Heated race underway in battle to run Fair Oaks Water District
FAIR OAKS — One of the most heated local races right now centers on the Sacramento County community where Governor Gavin Newsom lives and votes.
It's a battle over who will run the Fair Oaks Water District. Signs put up in the community read: "Remove Corruption,' "Vote out Team Good Old Boys," "Remove Corruption" and "Recall and Replace the Fair Oaks Water Board."
Leon Corcos launched the political campaign, with incendiary campaign slogans now dotting this small town.
"Fair Oaks is changing," Corcos said. "They've been unchecked."
Misha Sarkovich is on the Fair Oaks Water District Board and is a target of the campaign.
"I don't think this nasty divisive campaign is helping anyone," Sarkovich said. "I didn't expect this election to be so nasty, so mean. It just happened to me."
This political debate over the Fair Oaks Water District is about land.
Corcos owns the buildings that house restaurants across from the water district's operations yard, now slated for a multi-million dollar remodel. He wants the yard moved.
"What I don't want to be there is a gravel yard," Corcos said. "I would rather it was a pig farm. At least that'd be charming, right? This is just an ugly eyesore."
Sarkovich is fighting to stay in office, citing the water delivery to Fair Oaks ratepayers.
"Today, we have the lowest water rates in the entire Sacramento region," Sarkovich said.
Besides the replacement campaign, Corcos has also launched a signature drive for a recall campaign. One of the ratepayers in this water district is Gov, Newsom, who survived his own recall in 2021.
Newsom lives part-time in his Fair Oaks home and is registered to vote there.
"I have not personally tried to seek his endorsement or his vote," Sarkovich said. "Hopefully, he will vote for incumbents in this election."
Small-town politics and a searing campaign are turning up the heat over a water district redevelopment plan.
"It's just unfortunate it's happening in Fair Oaks," Sarkovich said.
"What we're saying is across the street doesn't belong here anymore," Corcos said.
The Fair Oaks Water District provides water to 14,000 homes. It serves about 40,000 people.