Water in California is complicated … and governing water use is arguably even more complicated. Local water agencies are as diverse as the communities and landscapes of California. There are thousands of agencies across the state, both public and private, that provide water. They range from a system serving a single mobile home park to huge agencies serving millions of people and businesses and thousands of acres of farmland.
Some water agencies’ governing boards are appointed by a county board of supervisors or city council. The five-member board that oversees the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is appointed by the L.A. mayor and serve for five-year terms, for example. Others are directly elected by voters. Those are the ones you’ll see on your Nov. 5 ballot.
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And just so you know, there are also private, for-profit investor-owned and operated water agencies and other types of private water companies that have neither elected nor publicly appointed officials, such as the California American Water Company, which provides water for about 675,000 homes and businesses across California. They’re regulated at the state level by the State Water Resources Control Board and California Public Utilities Commission (both of which have their oversight boards appointed by the Governor). Because the governing systems for these types of for-profit water agencies are not directly elected by the public, we won’t talk about those any further in this guide.
What do water agencies do?
The statewide patchwork of water regulations and agencies means your specific water provider’s responsibilities will likely vary, but generally they’re making decisions on:
- Setting water rates
- How to spend public funds on water quality and safety
- Scouting new sources of local water
- Making water purchase agreements with major federal and state-owned water projects, such as the State Water Project
- Planning for long-term water sustainability
Water agencies are also responsible for managing other potential water supply sources, such as recycling water or pursuing ocean desalination projects.
Water agencies’ size and power vary dramatically, from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves nearly 19 million people across six counties, to tiny water agencies that serve just a handful of customers.
Despite the high stakes for the future of water in California, these are often low-profile races and many people repeatedly run unopposed, which critics say can sometimes lead to a lack of accountability and corruption.
Fast facts about water agencies
The primary responsibility of any agency overseeing a drinking water system is to keep water safe and clean.
Water resilience in the face of an increasingly dry future is also a top concern. Local water agencies make decisions about developing new local water supplies, such as recycling wastewater, capturing stormwater and replenishing groundwater.
Water affordability is another big consideration for water agencies as increasingly severe drought-to-flood cycles and aging infrastructure affects rates.
Water officials today are making decisions that will affect water availability, water rates, and long-term drought resilience for decades to come.
What does each type of water agency do?
The agencies you’re most likely to see on your ballot are some kind of city- or county-run agency or “special district.” These are local public agencies that provide many of the same services as a city government. Special districts can be responsible for a specific task, such as supplying affordable water, or they can be responsible for a wide range of public services such as flood control, sewer management, and providing electricity. The most common types of special districts that act as local water providers are community services districts, public utility districts, municipal or county water districts and irrigation districts.
On the L.A. and O.C. County ballots, you may see candidates running for:
- Municipal or county water district: In L.A. County you might see the Central Basin Municipal Water District, which serves about 2 million people in Compton, Bell Gardens, East L.A. and 21 other cities and unincorporated areas across southeast L.A. County.
- Water agency (this is not a legal term like the others listed, but we’re including because you may see this description on your ballot): One example is the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, which is holding its third election since emerging from the consolidation of several smaller agencies in 2018. The agency serves 273,000 people and businesses.
- Water replenishment district: The Water Replenishment District of Southern California manages groundwater serving 4 million people from Long Beach to Inglewood to Whittier, a total of 43 cities across southern L.A. county.
What should I consider in a candidate?
To serve on a water board, candidates have to live in the specific area the board serves, just like running for city council or the school board. Some districts also require those running for election to be a landowner, which can exclude many otherwise qualified candidates and is a requirement many experts consider outdated.
Terms are usually between two and four years, but the limit on terms varies. The salaries for board members also vary, from as little as no salary to more than $50,000 per year for some board directors, for example, at the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, according to California State Controller records.
These positions often go unopposed, so board members might end up serving for decades. While long-term experience in water policy is helpful given it’s such a complex topic, that’s also something to keep an eye out for: Is someone in your district running against someone who’s sat on the board for a long time? If so, how are they planning to tackle the situation differently from the incumbent?
When deciding how to vote, you also want to consider the background of someone who’s running and how that influences how they think about water policy and approach complex issues. Some expertise in water issues is relevant, but not required.
What’s on your ballot
Depending on where you live in L.A. and Orange counties, you’ll see the following races on your ballot.
About our guide: when information is missing
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Some candidates did not reply to our requests for images. Some do not have a campaign website and/or list of endorsements available online at the time of publication. We will update this guide as more candidate information becomes available.
Central Basin Municipal Water District
The CBMWD serves 1.6 million people from 24 cities and unincorporated areas in southeast Los Angeles. The Board is made up of seven elected members. There are three seats up for election on Nov. 5.
Division 1
Martha Camacho Rodriguez
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can view her Facebook and her bio page on the water district’s website here.
Leticia Vasquez Wilson
Water board director, incumbent
Website: LeticiaForWaterBoard.com and her bio on the water district’s website.
