citizens we have certainly become wiser and more acutely aware of the impending problems we face in our desert with regards to water, and finding viable solutions might seem overwhelm- ing. Which is all the more reason we need to make sure that we elect people who are not only knowledgeable, experienced, and passionate about this issue, but also those who have the ability to contribute innova- tive ideas.
Alexandra Arboleda is just that person.
Her extensive experience in water and nat- ural resources law includes working on the Colorado River, surface water and ground- water issues. She has also practiced in the areas of Indian, environmental and consti- tutional law.
“The reason I’m running for this board seat is really twofold,” she says. “First, I care about water and the future of Arizona. I grew up in Arizona and enjoyed camping, hiking, and horseback riding, so I got to see just how important water is in this arid cli- mate. It became a true passion of mine.
“The other reason is, I think I bring a lot of knowledge and experience to the board,” she continues. “In addition to my law de- gree, I understand water rights, a very com- plex area of the law.”
Arboleda has over a decade of experi- ence in water law, representing such clients as the city of Flagstaff, Salt River Project, which is both a water provider and utility, and the state of Arizona. She has also rep- resented farms, homeowners associations, tribes and environmental nonprofits.
“What I’ve gained from this, I believe, is
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