Candidates for District 5 are Joan S. Jernigan and Craig N. Reitz.
Polling location for this district is Wimberley Community Center at 14068 RR 12 in Wimberley.
Joan Jernigan, Ph.D.
I grew up on ranches in Southern California and Central Texas, and have always had a high regard for water for both domestic use and for agriculture. Every summer during high school I worked on a hay-baling crew, helped to irrigate our alfalfa field, and take care of a large herd of Angora goats.
Professional employment included developing and administering funded grants for innovative programs of instruction for a span of twenty years in the field of education. I was last employed at the Region XIII Education Service Center. Other employment was as a Division Head in Texas Engineering Extension to administer programs in non-traditional employment, the Texas Prison System, and programs for persons with disabilities, career counselor in various school districts, and a research associate at UT.
Currently I am self-employed as a consultant and grant writer, seeking funding from private foundations for clients such as the Brauntex Theater, from state agencies where I obtained a funded $500,000 grant for a builder of affordable housing, and for funding for education programs in academics and technology for public and charter schools. Recently I developed an outline for a course for community college students on the installation of rainwater systems.
My dream of being a builder, following the footsteps of my brother, an architect, became possible after retirement, and I have built six new houses, and remodeled four. Currently I plan to develop the Wimberley Commons, a group of twelve homes on a common lot of six acres. They are being designed with rainwater collection systems and a decentralized wastewater system for landscape irrigation.
Past experiences will serve as a background for working on the HTGCD board to: a) educate citizens about conservation, b) encourage conservation in new construction and remodeling, c) identify any barriers for implementing the district’s management plan, and d) research ground water conservation methods of other areas and countries.
Education:
B.A. in sociology from the University of Houston
M. Ed. in counseling from The University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. in Vocational Education from Texas A&M University.
Member of the boards of the Wimberley Valley League of Women Voters, and City of Wimberley Ethics committee.
My husband, Eugene A. Toscano, and I are parents of combined families of nine children. We have lived in Wimberley since 1997.
I support:
- Educating residents on water conservation ( living well on less)
- Expanding rainwater usage (a viable alternative to placing more demand on groundwater)
- Providing accurate knowledge to public officials on groundwater resources
- Creating accountability for the use of groundwater
- Developing a practical plan for managing and preventing waste of groundwater resources
- Protecting spring and stream flows in the Blanco-Cypress Watershed by monitoring recharge and designated wells to check water levels and manage for sustainability
Craig “Nevada” Reitz
I am running for this Board Seat to help assure all residents of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District that they will continue to have access to a clean and plentiful water supply from our groundwater. My wife Barbara and I have lived in the Wimberley Valley for five years and during that time we have suffered through three years of drought. I believe my experience in management, budgeting and problem solving skills can best serve the HTGCD Board. I believe I can provide the residents honest answers to question with practical solutions to protect our water. Thank you for your support.
Education
University of Arizona and University of Illinois: Bachelors of Science; Corporation Finance
Community Service 2002 – 2008
- Appointed to the Wimberley Economic Development Committee.
- Provided analysis and research for the future development of the city of Wimberley.
- Co-Authored the Future Economic Development Plan for the City of Wimberley.
- Budget Chairmen Riverwood Community Association Port Charlotte, FL.
- Created community budget, oversight and controls for community association and recreation facility for Centex Homes.
Consultant Business Experience 1995 – 2005
- Provided a study on the future profitability and growth of a $60 million dollar company purchased recently by CBS Sportsline that was operating at a loss. Recommended profitability and structure changes to bring companies to break even point. Provided analysis of this new company that it could not be operated at a profit in the foreseeable future; CBS sold the company within the next six months.
- Instrumental in returning Rasosco Manufacturing to profitability in 14 months. Consulted on profit and cost structure, product line reductions, developed new products and marketing services. Converted a company loss of $3 million loss to a $4 million profit.
- Advised Hansberger Precision Manufacturing on potential future profitability of continued operations. Recommended actions to restore profitability for the company until recommended disposition of company assets. Resulted in negations to sell Tupelo, MS manufacturing facility to Addis International for $3.7 million and the sale of the company’s brand names.
- Provided analysis of Target’s recreation department profitability and product lines. Provided pricing and product line recommendations to improve sales and profits. Successfully increased both sales and profitability.
- Provided analysis of Kmart, Inc’s recreation department profitability and product lines. Provided pricing and product line recommendations to improve sales and profits. Successfully increased both sales and profitability.
Business Operation Experience 1978 – 1995
- Founded and operated manufacturing, wholesale and retail companies in Kansas, Nebraska and Kentucky. These companies were privately held and operated with annual combined sales in excess of $20,000,000. Personally responsible for all accounting, budgeting and marketing operations. All companies averaged a minimum of 10% per year gain in sales and profitably each year of operation.