Don Burns, founding executive director of the organization that evolved into the California Pool & Spa Association, died March 14 of complications from heart surgery. He was 87.
Not only was Burns one of the industry’s true pioneers and history-makers. Some would say he was a legend. And like many legends, his true origin story –- at least in the pool industry- – began with the need to fight a threat. Facing an historic energy crisis in the 1970s, the Golden State was weighing legislation that would outlaw gas pool heaters.
A dozen California pool companies pulled together, searched for a professional government advocate, and found Burns, a lobbyist of 16 years at the time. They started the California Spa and Pool Industry Education Council (SPEC) in 1973. It took months, but Burns was able to sidestep the gas-heater ban.
But he had put industry minds at ease well before reaching the desired outcome, said Mike Geremia, a former SPEC chairman. As a young man, Geremia was exposed to the organization in its early days because of his uncle Frank Geremia, who served a chairmanship as well.
“Because [Burns] was so positive and quick-witted to deal with issues that came up, he had the ability to stabilize things,” Geremia said. “A lot of people would panic in situations like that … as far as the industry’s concerned we don’t deal with those things on a daily basis. Don had a good background in emergency issues … and he just had that ability to work through things, which gave us confidence.”
Burns was originally hired as a single-issue advocate, but ended up serving the state’s industry as its lobbyist and SPEC CEO until 2009, when he retired.
Though SPEC has changed its name to CPSA and evolved into a full-scale trade association, it was strictly a government-advocacy organization during Burns’ tenure. Besides beating back energy regulations, Burns’ primary battles seemed to revolve around proposed solar mandates, water restrictions brought on by drought, and safety-fencing requirements.
While the other threats were rare, the notion of fencing requirements wouldn’t seem to go away in the 1990s. After Burns and SPEC prevented statewide legislation for several years, safety advocates became frustrated, accusing Burns and the industry of placing its interests before the safety of children. They began prompting cities and counties to institute their own fencing requirements. The situation became untenable, with builders having to memorize the barrier codes for each territory they served. Eventually Burns changed course: He approached industry-friendly legislators from both parties to draft a bill that would make room for several alternative safety options, such as alarms and automatic covers.
He used the same strategy in the early 2000s, when the issue of suction entrapment arose, along with proposed legislation that would require safety vacuum release systems. That work resulted in one of the first dual-drain standards in the country, well pre-dating the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.
Many credit Burns for this seat-at-the-table approach, which the entire industry widely employs today.
“He knew how to get people behind and issue and keep them going,” Geremia said. “It’s a tribute to his character that he was able to create the coalition that SPEC became.”
Under Burns’ stewardship, SPEC was one of the first organizations to combat water restrictions by finding and quoting materials stating that pools and spas use less water than comparable areas of lawn.
“He always had the right argument and was on the right side of things,” said Jerry Wallace, current chairman of CPSA. “And he did it honestly and openly. He was so well-regarded at the State House, and at a time was the longest-serving lobbyist in the capitol. He knew everybody, and everybody knew him.”
While his impact on the California pool industry was obvious, long-time CPSA and SPEC board directors say his influence spread across the country, as the Golden State often sets a regulatory tone for other regions. Additionally, they said, he was always quick to share materials and was frequently called upon by other industry organizations for help.
SPEC always struggled with fundraising. Past chairmen say that on a couple occasions, when things got tight, Burns would essentially work for free.
“Don kept SPEC going for a good period of time when there were minimal funds coming in, and he just wouldn’t give up,” said Bruce Dunn, former SPEC chairman. “He was going to keep the thing going. He never asked for interest [afterward]. He just was not that kind of person.”
Throughout his career, Burns had other clients, as well, including Great Britain, which commissioned him for a time to combat legislation being advocated by the Irish Republican Army. In total, Burns worked the Sacramento scene for 52 years.
Burns was something of a household name in Sacramento political circles. His wedding was officiated by former California State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, Jr., a Democrat whose views diametrically opposed many of Burns’. “That doesn’t just happen to anybody,” Wallace said.
This became obvious when Burns would take Dunn to one of his favorite haunts in California’s state capital. “I can remember sitting in there with him, and it was hard to carry on a conversation because [people kept visiting],” he said. “You’d just get ready to take your first bite, and he’d say, ‘Let me introduce you to…’”
He had diverse interests. He served as Consulate General for the Republic of Austria in Northern California and Nevada for approximately 20 years. Upon his retirement from that post, he received the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Star, the third-highest award a civilian can receive from the country. He was a long-time member of the Beefeaters Club, an international gourmet club. For a while, he served as chief warder of the United States arm of the group.
“He was so well rounded and he had so many interests in life,” Dunn said. “But when he latched onto something, he stayed with it. He was involved with the Beefeaters Club as long as I knew him – and after he retired, he became even more involved.”
Dunn believes this may explain why such a seasoned government advocate remained with SPEC through the tough financial times. “He just lived for the challenge that was consistently there in the industry,” he said. “Maybe the reason he stuck with it … was the fact that he just flat enjoyed it.”
To show its appreciation for Burns upon his retirement, the organization presented he and his wife, Peggy, with a two-week trip to London, Paris and Jordan.
