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Commerce, CA – Central Basin Municipal Water District Board Members Pedro Aceituno, Leticia Vasquez, and Phil Hawkins were sworn into office on Friday, December 2, 2016. The Board Directors were joined by 120 constituents comprised of family, dignitaries and community stakeholders.
Director Aceituno will be serving his first term; Director Vasquez will be serving her second term; and Director Hawkins will be serving his fifth term on the Central Basin Board of Directors. Senator Tony Mendoza, representative of the 32nd District, officiated the Oath of Office for Director Aceituno.
“First of all, Pedro, I want to congratulate you. I want to congratulate the newly re-elected Board Members; I want to actually just thank Central Basin in general, ” said Senator Mendoza. “I really hope… [Central Basin] continues the work they’ve been doing, which is to provide good quality, affordable recycled water throughout the District. ”
As the Board Member representing Division I, Director Aceituno will serve the cities of Bell Gardens, Downey, Montebello, Pico Rivera, West Whittier – Los Nietos and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Director Aceituno is simultaneously the Mayor of the City of Bell Gardens where, in 2007, he was recognized by Central Basin for his efforts in transforming Bell Gardens into a “California Friendly City. ” “With my background in water issues and as a life-long resident of Bell Gardens, it is an honor to serve as the Director for Division I, ” said Director Aceituno. “I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on the Board to continue improving the District. ”
Senator-Elect Steven Bradford, representative of the 35th District, administered the Oath of Office for Director Vasquez. As the Board Member representing Division IV, Director Vasquez will continue to serve the cities of Lynwood, South Gate, Florence-Graham, Willowbrook and portions of Compton and Carson. Her tenure also includes serving as the District’s appointee to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors. Director Vasquez addressed the attendees emphasizing Central Basin’s efforts to bring water sustainability to the region. “We have embarked on a very aggressive capital improvement project, ” said Director Leticia Vasquez. “The drought has given us an unprecedented opportunity to help educate our cities, help educate our businesses and get them connected with recycled water. ”
Sworn into office by the District’s Board Secretary, Division V Director Hawkins will continue to serve the cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Paramount, and Signal Hill. He is a former member of the California State Assembly. Director Phillip Hawkins thanked the fifth district for his re-election and also stressed the important role recycled water plays in addressing cyclical droughts. “We are one of the leaders in recycled water and recycled water is the future of Southern California, ” said Director Phillip Hawkins. “I look forward to working with our Board to promote and expand our recycled water system. ”
