Water-Agency-Board-of-Directors Board of Directors

Wendy Thomas

El Dorado County Board of Supervisors

Wendy's roots to El Dorado County run deep. Her family settled here in 1850, and after finding success in Placer mining, they transitioned to business owners in Placerville. Her great-great grandfather became the Recorder/Clerk of El Dorado County and was later elected as both the County Sheriff and Tax Collector from 1899 – 1906. For generations, her family has invested in and contributed to the economic vitality of the local community. Wendy became a member of the EDWA Board of Directors in 2021.

Born at Marshall Hospital, Wendy spent her fondest childhood memories in Placerville and at the family cabin near Desolation Wilderness. Returning after college, she married and raised two daughters. She and her husband owned and operated a small printing business in Placerville for 23 years while Wendy developed a career as a nationally acclaimed artist. In 2009, life altered, and the call of community rang strong. In 2010, she was elected to the Placerville City Council, serving for eight years, with two terms as mayor. While on the council, Wendy established the Neighborhood Chat Program and was instrumental in working with a group of dedicated community members to secure roughly $40 million over a 20-year period to fix Placerville's failing roads and pipes. In 2014, she was honored by Assemblyman Frank Bigelow as "Woman of the Year" for Assembly District 5.  She is a proud member of Class XV of the American Leadership Forum (ALF), and has served on numerous community boards including nine years as a board member of Marshall Medical Center. In 2020, Wendy obtained a Master of Science in political science from Southern New Hampshire University, and she holds two bachelor's degrees in business administration and fine art.

In 2011, Wendy was blessed to meet her husband, Dennis, who shares an equal love and commitment to community. As the owner of Robinsons Pharmacy, Dennis was elected to the Placerville City Council in 2018, serving as mayor in 2021. Married in 2013, they have four children between them along with three granddaughters and two grandsons, all of whom live locally. Elected to the Board of Supervisors in the 2020 Primary Election, Wendy brings with her years of experience in governance. Equally important, she embodies passionate, resourceful, and respectful leadership which stems from her deep and abiding love for our community and the people in it. Recognizing that each of the communities in District III are different, Wendy is committed to working together to find common sense, common ground solutions to the challenges that confront our county with the goal of keeping El Dorado County rural, relevant and economically vital for generations to come.

George Turnboo

El Dorado County Board of Supervisors

George Turnboo is an El Dorado County original. George's ancestors lived in the area since the 1840s, and he raised a family here. George has been a local business owner for over 40 years. As a business owner, George understands the challenges for businesses as well as the benefits for the local economy. He supports law enforcement as community protection, and believes in properly managed growth through basic infrastructure and services.

George loves the people and rural lifestyle that we all enjoy in El Dorado County. If you have concerns, and live in District 2, please feel free to reach out to George or his assistants. George's goal is to best represent District 2 and all residents of El Dorado County.

George became a member of the EDWA Board of Directors in 2021.

Lori Parlin

El Dorado County Board of Supervisors

Lori Parlin moved to El Dorado County with her family at the age of four. She spent several years of her childhood in Camino and then later moved to Pollock Pines. Following college and residing in the Sacramento region, Lori and her husband returned to the County to raise their family, settling in Shingle Springs. She was elected to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors in 2018, and has been a member of the EDWA Board of Directors since 2019.

Lori has been involved in many land use and development issues in El Dorado County, including creating and co-leading Stop Tilden Park, which advocated to keep the land zoning at one-acre parcels in Shingle Springs, and the Shingle Springs Community Alliance, to advocate for keeping Shingle Springs rural. As president of the Alliance, Lori has led efforts to stop incompatible, high-density projects in Shingle Springs, as well as to bring the community together to create a better plan for its future. She also supports other local communities with their efforts to form alliances to stop incompatible development projects, including development of Community Plans for local communities which create standards and guidelines for development that preserves communities’ unique characteristics and lifestyle.

Additionally, Lori continues to support work toward creating community identity pursuant to Goal 2.4 of the El Dorado County General Plan. In December 2017, the Board of Supervisors approved funding for the creation of design standards in several communities throughout the County in an effort to preserve the unique character and lifestyle that residents enjoy.

Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Management Information Systems, from California State University, Sacramento. She has also held positions with Ponderosa High School and the Forestry Challenge.

Mike Thornbrough

Georgetown Divide Public Utility District

Mike Thornbrough has lived in Georgetown for over 31 years. After attending Board meetings of the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District for several years, he decided to run for a Seat on the Board of Directors for GDPUD and was elected in 2020. Mike became a member of the EDWA Board of Directors in 2021. 

Mike is retired from his previous position as an Assistant Director of Maintenance & Facilities for a Public School District. His many responsibilities in that position included controlling operating budgets, procurement of supplies for all Public Schools within the District, issuing RFPs and subsequent contracts for various construction projects, overseeing construction projects including the building of new schools, and maintenance, repair, and replacement of the District's infrastructure. He was also responsible for preparing and maintaining the District's 5-year Capital Improvement Plan for annual submission to the State in pursuance of "matching funds" from the State for large Capital Improvement/Replacement Projects.

Upon realizing that millions of dollars of Public School funding was having to be "kicked back" to the State in the form of State Sales Tax on purchases, Mike got a Bill authored in the State Senate, and another Bill authored in the State Assembly, to exempt all K-12 Public Schools from having to pay this tax. With support from the State's Franchise Tax Board, and the State President of the California Teachers Association, and with no opposition, the Senate Bill was well on its way to passage. Unfortunately, the Energy Crisis hit the State and all Bills creating a loss of revenue to the State were instantly "killed".

After his retirement, Mike and his wife Charlene decided to become Contract Mail Carriers in Georgetown figuring that would be a good way to get to know pretty much all of the local community, it was a good excuse to buy a Jeep, and it would be fun. They performed this service for about 7 years.

Recognizing a need for simple ventilation for Shipping Containers, which thousands of people across the Country use for storage on their property, Mike designed Vents for these containers and started a business manufacturing his Vents, called CON-VENTS®, which he and Charlene currently operate from their home.

Mike is also a U.S. Navy Veteran. 

David Peterson

South Tahoe Public Utility District

Dave Peterson is a licensed Civil Engineer specializing in water resources, with 37 years in private practice.  He co-founded new water resources engineering firm in Folsom in 2005, and in 2020, he sold his interest in the firm, but continues in a part-time emeritus role.  He has previously served on the Boards of the San Juan Water District, Association of California Water Agencies, Water for the West Foundation, and the National Water Resources Association.

Dave grew up in SLT in the 1960s and 70s.  His father started up Alpine Animal Hospital on Highway 89 in 1965.  They lived in Tahoe Keys, and he raced for the Heavenly Valley Blue Angels.  He left Tahoe in the mid-1970s for education and career.  He and his wife of 39 years have now returned for an active and fulfilling retirement in Tahoe.

David became a member of the EDWA Board of Directors in 2021.