Rick Blodgett seeks EID Division 2 board seat

Rick Blodgett is running for the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors, Division 2, in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The nonpartisan race also includes Greg Prada and Lauren Hernandez.

Asked in our candidate questionnaire why he is seeking the seat, Blodgett said, "My training as a scientist gives me a unique perspective to bring solutions to EID's problems. I understand the technical complexities that can face a Board member. I bring vision, experience, and practical solutions to address EID's water and wastewater needs."

He added, "The Board has become so distracted with fiscal worries that they overlook their main objectives to provide health and safety to the consumer and maintain the integrity of the infrastructure."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: "Republican," Blodgett said in our questionnaire.

Family: "Married 49 years to wife, Cindie. Four (4) happily married children. Eleven (11) precious grandchildren. Three generations of my family currently living in El Dorado County," Blodgett said in our questionnaire.

Education: Blodgett listed his education in our questionnaire as "Doctorate, Walden University: Ph.D. Public Health Epidemiology," "Graduate, CSUS: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry" and "Undergraduate, CSUS: Environmental Microbiology (Minors in Forensic Science and Chemistry)."

Previous elected or appointed office: "None," Blodgett said in our questionnaire. "I have no political ambitions or intentions of using this position as a 'stepping stone' to higher office but only to serve the community where I live with the talents that I have."

Experience and public service

Asked about his occupation and work history in our questionnaire, Blodgett said, "I have 44 years of continual experience in the water industry," including "33 years as a Water Quality Chemist for the City of Sacramento, Department of Utilities," "32 years as owner/director of Water Environmental Testing Laboratory in Shingle Springs" and work as "Owner and lead researcher for Blodgett Research Institute for Waterborne Infectious Disease investigating the biofilm formations in groundwater systems."

He also described founding Bright Water Foundation, "an international non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) dedicated to eradication of cholera and typhoid in the developing world."

Asked what accomplishments show he can handle the job, Blodgett said in our questionnaire, "BWF is experiencing tremendous results with a 96% success rate. The closest that the World Health Organization has achieved is a 27% success rate." He also cited his volunteer service: "My community service in EDC Search and Rescue culminated with the county asking me to serve as the logistics chief for the Office of Emergency Services and awarding me Volunteer of the Year (2004)."

On the issues

Asked about differences between himself and other candidates, Blodgett said in our questionnaire, "My opponents have experience in politics and committee processes. They pose sociological hypotheses, arguments, and criticism but provide no solutions to the current dilemma. Board members should ask the right questions to give staff the right direction to develop the right solutions. My background in water quality means that I know the right questions to ask."

He also said, "My campaign is funded solely by friends and neighbors in the community who believe in me and support me, not developers and other interests from outside the county."