Jose R. Gonzalez
Mayor of Cudahy
No campaign website. You can view his bio here on the city’s website.
Jose De Leon
No campaign website
Lemeika Rhashaan Pope
No campaign website
Division 2
Max A. Ordonez
Business owner
Website: MaxOrdonez.org
Gary Mendez
School board member
Website: GaryMendez4WaterBoard.com
Fernando Islas
No campaign website
Josue Alvarado, Realtor
No campaign website
Lisseth Flores-Franco
Former Bell Gardens city council member
No campaign website
Division 4
Juan Garza
Water board director, appointed
No campaign website. You can view his bio here.
Dora Sandoval
LA County Commissioner
Website: Dora4CleanWater.com
Endorsements: Full list here
San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
The SGVMWD provides water to Alhambra, Azusa, Monterey Park, and Sierra Madre.
Division 2
Steven Thomas Placido
Water board director, incumbent
Website: Vote4Placido.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Nicolas Kiet Quach
Alhambra Library trustee
Website: NicolasKietQuach.com
Endorsements: See full list here
Three Valleys Municipal Water District
The TVMWD provides water to 13 agencies in the Pomona, Walnut and eastern San Gabriel Valleys, including the cities of Pomona, La Verne, Glendora and parts of Azusa and Covina.
Division 2
David De Jesus
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website, you can read his bio here on the water district’s website.
Martin Ray
Retired city of Alhambra Public Works director
No campaign website
Jeannette Flores
School board member
No campaign website
Endorsement: The National Women’s Political Caucus of San Gabriel Valley
Division 6
Danielle Soto
Water board director, incumbent
Campaign website: None, but you can read her bio here.
John Mendoza
Former water board director
No campaign website
Jorge A. Marquez
Water company director
Website: JorgeMarquez
Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
The USGVMWD provides water to 18 cities and portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County with about one million residents, including in Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, City of Industry, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, La Puente, Monrovia, Rosemead, San Gabriel, South El Monte, South Pasadena, Temple City, and West Covina.
Division 2
Charles Manuel Treviño
Water board director, incumbent
Website: TrevinoForWaterBoard.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Mindy Yeh
Realtor
No campaign website
West Basin Municipal Water District
The WBMWD provdes water to nearly one million people in 17 cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County, including El Segundo, Inglewood, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, parts of Carson, Hawthorne, Playa Vista, and Culver City.
Division 3
Desi Alvarez
Water board director, incumbent
Website: Alvarez4Water.com
Carol Kwan
Former water board director
Website: CarolKwan.com
Endorsements: See full list here
Division 5
Donald Dear
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website but you can view his bio here.
Hugo Rojas
School board president
Website: HugoRojas.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Water Replenishment District of Southern California
The WRD is the largest groundwater management agency by population in the state of California, serving groundwater to four million residents, including in parts of south L.A., Bell Gardens, Compton, Long Beach, Lakewood, Paramount, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, South Gate, Torrance, and more.
Division 2
Robert Katherman
Water board director, incumbent
Website: Katherman4WRD.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Elizabeth Peterson
Small business owner
No campaign website
Division 5
Vera Robles Dewitt
Water board director, incumbent
Website: Vera4WRD.com
John Paul Drayer
Real estate investor and former teacher
No campaign website
Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency
The SCVWA serves 278,000 people, including in Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, Newhall, Saugus and Canyon Country. It is governed by a 9-member board of directors whose terms are four years.
Division 1
Gary Martin
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website but you can read his bio here.
Dan Masnada
Water manager
Website: DanMasnada.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Paula Olivares
School board member
Website: PaulaOlivaresForSCVWater.com
Division 2
Piotr Orzechowski
Water board director, incumbent
Website: Piotr4WaterBoard.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Ken Cooper
Senior director of engineering
Website: VoteKenCooper.com
Nathan Bousfield
Utility planning specialist
No campaign website
Division 3, Two-year term
Kenneth Petersen
Appointed board member
No campaign website. You can read his bio here and learn more about his appointment here.
Stacy Fortner
Solutions architect
Website: ElectStacyFortner.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Division 3, Full term
Kathye Armitage
Water board director, incumbent
Website: VoteKathyeArmitage.org
Holly Schroeder
CEO SCV Economic Development Corporation
Website: VoteForHolly.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Crescenta Valley Water District
The CVWD provides water and sewage collection to the unincorporated communities of La Crescenta, Montrose, and Verdugo City as well as a small portion of the City of La Cañada-Flintridge.
Sharon Raghavachary
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can read her bio here.
Jennifer Valdez
Water board director, appointed incumbent
No campaign website. You can view her LinkedIn here.
Alec Hyeler
Website: AlecHyelerForCVWaterDistrict
La Puente Valley County Water District
The LPVCWD provides water to residents within parts of La Puente and the City of Industry, as well as Avocado Heights.
William Rojas
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can view his bio here.
