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Candidates clash over groundwater, SGMA and an imported water project for Ridgecrest
Summary
At the Ridgecrest forum, challenger Travis Endicott said rival factions are not talking; Mayor Eric Bruin defended the community’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and singled out agriculture as a major water user.
Water dominated a lengthy section of the Ridgecrest mayoral forum, with candidates disagreeing about local disputes, technical studies and the path to long‑term supply.
Water is central to Ridgecrest’s planning and development. Candidates said the outcome of groundwater policy will affect future housing, agriculture and the city’s finances.
Travis Endicott, a mayoral candidate, framed the problem as a breakdown in communication: “We have 2 different groups who are talking at each other instead of talking with each other,” he said, adding that the disagreement over basic facts and…
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