GUTZEIT NEW ON WATER BOARD.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

NEWHALL - In a tight race among four candidates, the incumbents won both four-year seats on the Newhall County Water District board Tuesday night, and a newcomer on the environmentalist slate won the vacant two-year seat.

Lynne Plambeck and Randall Pfiester will return to their positions on the five-member board after Plambeck won the popular vote with 28 percent and Pfiester came in a close second with 25 percent.

For the two-year term that was also open, Maria Gutzeit handily beat fellow newcomer Philip Mazzeo to win her first election to public office. Gutzeit, who was on Plambeck's slate, won decisively.

For one of the four-year terms, however, Pfiester was in a tight race. Phil Hof, an engineer who was also on Plambeck's slate, and Val Thomas, an appointee to the board, both came within two percentage points of Pfiester.

About 1,800 voters turned out for the water board election - just under 10 percent of the registered voters.

Plambeck viewed the results as an unlikely victory for her slate despite limited campaign finances, and she said that her and Gutzeit's victories, as well as Hof's apparent near miss, demonstrate a new breed of valley voter. Pending today's count of late absentee votes, Hof still has a chance to unseat Pfiester.

``We had a more informed and aware turnout this year, even though it was small,'' Plambeck said. ``That's the reason Maria and I won, because we had a lot less money to campaign.''

Pfiester, displeased with the overall outcome, apparently narrowly dodged an upset. Hof garnered just 13 fewer votes, equal to 0.4 percent.

``My preference would have been for Val Thomas and Phil Mazzeo to win as well,'' Pfiester said. ``Newhall County Water District elections always seem to run very close.''

Thomas, who lost her seat in the last election, was appointed to a vacant post by county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich after the water board reached a stalemate in choosing a new member.

Hof regretted his apparent near miss, but was pleased with the overall outcome.

``I'm sorry that less than half a percent difference would have put me on the board, ... but with the election of Plambeck and Gutzeit, people will see a difference in the actions of the board over the next two to four years,'' Hof said. ``Their decisions will be a real improvement for the residents and the ratepayers.''

Plambeck said the results signal a changed electorate, keenly interested in water issues.

``I think this shows that voters are getting more knowledgeable about water in the Santa Clarita Valley and that the water district race is important,'' Plambeck said.

Nicholas Grudin, [phone]

nicholas.grudin(at)dailynews.com