Update: Yonan maintains big lead over Zipser for only contested seat on TID board
David Yonan had a big early lead over Wayne Zipser in the only contested race for the Turlock Irrigation District board Tuesday night.
As of 11:30 p.m., Yonan had 2,546 votes to 1,042 for Zipser. The count is mainly votes received through Monday by the Stanislaus County Election Office.
They are vying to succeed Charles Fernandes in Division 2, in and near Ceres between Highway 99 and Santa Fe Avenue. The incumbent has served since 2001 but did not seek reelection.
Zipser, 68, retired in April after 19 years as executive manager of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. He also has worked in farm management.
Yonan, 61, grows almond and grapes and is an agribusiness consultant. He previously worked for Bank of America.
Incumbent Joe Alamo was unopposed in Division 4, the northwest part of TID. Ron Macedo drew no challengers in Division 5, the south.
TID irrigates about 149,000 acres between the Tuolumne and Merced rivers. It has about 105,000 electricity customers in the same zone, as well as Patterson and part of the hills to the west.
Yonan and Zipser said during the campaign that they would resist the state’s plans for reservoir releases into the lower Tuolumne River if they would take too much water from farms.
They also said they could help guide TID as it meets state mandates for renewable power sources and electric cars.
This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 8:52 PM.
