On Tuesday, April 1st, the Wrightwood Community Service District (WCSD) held its regular board meeting, during which the board voted to accept President Kristy Gerard’s resignation from both the board and her role as president. Gerard submitted her resignation on March 28th, stating in her letter, “I am saddened that I must step down but I have accepted a job on the East Coast. As such, I will not have the ability to give the appropriate time to the community. This decision was not made lightly but I feel it only fair to both the Board and the community to do so.”
Gerard has served on the WCSD since 2022 and was recently appointed as president after the previous board president, Natalie Lopiccolo, completed her term in 2024.
With Gerard’s resignation, there is now an opening for a replacement director on the board. The WCSD has previously navigated the process of filling a vacant board seat, having gone through a similar situation just last year when Director Franklin resigned in 2024 due to health concerns.
Following Franklin’s resignation, the WCSD held open interviews to fill the vacancy, ultimately appointing Kurt Watson to the board in September 2024 to complete a two-year term left open by the late Director Franklin.
Now, the WCSD is preparing to fill another seat through the same open interview process, aiming to complete the appointment before the deadline, which is 60 days from the effective resignation date to fill the seat.
In a swift effort, the WCSD has released a public notice inviting anyone interested in applying for the vacant seat, which will serve the remainder of Gerard’s four-year term set to expire in December 2026. To be considered as an applicant, interested candidates must reside within WCSD boundaries, be registered voters, and submit a resume along with a letter of intent to the WCSD by Thursday, May 1st, no later than 5:00 PM, via email to [email protected].
A special board meeting will then be held on Wednesday, May 7th, at 5:30 PM in the Wrightwood Community Building, where applicants will participate in an open interview process.
The public is invited to attend the special meeting, listen to the applicants, and provide public comments. However, the final decision for the appointment will rest with the current board members, who must reach a favorable vote of 3-1 for an appointment to be confirmed.
If the board is unable to agree on a candidate, a special election will be required, with voting conducted by the residents. The board hopes to reach a consensus, as the election would have to be managed through the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters, potentially incurring significant costs for the community, including hiring poll workers and printing/mailing special ballots.
The WCSD is also accepting applications for the General Manager position following the board’s decision in February not to renew the previous GM’s contract. The General Manager oversees day-to-day operations, financial management, and administrative functions, reporting directly to the Board of Directors. For the full job description, qualifications, and application instructions, please visit the WCSD website. https://wrightwoodcsd.org/ Applications for the General Manager position are due by Friday, May 9, 2025.
For any questions or to request additional information about the upcoming Board of Directors appointment special meeting, or about the General Manager postion, please contact the WCSD at 760-249-3205 or email them at [email protected].
