Four candidates vie for two seats on the Cambria CSD Board

Voters on the North Coast will choose from a four-candidate field this November as incumbent Debra Scott faces challengers Keith Hinrichsen, Michael Wolfe, and Dennis Dudzik for two four-year seats on the Cambria Community Services District (CSD) board of directors.

The contest, first reported by New Times SLO (Atascadero), centers on the issues that have long defined Cambria politics: water supply, aging infrastructure, rising utility rates, and wildfire readiness. While the district serves Cambria and its surrounding neighborhoods rather than Atascadero itself, the race is being watched across San Luis Obispo County as a referendum on how small special districts manage big-ticket utility projects with limited ratepayer bases — a challenge familiar to communities throughout the 805 region.

Why the race matters

The Cambria CSD governs the unincorporated community's water, wastewater, fire protection, and other services — a portfolio that has grown increasingly complicated amid drought, regulatory scrutiny, and the long-running effort to permit the community's Water Reclamation Facility (WRF). Two of the board's seats are on the ballot, and the outcome will shape decisions on rate increases, infrastructure spending, and water policy for the next four years.

One notable dynamic: outgoing Director Michael Thomas, who is not seeking reelection, endorsed Scott and Hinrichsen in an Oct. 2 Facebook post, citing their experience with district operations and finances, according to New Times.

The incumbent: Debra Scott

Scott, elected in 2022, told New Times she initially hesitated to seek another term, calling board service "a thankless job" given the criticism directed at district leadership. She reconsidered after learning the SLO County Board of Supervisors could appoint directors if too few candidates filed for the seats.

Before retiring to Cambria, Scott spent 20 years as executive director of the Nevada Board of Nursing.

On her record, Scott pointed to improvements at the district's wastewater treatment plant, replacement of aging infrastructure, and progress on permitting the Water Reclamation Facility — a project that has drawn community debate for years.

Looking ahead, she identified wildfire evacuation planning and infrastructure repairs as her top priorities, noting Cambria's limited egress. "We only have one evacuation route out of our beautiful little village," she told New Times.

Scott also said she opposes additional development until the community's water supply and infrastructure improve, emphasizing that the WRF is intended for emergency drought use rather than supporting growth.

The challengers

Keith Hinrichsen, a Cambria resident since 1999 and a retired Caltrans and PG&E employee, has served on the district's Finance Committee since 2023. He told New Times that reviewing district budgets — plus encouragement from Thomas — prompted his run.

His priorities include securing grants for overdue infrastructure improvements, controlling costs for ratepayers, and rebuilding public confidence in district leadership. While he supports completing the WRF's remaining requirements, he expressed concern about the cost of the proposed zero liquid discharge system meant to address the facility's brine disposal challenges. "I don't think Cambria is interested in taking and paying for this to be an experiment," Hinrichsen said, adding that the district should pursue outside funding before committing significant resources to the technology.

Michael Wolfe, a 36-year Cambria resident and owner of the Avocado Shack in Morro Bay, is running for public office for the first time. His campaign focuses on fiscal responsibility — particularly rising utility rates, infrastructure maintenance, and district finances. "We need to be better stewards of our money," he told New Times.

Wolfe questioned past spending decisions around the WRF and argued the district should explore additional water sources. He also highlighted wildfire preparedness, especially for elderly and homebound residents who may struggle to evacuate. "I guess my candidacy is to speak for those … that need to be spoken for, the quiet majority," he said.

Dennis Dudzik, a registered California professional engineer and environmental scientist, cited 45 years of municipal utility experience in a Sept. 27 statement posted on Nextdoor. He wrote that he has participated in Cambria CSD board meetings for more than five years and previously served on the district's Resources and Infrastructure Committee. His stated priorities include long-term financial planning, infrastructure funding, utility rate analysis, fire protection, and flood mitigation along Santa Rosa Creek and Highway 1. New Times reported that multiple attempts to contact Dudzik before press time went unanswered.

What comes next

The winners will join a board grappling with the WRF permitting process, questions about the zero liquid discharge technology's price tag, and the ongoing cost of maintaining water and wastewater systems for a small coastal ratepayer base.

For Atascadero readers, the race is a reminder that special district elections — often lower-profile than city council contests — carry outsized influence over utility bills and essential services. Cambria's next board will help decide how those costs are shared, and whether the community's long-debated water projects finally reach completion.

Results from the November election will determine which two candidates guide those decisions through 2030.