**This article has been edited online to correct factual errors.
The Scotts Valley Fire Protection District board of directors has two four-year positions up for election come November.
The district covers the Summit area to Pasatiempo and all the unincorporated areas around the city.
The terms of board members John Walsh and Dick Clark will expire in November, and they are not running for re-election. Three candidates are running for seats on the district’s fire board.
Scotts Valley Fire Protection District
Rudy Cabigas
Retired fire captain Rudy Cabigas, 59, said his main goal would be to maintain the level of service at the department despite revenue shortages.
“My primary concern is to maintain the current manpower we have now,” Cabigas said. “We’re a district with (about) 21,000 people in 21 square miles with seven firemen on duty at a time. We can’t afford to lose any firemen”
Cabigas has been a Scotts Valley resident for 26 years and a firefighter for 30 years. He served as a Scotts Valley Fire Board member from 2002 to 2006.
While there’s been talk of a building a third fire station on the corner of La Madrona Drive to serve the south end of Scotts Valley, Cabigas said there is no money for that now.
“In the next few years, Scotts Valley could be in financial crisis,” he said.
Cabigas also said he aims to continue to maintain the high level of personnel after future retirements, even though other nearby jurisdictions grab a big portion of potential firefighters.
“There are rumors the fire chief might retire, and I would be committed to finding a qualified replacement,” Cabigas said.
Dorothy Chittenden
Dorothy Chittenden, 55, a businesswoman and service care provider, said she will protect taxpayer’s interests if elected.
Chittenden has lived in Scotts Valley for 21 years and has served as president of the parent-teacher association at Vine Hill School and president of the Santa Cruz County 4-H council. Her business background includes management positions in production, purchasing and contract administration.
“Since I’m not a firefighter, I’ll be able to do oversight as a citizen and bring the citizen’s view, as opposed to just the firefighter’s,” Chittenden said.
Chittenden said the board has done an excellent job with the budget, and she wants to continue that.
“I would take the fire district’s recommendations and put them into action,” Chittenden said.
She said her background in purchasing and accounting would help her evaluate the district’s budgets and financial planning to make best use of the money the district has to work with.
“I know that won’t be an easy task, since the budget will have to be trimmed,” Chittenden said. “But as an average citizen, I’ve had to trim my budget, and my background in purchasing means I’m always looking for a deal.”
Joshua Warren
San Jose firefighter Joshua Warren, 38, said he is running as a responsible public advocate who can understand both the fire chief’s requests and the average taxpayers’ point of view.
“I’m in a position to make reasonable decisions from both sides of the table,” Warren said.
Warren, who has 18 years’ experience in firefighting, said he would strive to keep the board running as it is now.
“The key is common interests, which are well spelled out in the Scotts Valley Fire District’s policies,” Warren said.
Warren said he has experience with small district departments and larger city departments.
“I can bring my fire department experience to the table,” Warren said. “I understand the difference between must-have and nice to have.”
Warren said his experience is an advantage, because he understands the regulations, policies and procedures the chief is required to uphold. He said he also understands why certain staffing issues are so important.
“I’ve dealt with all that in my professional life,” Warren said. “And when the chief speaks, I understand what he is talking about, which is really important.”
Warren said that while he is financially conservative most of the time, he does spend money on the right product or service at the right time.
“I’m labor friendly, but I’m also a tax-paying citizen,” Warren said. “Any purchase should have training and maintenance as a forethought.”
