Following a voice vote at the October Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) Board of Directors meeting, West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) President Gloria D. Gray was re-elected by acclamation to serve as chairwoman of the MWD board for another two-year term. Gray, the first African-American woman to hold the position in Metropolitan’s history, will continue to serve the regional agency’s board and stakeholders.
“I am deeply honored to be voted chairwoman once again, and to provide continuity as Metropolitan navigates a time unlike any other,” said Gray. “I am proud to represent West Basin and Metropolitan to advance our common commitments to ensuring reliable, high quality water supplies, and prepare for the needs of tomorrow today.”
Starting Jan. 1, 2021, Gray will begin her second, two-year term as the 19th MWD board chair. She will lead the primary water importer and wholesaler for nearly 19 million people in six counties in Southern California. As the head of the 38-member board, Gray will represent district policies and programs at national, state and local levels. She also will preside over monthly meetings of the board and its executive committee. In addition, she will appoint all members of the MWD’s nine standing committees, as well as the leaders of any special committees or task forces.
Gray was first elected as MWD board chair in 2018, and has served as the West Basin representative on the MWD board since 2009.
At West Basin, Gray was elected to its Board of Directors in 2006 and was the first African-American woman elected to the board. She represents the Division II city of Inglewood, and the unincorporated Los Angeles County areas of Lennox, South Ladera Heights, West Athens and Westmont. She currently serves as West Basin President, and is Chair of the District’s Public Information and Education Committee.
In addition, Gray is West Basin’s representative to the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Joint Powers Insurance Authority and serves as ACWA Region 8 Vice Chair. She also represents West Basin as a Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission board member.
West Basin is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District, and is governed by a five-member board of directors who are publicly elected to represent nearly one million people in 17 cities and unincorporated areas throughout its 185-square mile service area in coastal Los Angeles County. West Basin is also an industry leader in producing recycled water, implementing effective water conservation programs, desalting groundwater, exploring ocean water desalination and providing education programs. For more information, please visit www.westbasin.org.
