In this election year, it’s the presidential, congressional and state level, that gets the limelight. But this November, voters in areas of the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier will have even more choices, including races for local water boards.
Candidates are vying for seats on the board of the Central Basin Municipal Water District, the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, the Three Valleys Municipal Water District, the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, the La Puente Valley County Water District and the Orchard Dale Water District.
Water boards’ functions vary, but basically they make decisions on water resources and the delivery of water in various areas. The water districts than carry out that management, as the direction of the board directors. The are, in effect, a local government in themselves that seek a reliable water supply in their jurisdictions.
The Central Basin Municipal Water District serves 1.6 million people from 24 cities and unincorporated areas in southeast Los Angeles.
The San Gabriel Valley Water District serves residents in Alhambra, Azusa, Monterey Park and Sierra Madre. Directors serve four-year terms.
Three Valleys Municipal Water District serves Pomona, Walnut and eastern San Gabriel Valley. Directors serve four-year terms.
The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District serves an area that includes 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.
The La Puente Valley County Water District serves residents in parts of La Puente and the City of Industry, as well as Avocado Heights.
The Orchard Dale Water District serves customers in Whittier. Each director on the five-member board are elected to a four-year term.
Below is a summary of these Assembly races.
CENTRAL BASIN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Member, Board of Directors, Division 1
MARTHA CAMACHO-RODRIGUEZ
Water Director/Teacher
Martha Camacho-Rodriguez is involved in community organizations such as Restore the Delta, Food and Water Watch, the Sierra Club of Los Angeles, and Dignity and Power. Camacho-Rodriguez was re-elected to serve on the Central Basin Board of Directors in November of 2020, her term ends in December. She is running again to serve on the board.
LEMEIKA RHASHAAN POPE
Lemekia Rhashaan Pope has no published campaign website.
JOSE DE LEON
Jose De Leon is a small business owner. Leon has no campaign website.
LETICIA VASQUEZ-WILSON
Director, Central Basin Municipal Water District Division 1
Leticia Vasquez Wilson touts fight for clean and affordable water in Lynwood. Wilson has worked as a public servant, teacher and college professor.
Wilson has served as a council member and mayor for the city of Lynwood. She currently serves as the water director at the Central Basin Municipal Water District.
JOSE R. GONZALEZ
Technologist/Mayor/Businessman
Jose Gonzalez promises to work for lower water rates, promote water conservation and ensure water quality consistency.
Gonzalez is the mayor of the city of Cudahy. He said he committed to securing the city’s water future.
CENTRAL BASIN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Member, Board of Directors, Division 2
MAX A. ORDONEZ
Business Executive/Entrepreneur
Whittier homeowner Max Ordonez said he understands the importance of clean, safe and affordable drinking water for families. Ordonez pledges to operate independently of partisan politics to focus on what is best for the Whittier community, ensuring responsible management of local tax dollars.
He has run his own consulting firm since 2000 and is experienced in managing large-scale projects for school districts and municipalities.
GARY MENDEZ
Instructor/School Board member
Gary Mendez has worked for more than 25 years in public service in education, water policy and environmental justice and is a current trustee for the Whittier Union High School District. Mendez said he is focused on water conservation, modernizing water infrastructure, environmental protection, community education and transparent governance.
FERNANDO ISLAS
Fernando Islas has no campaign website. A flier on his social media says he is a Marine Corps veteran.
JOSUÉ ALVARADO
Loan Officer/Realtor
Josué Alvarado is experienced in local government and touts a passion for providing an affordable water supply for all communities.
Previously, Alvarado served as a Whittier city councilmember, and Whittier Utility Authority Board member, and he has been a member of numerous Los Angeles County public health and safety advisory boards.
LISSETH M. FLORES-FRANCO
Former Bell Gardens City Council Member
Lisseth M. Flores-Franco formerly served as a Bell Gardens City Council member. She has no campaign website.
CENTRAL BASIN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Member, Board of Directors, Division 4
JUAN GARZA
Water Board director
Juan Garza is the appointed director of the Central Basin Municipal Water District Board of Directors, Division 4. He touts more than 25 years in government relations, management and communications experience, with expertise in environmental services and administration.
DORA SANDOVAL
Los Angeles County Commissioner
Dora Sandoval touts experience as a former school board member for the Little Lake City School District and community leader. She says she wants to bring transparency and accountability to the district.
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Member, Board of Directors, Division 2
STEVEN THOMAS PLACIDO
Board Member, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Division 2
Steven Placido said he cares about representing Alhambra’s interests and ensuring a reliable and sustainable water future.
Placido, a dentist by trade, is running for re-election to the board. He was elected in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. Placido has a private practice in Alhambra.
He has lived in Alhambra for most of his life, attending Garfield Elementary School and Alhambra High School.
NICOLAS KIET QUACH
Alhambra Library Trustee
Nicolas Quach is president of the Alhambra Library Board, educator and community leader. Quach is running for the board to, “Ensure no one chooses between groceries, paying rent and keeping the water running,” according to his website. Quach emphasizes on his site that he is the only Democrat running for a spot on the board and is endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.
