By Mary O’KEEFE

The Crescenta Valley Water District board of directors has a vacant seat with the resignation of Richard Atwater.

On Jan. 19 Crescenta Valley Water District director Richard Atwater sent his letter of resignation to CVWD stating he would no longer be able to hold his office on the board due to a complaint by a community member.

Atwater’s letter of resignation stated that in “early December an anonymous person in La Crescenta complained to the Los Angeles County district attorney regarding my holding office on the board of directors of both the Crescenta Valley Water District and Foothill Municipal Water District as incompatibility of office.”

Atwater included that he was not the first to hold both positions and in fact since the 1950s a CVWD elected director had simultaneously held an elected director on the Foothill Municipal Water District. He added that this was not an uncommon occurrence.

However the DA’s office saw it differently and determined it incompatibility of office.  Atwater decided not to challenge this opinion and instead resigned.

“[His resignation] is a huge loss to the district,” said Christy Scott, spokeswoman for CVWD.

Atwater was first elected to the CVWD board in late 2003 and had recently won another term in November 2009.

The board intends to appoint a successor on or after its March 2 meeting. The successor will serve until the next district general election scheduled for Nov. 8, 2011.

Those interested in becoming a candidate for the vacated board position must be a residing voter within the district and is required to submit a letter of interest and resume “setting forth a brief summary of the person’s interest, qualifications and background,” according to the CVWD website.

The letters and resume must be received by Feb. 26.

In his letter Atwater stated he would continue to assist the CVWD and continue to support the board.

For information on the board position visit the CVWD website at www.cvwd.com or call (818) 248-3925.