Congratulations go out to Directors Justin Lane, Audrey Miller and Gary Van Dam, granted the opportunity to serve as board members for the next four years following their colleagues approval to appoint them to their respective seats at the public board meeting on Tuesday, August 25.

Directors unanimously approved resolutions stating that AVEK would not conduct an election in November because no one filed papers at the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder’s Election Office challenging Justin for AVEK’s Division 4 seat; Audrey for the Division 6 seat; or Gary for the Division 7 seat.

That board action saves AVEK more than $120,000 – the cost involved in participating in the election.

Audrey, the most recent addition to the Board of Directors, had been appointed to her position in November 2019 to fill a vacancy when Director Marlon Barnes stepped down for family reasons. Justin and Gary first won their board seats in the November 2016 election.

Justin occupies the seat that his father, George Lane had as an AVEK Director for more than 30 years.

Justin, Audrey and Gary have ties to the Antelope Valley that reach back to family generations that preceded them, and all three in one way or another remained true to the core of their family businesses.

Justin, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, is a fourth generation Valley resident born and raised at Lane Ranch, a facility in operation since 1908. He also serves as vice president at Monte Vista Building Sites, a family business.

Audrey came to the Valley as a child where she grew up with her siblings who all graduated from Palmdale High School. She holds in high esteem ideals set by her grandfather who was involved in community growth. Audrey, a Realtor, has 30 years of experience in that industry.

Gary, also a multi-generational resident, still runs the family dairy farm, the last one operational in this Valley. He provides milk to the marketplace. In addition, he provides a voice for all the area farmers and he strives to keep the cost of water affordable for consumers, a goal shared by his board colleagues.

Board President Shelley Sorsabal congratulated the three directors “for being unopposed. You’ve done a great job,” she said. “I look forward to working with you.”