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News provided by U.S.G.V.M.W.D
For the first time in its 63-year history, the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District) will be led by a woman president following the Board of Directors’ annual board reorganization.
Director Jennifer Santana was nominated by outgoing President Ed Chavez and was unanimously approved by the board. Santana is serving her second term on the board and was the first woman elected to the Upper District board in 2018. She represents Division 5 which includes the cities of Baldwin Park, Duarte, El Monte, and Irwindale.
“It’s an honor to serve the board in this capacity,” Board President Jennifer Santana said. “I recognize the significance of my appointment not only as a defining moment for women in water, but also for the critical time we find ourselves in today as we battle the effects of climate change. Together, the Board and I will seek solutions to these challenges and make the necessary investments now to ensure sustainable water supplies for future periods of drought.”
The remaining officer positions elected for 2023 are Vice President – Director Anthony Fellow; Treasurer – Director Katarina Garcia; and Secretary – Director Ed Chavez. Director Charles Treviño completes the board, representing Division 2.
Prior to the reorganization, the district attorney administered the oath of office to Directors Anthony Fellow and Jennifer Santana. Santana secured her re-election with an 81 percent majority, while Fellow received a 53 percent majority and remains the longest serving board member in Upper District history.
Additionally, the Board took action to adjust its regular board meeting time to 4:00pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. The change was made in anticipation of resuming in person meetings at the termination of AB 361’s special Brown Act requirements for teleconference meetings on February 28, 2023.
Upper District’s mission is to provide a reliable, sustainable, diversified, and affordable portfolio of high-quality water supplies to the San Gabriel Valley; including water conservation, recycled water, storm water capture, storage, water transfers and imported water. Upper District services nearly one million people in its 144 square mile service territory. Governed by a five-member elected board of directors, Upper District is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Annually, more than 78 billion gallons of water is used in Upper District’s service area.
For more information about Upper District, please visit our website www.upperdistrict.org.
