'I've got a gun" says besieged board member

Lamont residents have a beef with the Public Utilities District and they're taking it to the streets this week. The Dolores Huerta Foundation is holding vigils with frustrated residents outside the homes of Lamont PUD board members.

One board member says utility customers are taking this too far. In fact, he's worried what might happen.

It started with a Public Utilities District Board meeting, where all parties got a little riled up.

Residents were upset they were being saddled with water bills in the thousands of dollars for illegal hook-up's they say they knew nothing about.
 
PUD board members countered by saying somebody needs to pay.

Now. UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta is getting involved.

She said the controversy was already personal.

"When you get your water cut off and you have no way to have water for your cooking your cleaning or your children, that's a very personal issue. So I think he should look at it in those terms," said Huerta.

Board member Tony Cuellar said protester are taking it too far.
 
"If they didn't take care of their business at the office, why should they come over to every board members home. To me this is harrassment," said Cuellar.

He said he has post traumatic stress disorder and doesn't handle crowds well.

He told 17 News he's afraid what will happen if the foundation shows up to his house and one of the protesters gets aggressive.
 
"I've got a gun," he said. "I've got rocks, I've got sticks.

"But you know what? I don't them to get me to that point where, because some of these people have no respect. I don't want nothing happening to my house, break a window, mess with my trucks," said Cuellar.

Huerta said Cuellar doesn't have to worry about violence. 

"I should hope he will not respond in a violent way. And if he does I can assure you that nobody will respond in a violent way in return," said Huerta.

The Kern County Sheriff's Department says both parties have rights. And if anyone crosses that line, deputies say they will get involved.

Cuellar said he may just stay away from home on the night they plan to be at his home in order to avoid the confrontation.