Point Reyes Light - December 31, 2003

IPUD director quits and elopes

By Andrew Pridgen

Inverness Public Utility District directors last week bade farewell to their president, Bill Campbell, who on Saturday married his long-distance sweetheart on the East Coast. He will live fulltime in Richmond, Virginia.

Director Barbara Dewey took over as the board’s president last week.

In her first meeting as acting president, Dewey helped decide that the district shall fight a lawsuit filed by resident Dick Matthews, whose request to fly the NRA flag on the firehouse green alongside the Stars and Stripes, the California state flag, and the UN flag was denied.

Missing friend

When asked about dealing with the case without Campbell on the board, Dewey said, "Right now especially, I miss my friend."

Both Dewey and Campbell were elected to the district in 1987, and Dewey said Campbell’s commitment to upgrading the district’s facilities, emphasizing conservation, and seeking representation from all Inverness residents never wavered.

Campbell, who moved to Inverness in 1984 also served on the Inverness Foundation, the financial arm of the Inverness Association.

"All I can say is I’m very happy for Bill right now," Dewey said. "He’s been faithfully pursuing a romance back east for several years now, and it got to the point where if they were going to continue the relationship, he was going to have to make the move. I think that’s a pretty commendable thing to do."

Campbell’s previous wife, Ruth, died from aspirate pneumonia after starting treatment for lung cancer in 1999.

Won’t hold election

Dewey said the board decided not to hold an election to replace Campbell this coming spring but will solicit for the post, beginning in January, and then choose one.

"It’s a process that takes steps," Dewey said. "We had the choice of doing an election, but that costs money and [takes] time. I’d like to think we’ll decide within two months. We’ll be seeking those who want to serve.

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