Barnum takes seat as CWA director

By Joe Naiman

David Barnum was seated as Ramona Municipal Water District director on the San Diego County Water Authority Board on March 22. The meeting saw Barnum seated for a term that will expire on Sept. 8. The district may reappoint him to another six-year term.

Barnum replaces Ralph McIntosh, whose term on the CWA board began on Feb. 2, 2009, and ended with his March 5 resignation. Ramona’s water board appointed Barnum as McIntosh’s replacement on Jan. 24.

“I’m honored that the board felt that I’d be a good representative, and I’m glad to take on the additional responsibility,” Barnum said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Barnum took over as the Ramona MWD general manager when McIntosh retired in October. He had previously been the district’s assistant general manager and had started with the district four years ago as its chief financial officer. Barnum worked for the City of Carlsbad before joining the Ramona MWD staff.

Barnum’s father was an Air Force officer, and Barnum spent his childhood in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom before returning to California, where he was born. He attended high school in the San Fernando Valley and came to San Diego County to attend San Diego State University. Barnum will serve on the CWA’s Audit Committee, Administrative and Finance Committee, and Imported Water Committee.

“I’d like to ensure that the community of Ramona and RMWD have a voice on the County Water Authority,” he said. “I want to make sure that the community has its ability to have its voice heard.”

The CWA has a weighted vote structure that gives Ramona approximately 1.6 percent of the entitlement, but Barnum hopes to work with other CWA board members to provide Ramona with the best possible outcome.

“We still have our issues that need to be resolved,” he said.