About

Board of Directors

The SDLF Board is made up of nine members: three directors designated by the California Special Districts Association (CSDA), three directors designated by the Special District Risk Management Authority (SDRMA) and three public members appointed by majority vote of the designated directors. CSDA and SDRMA appoint their designated representatives to the SDLF Board every four years.


raffelsonweb2012.jpgSandy A. Seifert Raffelson - President
Herlong Public Utility District
SDRMA Representative

Sandy A. Seifert-Raffelson holds a bachelor degree in Business Administration with a minor in Sociology and Accounting; has 15 years experience in special district bookkeeping, accounting and auditing; and has completed her District Clerk Certificate, CSDA Governance Foundation Leadership Academy and completed the Certificate in Special Districts Governance.

Mrs. Raffelson is the General Manager for Herlong Public Utility District and has been involved with the District since the beginning of its conception as Herlong Utility Cooperative, later changing to Herlong Utility Incorporated, and finally to a Public Utility District. Mrs. Raffelson has strong business, community and family values.



Jo1.jpgJo MacKenzie - Vice President
Vista Irrigation District
CSDA Representative

Jo MacKenzie serves on the boards of directors for Vista Irrigation District and the California Special Districts Association. She has served with Vista Irrigation District since 1992. In 2011, MacKenzie was recognized as Special District Official of the Year by PublicCEO.com and was CSDA’s Legislative Advocate of the Year in 2010. Her local government experience also includes serving the San Diego LAFCo as an alternate commissioner and sitting on its special district advisory committee. She has served on the Association of California Water Agencies’ Region 10 Board and is a graduate of the CSDA Special District Leadership Academy.


Elaine.jpgElaine Magner - Treasurer
Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District
CSDA Representative

Elaine Magner has been on the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District (PVRPD) Board of Directors since February 2008. She has served as board president twice, served on the personnel and finance committees and is PVRPD’s representative to the Ventura County Special Districts Association (VCSDA) and CSDA. She was honored by VCSDA by being named the 2014 Director of the Year and has worked in public service for 31 years in law enforcement human resources.


Tim UnruhTim Unruh - Secretary
Kern Mosquito Vector Control District
SDRMA Representative


Tim Unruh sits on the Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District Board of Directors and currently sits as a Director on the California Association of Public Cemeteries and Kern County Special Districts Association.

Unruh holds a BA degree in Ag. Business with an Economic Emphasis. Additionally, He has earned his Certified Special District Manager Certification and achieved the Certificate in Special Districts Governance Award.


davidweb2011.jpgDavid Aranda, CSDM - Past President

SDRMA Representative

David Aranda, CSDM has served as a member of the SDRMA Board of Directors since 1998. Committed to advocating and strengthening special districts through sound governance, Aranda is an active member of the California Special Districts Association (CSDA), fulfilling a variety of roles within the Association, including serving on the Alliance Executive Council and as a faculty member of the Special District Leadership Academy.




Angela MappAngela Mapp
Public Member

Angela Mapp joined the California State Assembly’s Local Government Committee in January of 2013, serving as Principal Consultant and Deputy Chief Consultant before accepting the Chief Consultant position in 2020.  Angela began her career in communications, as a Public Information Officer for the Washington State Department of General Administration and the Washington State Senate.  Since moving to California in 2003, Angela has worked as a Legislative Aide in the California State Senate, as a Consultant in the Office of the Speaker, and as a Senior Consultant with the Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee.  Angela holds a Bachelor's Degree in Humanities from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.



geoff.jpgGeoffrey Neill
Public Member

Geoffrey Neill is a Legislative Analyst for Neilsen Merksamer. He previously worked as a policy analyst for the California State Association of Counties, CSDA as a public affairs specialist, and as the liaison to the Proposition 1A campaign in 2004. Additionally, he currently serves as the chair of the school site council at his daughters’ school.





Rauch.pngMartin Rauch
Public Member

Martin Rauch, is President of Rauch Communication Consultants, in charge of all outreach and strategic planning activities. He has 20 years experience working with dozens of public agencies. Rauch has served as a speaker and seminar leader for the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), and the California Special Districts Association (CSDA). He is a regular faculty member of the Special District Leadership Academy, and has been invited as a speaker to many other statewide associations.


Lorenzo RiosLorenzo Rios
CSDA Representative

Lorenzo Rios has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Clovis Veterans Memorial District (CVMD) since 2015. In his current capacity, he works closely with all Veterans Organizations, Military Units, Community Service Organizations, to provided services to military members, veterans, and their families in order to improve the quality of life of all constituents through greater understanding and awareness of key issues impacting our community. In addition, he serve as the Chapter President for the Central Valley Local Chapter of the California Special District Association.

Staff

Neil McCormick - CEO
Neil McCormick
CEO







Megan Hemming
Program Manager







Rick Wood
Rick Wood
Finance Manager







Amber
Amber Phelen
Program Assistant