THOMAS RETURNS TO WATER BOARD APPOINTMENT PUTS IN PRO-BUSINESS TILT.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Ousted by voters less than a year ago, Valerie Thomas on Tuesday reclaimed a seat on the Newhall County Water District board.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Thomas and refused to order that a special election be held to fill the board's vacant seat.

Fifth District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich nominated Thomas, who has long been active in local politics, based on a recommendation from Department of Public Works Director James A. Noyes.

Water board Directors Barbara Dore and Randall Pfiester didn't waver in their desire to appoint Thomas over the other half-dozen Santa Clarita residents who applied for the position, while Directors Lynne Plambeck and Joan Dunn agreed to appoint anyone other than Thomas.

``The public is going to be disappointed in Antonovich when we have a water crisis in Santa Clarita because the blame will rightly be his,'' said Plambeck, who pleaded with the supervisors for a special election.

Antonovich decided that the $30,000 cost of a special election was too heavy a burden for the small agency, which serves parts of Canyon Country, Newhall, Valencia and Castaic.

``The supervisors made a wise choice,'' Thomas said.

The agency is a flash point in the dispute over growth in the Santa Clarita Valley, which has created deep tensions among board members.

Pfiester and Dore were elected with the support of Santa Clarita's business community, as was Thomas before she lost to Dunn by 231 votes.

``I believe Thomas' appointment will bring stability back to the board,'' Pfiester said.

He disputed Plambeck's and Dunn's belief that he and Dore intended to create a deadlock, confident that Antonovich would appoint Thomas to serve out the remainder of Director Dick Unger's term, which ends in November 2003. Unger recently moved to the Palm Springs area.

Dore and Pfiester often have accused Plambeck and Dunn of trying to thwart development by questioning the Santa Clarita Valley's water supply.

Dunn and Plambeck have called for a moratorium on development until the valley's water supply can be better understood and bolstered, and they have accused Dore and Pfiester of fueling urban sprawl.

``I expect there will be more friction and dispute,'' Pfiester said.

At a board meeting last month, Dunn said she could not work with Thomas, who she said mismanaged the district.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is investigating reports that as much as $1 million in taxpayer funds was misspent while Thomas was board president.

``It's going to be very difficult to work with her because I don't trust her,'' Dunn said. ``I plan to work for the people, and that's where it ends.''