It’s election season in Laguna Woods Village. Eleven candidates are running for seats on the United Mutual and Third Mutual boards of directors in 2025.
In United Mutual, Kathryn Bravata, Alan Dickinson, Richard Hall and Anthony Liberatore are vying for three director seats, each with a term ending in 2028.
The Laguna Woods Globe reached out via email to the seven Third board candidates with a questionnaire asking them about their education and business backgrounds, their affiliations and activities in Laguna Woods, their ideas on improvements or changes that would enhance life for residents, their thoughts on the future of EV charging stations and solar panels, and a personal statement.
Here are the responses from the four United candidates. (See the separate report for the Third Mutual candidates.)
Kathryn Bravata
Years in Laguna Woods Village: 14 years
Education: High school: With four years of education in obtaining my certificates in Purchasing Management Program: Professional Designation in Purchasing and Material Management and Advanced Specialization in Purchasing and Material Management.
Occupation/Business Experience: In my 47 years’ working, I’ve worked in customer service, sales representative, traffic department, and 30 years in purchasing, where I handled our contract labor (HR function), consultants, procurement of facilities supplies, MRO supplies, equipment repairs; handled all auto shop contracts; maintained fleet of over 90 vehicles and trucks; compressed gases, computers and equipment, software peripherals and other electrical items. I’ve also prepared RFQs, RFPs, RFIs (request for quotation/proposals and information).
Laguna Woods Village Affiliations/Activities: Since April 2024, I have served as a VMS director; I was appointed by the United Mutual board.
Personal Statement: With my varied background and serving on several boards when I lived in Long Beach and Torrance – I served as president, vice president, secretary and member at large – I feel I can contribute to the United Mutual board and our community.
What one improvement or change do you think would enhance life in the Village for its residents? While we have great services, I would like to see if we can’t improve on the service requests that are nonemergency.
How do you see the Village moving forward in terms of electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels inside the gates? Electric vehicles are the wave of the future, and with our current infrastructure, our electrical infrastructure needs improving, and since our Village was built in 1964, I feel the installation of charging stations and installation of solar panels will serve us well. However, the cost may be an issue and may take a number of years to obtain the funds. Once this is done, I think everyone will be happy.
Alan Dale Dickinson
Years in Laguna Woods Village: 8
Education: B.A. Degree in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Real Estate and Corporate Management. A.A. Degree in Accounting and Economics. NASDAQ Securities and Stockbrokers License. Department of Insurance License with Annuity Addendum. Lifetime Teaching Credential in Business Administration. Several training certificates from various institutions.
Occupation/Business Experience: Bank of America; 20 years in and around Southern California, including the headquarters building downtown L.A. Regional Vice President and Business Banking Manager; managed three branches. Fiduciary relationships with Hershey Chocolate Co. Pennsylvania ($100 million), United Way Charitable Foundation, L.A. California ($25 million), Ms. Joan Irvine Smith (several million dollars), City of Laguna Beach, City of Long Beach, Spruce Goose plane (Howard Hughes), among many others. My lending limit while at Bank of America was $1 million, and that was on an “unsecured” basis. My secured limit was “unlimited.” I was one of the youngest corporate vice presidents at Bank of America.
Personal Statement: My wife and I have been in the Laguna Woods Village for eight years. I was born in downtown Los Angeles, a native son. I have a degree in finance (and accounting). I am a retired corporate vice president from Bank of America. I have written and published over 137 mysteries, self-help books and novellas on Amazon and Kindle eBooks.
What one improvement or change do you think would enhance life in the Village for its residents? To lower HOA fees. They are way too high, even adjusted for inflation, and they just keep going up every year. I would make this my No. 1 priority if I were elected.
How do you see the Village moving forward regarding electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels inside the gates? I would support several more charging stations for electric vehicles. I have already expressed my support for the Electric Car Club here in the Village. In addition, I believe that adding solar panels to the roofs of the carports would benefit the residents and save them a lot of money on electric costs in the future.
