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Wally Bishop, longtime head of Contra Costa Water District, is leaving

Posted by: Maven on February 19, 2010 at 6:23 am

From the Contra Costa Times:

“Soon after Wally Bishop became general manager of the Contra Costa Water District, a customer walked into his office and gave the new head of the troubled agency a drawing of the Mayan water god. “It might give you good luck,” the man said. “You’ll need it.”

No kidding.

Bishop, who announced Thursday he is leaving the job he held for 18 years, was coming in at a difficult time.

The district was trying to build the first major reservoir in California since the 1970s, its water rates were among the highest in the country, according to Bishop, and it was the subject of scathing investigations by both the Contra Costa Times and the county grand jury.

The grand jury probe found district officials were spending district money lavishly on meals, questionable public relations contracts and other expenses. “They were using it like their own personal fundraising,” Bishop said. “I was brought in essentially to clean up Dodge.”

He was probably a pretty good choice. … “

Read more from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.

February 19, 2010 · Filed Under People in the News

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