[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 95 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOHN SCHATZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2012

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of 
Orange County, California are exceptional. Orange County has been 
fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly 
and unselfishly give their time and talent to make their communities a 
better place to live and work. John Schatz is one of these individuals. 
On Friday, June 29, 2012, Schatz will end his tenure as the General 
Manager of the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) after 35 years of 
service to the community.
  Schatz graduated from the University of Redlands with a Bachelor of 
Science Degree in Business Administration and received a Juris Doctor 
from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton in 1989. In 
1998 Schatz was appointed by the State Legislature to the Commission on 
Local Governance for the 21st Century. From 2000 to 2004, he served as 
an instructor on ``Water Policy in Southern California'' at the 
University of California at Irvine. He was also a member of Association 
of California Water Agency's State Legislative Committee for several 
years.
  Prior to becoming General Manager of Santa Margarita Water District, 
Schatz was the General Manager of Jurupa Community Services District 
(JCSD) in western Riverside County from 1984 to 1994. Before joining 
JCSD, he worked in a variety of positions, including Administrative 
Manager, for the Rancho California Water District in Temecula from 1977 
to 1984.
  At SMWD, Schatz established a culture of efficiency. Among his 
accomplishments were doubling the number of connections while reducing 
staffing from 163 to 122 employees by emphasizing cross-training and 
expanding the use of technology. During his tenure, Schatz helped keep 
SMWD's services affordable by holding the line on rate increases while 
finding cost-saving solutions. In the last 15 years, the District has 
raised rates only twice and decreased its rates six times. It has 
reaped an additional $1 million in annual revenues and saved ratepayers 
$6.9 million. Under Mr. Schatz's leadership, SMWD recently partnered 
with four other water agencies to complete the $54 million Upper 
Chiquita Reservoir, creating the largest domestic water reservoir built 
in south Orange County in 45 years while helping to preserve the 
county's open space.
  In light of all John Schatz has done for the community of Orange 
County, it is only fitting that he be honored for his many years of 
dedicated service. John Schatz's tireless passion for conservation and 
public service has contributed immensely to the betterment of our 
community and I am proud to call him a fellow community member, 
American and friend. I know that many community members are grateful 
for his service and salute him as he retires.

                          ____________________