David Argudo
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website
David “Lucero” Hastings
Water treatment operator
No campaign website
Vincent Matthew Santana
Fitness trainer
No campaign website
Orchard Dale Water District
The ODWD serves about 20,000 people, mostly within the city of Whittier. The five-member board of directors serve terms of four years.
Yvette Stevensen-Rodriguez
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can view her bio here.
Dennis Azevedo
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can view her bio here.
Frank Aguirre Jr.
Public affairs consultant
No campaign website
Palmdale Water District
The PWD serves customers in parts of the city of Palmdale and Antelope Valley. The five-member board serves four year terms.
Division 3
Cynthia Sanchez
Water board director, appointed
No campaign website. You can read her bio here and read more about her appointment here.
Linda Godin
Retired media consultant
No campaign website
Division 4
Kathy Maclaren-Gomez
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can read her bio here.
Brian Uribe
No campaign website
Serrano Water District
The SWD provides water to about 6,500 people in the city of Villa Park and a small portion of the city of Orange.
Division 2
Mike Pelly
Water board director, appointed incumbent
No campaign website. You can view his bio here.
Robert Pitts
Former mayor of Villa Park
No campaign website. You can read more about him here.
Irvine Ranch Water District
The IRWD provides water to about 600,000 people in central Orange County, including Irvine, Tustin, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Orange and Costa Mesa. The five-member board serves four year terms.
Division 4
Karen McLaughlin
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can read her bio here.
Daniel Ferons
Water consultant and engineer
Website: DanFerons.com
Steven Allison
UC Irvine professor
Website: Allison4CleanWater.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Ron Semon, Real estate broker
Website: Facebook
Moulton Niguel Water District
The MNWD provides water to 170,000 customers in south Orange County, including in Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Dana Point, and San Juan Capistrano.
Richard “Dick” Fiore
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can view his bio here.
Brian Probolsky
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can view his bio here.
Duane Cave
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can view his bio here.
Sherry Wanninger
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can view her bio here.
Hossein “Milo” Ebrahimi
Sanitary District engineer
No campaign website. You can find his LinkedIn here.
Santa Margarita Water District
The SMWD provides water to over 200,000 residents in south Orange County, including in the cities of Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and San Juan Capistrano, and the unincorporated communities of Coto de Caza, Las Flores, Ladera Ranch, Sendero, Esencia and Rienda, as well as Talega in San Clemente.
Division 3
Betty H. Olson
Water board director
Website: BettyOlsonSMWD.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Gretha Solórzano
Retired nuclear engineer
No campaign website. You can find her LinkedIn here.
East Orange County Water District
The EOCWD serves customers primarily in East Orange and North Tustin. The five-member board serves four year terms.
Division 1
John Sears
Water board director, incumbent
Website: John4EOCWD.com
Paul Jones
Water resources engineer
Website: PaulJonesForWaterBoard.com
Orange County Water District
The OCWD manages one of the largest groundwater basins in southern California, providing water to about 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County. Of the 10-member board, seven members are elected and three are appointed by Anaheim, Fullerton and Santa Ana city councils.
Division 2
Denis Bilodeau
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can read his bio here.
Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato
No campaign website. You can read more about him here.
Division 3
Roger Yoh
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can read his bio here.
Monique Davis
Nonprofit CEO
No campaign website. You can view her LinkedIn here.
Al Nederhood
Municipal Water District of Orange County board director
No campaign website. You can view his LinkedIn here.
Division 6
Cathy Green
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can view her bio here.
Nile Morgan
Army forward observer
No campaign website
Division 7
Erik Weigand
Water board director, appointed incumbent
No campaign website. You can view his bio here and more about his appointment here.
Bob Ooten
Environmental engineer
No campaign website. You can read more about him here.
Municipal Water District of Orange County
The MWDOC serves nearly 3.2 million Orange County residents throughout Orange County, with the exception of the cities of Anaheim, Fullerton and Santa Ana. Each of the seven-member board members are elected by Orange County voters to a four-year term.
Division 4
Karl Seckel
Water board director, incumbent
Website: KarlForWater.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Pano Frousiakis
Nonprofit executive
Website: PanoForHB.com
Endorsements: Full list here
Division 6
Jeff Thomas
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can view his bio here.
Frank Gomez
Chemistry professor
Website: DrFrankGomezForWaterBoard
Endorsements: Full list here
Pramod Kunju
Business owner
No campaign website. You can view his LinkedIn here.
Trabuco Canyon Water District
The TCWD provides water to residents of Trabuco Canyon, Robinson Ranch, Trabuco Highlands, Walden, Rancho Cielo, Portola Hills, Santiago Canyon Estates, and Dove Canyon. The five-member board serves four year terms.
Stephen Dopudja
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can read more about him here.
Don Chadd
Water board director, incumbent
No campaign website. You can read more about him here.
Barbara Jean Foster
Business owner
No campaign website
John Horst
No campaign website
Mark Anderson
Civil engineer
No campaign website
Stanley D. Kirst, Jr.
Retired civil engineer
No campaign website
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This voter guide originally published Sept. 24.
