Impasse: FPUD, Rainbow boards reach sticking point on governance

The proposed merger between the Fallbrook Public Utility District and the Rainbow Municipal Water District has encountered the obstacle of the governance structure for the successor district.

FPUD, which elects its directors by seat with the entire district voting for each seat, has proposed a hybrid of at-large and by-division board members. Rainbow, which elects its directors by division with only voters in that division participating in the choice, is not willing to yield from its desire to have the successor district’s board elected by divisions.

“It’s basically at an impasse right now,” s...