Richard Hall
Years in Laguna Woods Village: United Mutual co-op owner since May 2023
Education: Santa Clara University – Executive MBA Certificate, 2001. UCI – Taught after hours VHDL language course, 1990. USC – Courses toward M.S. Computer Science & Robotics, 1986. DePaul University, Ill. – Extensive coursework toward M.S. Computer Science & A.I., 1981-1982. DeVry University, Ill. – Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, 1977-1980.
Occupation/Business Experience: Hands-on entrepreneur starting five companies with 40+ years of technical engineering and sales experience in managing complex technical projects, driving HW & SW sales, and solving problems for the top Fortune 100 companies. Ran business and daily operations for several personal and start-up companies, with revenues exceeding $3 million/year. Worked for major corporations managing more than 40 simultaneous projects and 32 staff. Created new revenue opportunities resulting in $385 million in overall sales. Helped create and evangelize a new design engineering language (VHDL).
Laguna Woods Village Affiliations/Activities: Currently working as senior audio/video technician and lighting director for VMS. I am starting a new CNC 3D printing club and will teach CAD/CAM class with Saddleback College. I participate in the following activities: woodshop, machine shop, jewelry shop, welding, wood and metal fabrication; robotics, A.I., electronics design and programming; RV Wheelers Club, pickleball, ham radio club.
Personal Statement: I have extensive problem-solving skills, am a quick learner and an effective teacher. I am detail-oriented and can apply common-sense solutions. I am a hard worker willing to do whatever it takes to resolve a problem. I enjoy “seeing the lightbulb turn on” for people and enjoy talking with others to share ideas to make the Village the best community for active seniors on the West Coast.
What one improvement or change do you think would enhance life in the Village for its residents? We need to add more solar to offset the ever-increasing electric bills. I expect electric rates to double in three to four years due to demand for energy. The various boards also need to listen to the needs of its members better and implement timely solutions that benefit the majority of the people. Also, I feel we need to bring more transparency to the governing of the three mutuals and especially VMS/GRF.
How do you see the Village moving forward in terms of electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels inside the gates? EV vehicles are growing at an ever-increasing rate. EV vehicles require less maintenance, generate zero pollution when operating, and generally are cheaper to operate and maintain than a regular gas vehicle.
Anthony M. Liberatore
Years in Laguna Woods Village: 13 years
Education: Maryknoll Fathers, 1960-1964 Scholastic Philosophy BA; Maryknoll Fathers Hingham, Mass. 1964-1965, Theology prep; Maryknoll Fathers Ossining, N.Y., 1st Theology; St. John’s Home Mission seminary, Little Rock, Ark., 2nd Theology; Conception Seminary, Conception, Mo. 3rd and 4th Theology. Three semesters residency in two state hospitals: Valhalla Hospital, Westchester, N.Y.; Osawatomie State Hospital, Osawatomie, Kan.
Occupation/Business Experience: I ran agency 008 for Met Life, sold life and health insurance. In 1972, I went to work for Independent Pier company where we worked with a strong but casual workforce. We had to order labor every day for every job. We redesigned and engineered a new loading operation. Came to the West Coast in 1986 and worked for two companies, Pasha International and SSA Marine. Planned the loading and unloading of ships, ran shops for both companies.
Laguna Woods Village Affiliations/Activities: Member of the Robert’s Rules Study Club for 12 years. My wife and I have a garden plot, and I enjoy the woodshop.
Personal Statement: As a fiduciary, I have to aggressively look for sources of income. Cutting services is not an acceptable option.
What one improvement or change do you think would enhance life in the Village for its residents? We have to keep the Village attractive and relevant for the younger retirees.
How do you see the Village moving forward in terms of electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels inside the gates? It is very apparent that EVs are popular, along with hybrids, and we, meaning all of the governing bodies, have to come to some way of providing this service to our residents.