THREE VALLEYS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Member, Board of Directors, Division 2
DAVID DE JESUS
Director, Three Valleys Municipal Water District
David De Jesus was responsible for the day-to-day operations at the Covina Irrigating Company, the primary water provider for the city of Covina up until his retirement.
He has served as a director at Three Valleys Municipal Water District since 1997.
MARTIN W. RAY
Retired Water Manager
Martin Ray is a retired city of Alhambra Public Works director. Ray has no campaign website, but his bio notes his experience on multiple water boards, and a master’s degree in Organizational Management and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Azusa Pacific University. He has served as a director of the Three Valleys Water District since 1997.
JEANETTE FLORES
School Board Member
Jeanette Flores is a mother and elected official.
She is an advocate for sustainable water management and conservation.
Flores’ work, including being a school board member, has given her experience in responsible stewardship. Flores touts a commitment to informing local residents and customers on where their water comes from and how it gets to the tap.
THREE VALLEYS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Member, Board of Directors, Division 6
JOHN MENDOZA
Water Operator
John Mendoza has lived in Pomona for over 30 years. He looks to continue his service and commitment to the city he loves by serving on the water board. He was a member of the board in 2008-2012 and 2016-2020.
He opposes the privatization of Pomona’s water supply and utility taxes that he says do not offer real incentives, water conservation, or savings. Mendoza touts a passion for keeping water resources under local control, guaranteeing that funding directly benefits residents.
DANIELLE SOTO
Incumbent
Danielle Soto was elected in 2020 to represent Division 6 for the Three Valleys Municipal Water District and now she is seeking re-election.
Since 2009 she has worked at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) as a part of their Legislative Public Affairs and Media team. Soto’s interest in water, air and the environment grew when she attended UC Santa Cruz and earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies.
JORGE A. MARQUEZ
Water Director/Educator
Jorge Marquez, a Pomona resident is committed to ensuring safe and sustainable water resources for his community. During his time as the Chairman of the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA), he oversaw groundwater quality management programs, remediated contamination and prevented pollution.
UPPER SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Member, Board of Directors, Division 2
CHARLES MANUEL TREVINO
Director, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
Charles Trevino says there is an ongoing water crisis happening in California and that he is a part of the solution.
Trevino believes that an active water district can help serve residents by offering safe, affordable water and creating jobs during difficult economic times.
With over 30 years of experience in the water industry, Trevino says he will focus on channeling state resources to ensure an adequate supply of high-quality water at the lowest costs for taxpayers, consumers and businesses of the District.
MINDY YEH
Businesswoman
Mindy Yeh wants to bring a fresh perspective to water management.
Yeh’s experience on previous board has equipped her to advocate effectively for the needs of those in the water district.
Yeh wants to distinguish herself apart from the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District’s scandals and controversies and provide reliable, clean and affordable water for the community.
LA PUENTE VALLEY COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
WILLIAM R. ROJAS
William Rojas is a member of the district’s board of directors. He represents the district as a director for the Association of California Water Agencies – Joint Powers Insurance Authority (ACWA JPIA), and as a director for the Los Angeles County First District Consolidated Oversight Board (LACOB). Before that, he served 15 years on the city of La Puente Planning Commission and Development Review Board. He r retired from the Caltrans an engineer after nearly 40 years. No campaign website could be found.
DAVID “LUCERO” HASTINGS
David “Lucero” Hastings is a water treatment operator. No campaign website could be found.
DAVID ARGUDO
David Argudo is a member of the district’s board of directors. He is a member of the La Puente City Council. No campaign website could be found.
VINCENT MATTHEW SANTANA
Vincent Matthew Santana is a fitness trainer. No campaign website could be found.
ORCHARD DALE WATER DISTRICT Member, Board of Directors
YVETTE STEVENSON-RODRIGUEZ
Director, Orchard Dale Water District
Yvette Stevenson-Rodriguez is running for re-election, after serving as the first female Latina president and director of the Orchard Dale Water District.
Stevenson-Rodriguez wants to continue to work for families in the district by supporting projects to create a sustainable supply of water, improve water quality and maintain practices that promote fiscal responsibility.
She has over 20 years of experience working with non-profits and private sector employers.
FRANK AGUIRRE JR.
Public Affairs Consultant
Frank Aguirre Jr. has worked for the government at the local and state level. Aguirre will prioritize transparent decision-making, fiscal responsibility and community engagement.
He wants to work on advancing innovative water management solutions, including expanding water recycling programs and investing in technology to reduce water loss.
DENNIS R. AZEVEDO
Incumbent
Dennis Azevedo has worked as an army ranger, police officer and as board director of the Orchard Dale Water District.
Azevedo says he is passionate about protecting water. He is interested in serving his community by continuing to serve on the water board.
Jenna Mindel is a 2024 California Press Foundation Internship Grant finalist, reporting for the Southern California News Group. She is a 2024 graduate from Biola University, majoring in journalism. She really likes Dr. Pepper.
