The Moraga Orinda Fire District (MOFD) might be the single most important governmental organization in Lamorinda. Its board of directors is responsible for fire prevention and fire control in an area at high risk for wildfires.
Come November, at least two new board members will be deciding Orinda’s fire prevention future, and it’s possible that three new faces will have the majority when January rolls around.
First, incumbent Steve Danziger has decided not to seek re-election, opening up District 3 for John Donnelly or MOFD challenger, Steve Cohn.
In addition, Danziger said that Division 2 director John Jex has resigned. The board was set to discuss filling his position at a meeting Aug. 19.
Jex’s replacement will finish out the two years remaining on his term, while the three board members whose terms expired will earn four-year teams.
District 1’s Greg Hasler is guaranteed re-election, as he is running unopposed, but the District 3 and District 4 seats each have two candidates in the race.
Donnelly and Cohn will battle it out in District 3, and incumbent Mike Roemer will face off against challenger Linda Stevens in District 4.
The District 3 campaign will likely be the most contentious, as Cohn has been a steadfast critic of some of the board’s policies.
Cohn emphasized the positives of MOFD’s response to medical emergencies, including their successful operation of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program.
But, he said, “I am less excited about MOFD’s wildfire prevention efforts.”
Cohn said MOFD needs to expand its current mitigation efforts and conduct wildfire modeling and evacuation analysis, in lieu of the cities of Orinda and Moraga taking on those tasks.
He also is concerned about the disparity in revenue collected from Orinda and Moraga, with Orinda paying more over the years.
“Orinda property taxes to MOFD are projected by MOFD to add up to $300 million over the next 10 years,” said Cohn. “After operating expenses, MOFD projects a surplus of $85 million.”
MOFD is not currently planning to use that money for wildfire prevention in Orinda, he said, and is instead looking at adding to its reserves. “Some of this money should be used in Orinda to reduce the risk of wildfires,” said Cohn.
“I have 50 years’ experience in financial analysis. I can bring this experience into MOFD to better allocate funds for protection and financial stability,” added Cohn.
It would have been a three-man race but Danziger decided not to run after going through the initial filing process.
“After considerable thought, I have decided not to seek a third term on the board,” said Danziger. He’s giving his support to John Donnelly. “John is extremely qualified for the position and will be an outstanding director.”
Donnelly witnessed how damaging wildfires affect young children when he participated in a project with the Orinda Union School District, non-profit Mindful Littles, and the Rotary Clubs of Orinda and the town of Paradise, Calif. The effort provided tools to help school children who’d lived in fire-scarred Paradise cope with the stress of the aftermath.
“I saw firsthand the impact on these children’s minds and spirits,” said Donnelly in a statement on his campaign website. “That convinced me that if ever I had an opportunity to protect our children from the same types of risks, I would make the most of it.”
Donnelly also stressed the importance of maintaining MOFD’s high level of readiness.
“The continued success of the Moraga Orinda Fire District is vital to protecting the health and well-being of our community. Its current strong position is a tribute to years of hard work in the district and our region,” he said.
Donnelly has lived in District 3 since 1998, and is the father of two Miramonte High School graduates. He retired after 30 years with the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps. He’s worked in the discovery and development of vaccines and also holds a Ph.D. in immunology.
Roemer is seeking his second term as MOFD’s Division 4 director. A retired Alameda County Deputy District Attorney, Roemer was elected to the MOFD board in 2022. He has completed training as a Community Emergency Response Team volunteer (CERT), Lamorinda Area Radio Interest Group HAM/GMRS Radio operator, and as a Moraga-Orinda Fire District Communications Support Team volunteer.
Roemer is proud of the volunteer efforts that he and his family have contributed to the betterment of Orinda over the past 34 years.
“From volunteering in, and raising money for our schools, coaching our youngsters, serving on the MOFD Support Unit, supporting prescribed burns, helping practice evacuations, advising home hardening, and overseeing a financially successful and collaborative MOFD board, I have spent half my life in service to Orinda,” he said.
“Demonstrated experience matters. I would be honored to continue serving my Orinda neighbors.”
Roemer and his wife have lived in Orinda since 1992, and their two children attended local public schools and graduated from Miramonte High.
District 4 challenger Stevens has decades of experience in the geographic information systems (GIS) field, spending much of that time providing support for fire agencies. If elected, she would be the second woman ever to serve on the MOFD.
Stevens’ priorities for the fire district lie in ensuring financial accountability, as well as comprehensive and fair policies supporting California’s impending Zone Zero fire regulations, and oversight of the new single-role EMS service.
The ongoing property insurance crisis, resident outreach regarding home hardening against fire and stronger relationships with other public agencies round out Stevens’ goals.
Stevens has pledged to be as responsive as possible to residents.
