LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gloria D. Gray, a Los Angeles County water official with extensive experience in state, regional and local water issues, was today elected chairwoman of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Gray, who has represented West Basin Municipal Water District on the 38-member Metropolitan board since April 2009, will serve a two-year term beginning Jan. 1. She is the first African American to lead the board and only the second woman to do so in the district’s 90-year history. She succeeds outgoing Chairman Randy Record, who has led the board since May 2014.
“I am excited to help lead Metropolitan into the next era, as we work collaboratively to overcome challenges to our imported water supplies brought by climate change, invest in local resources and continue providing a reliable water supply to Southern California,” Gray said.
“I am committed to an open and transparent decision-making process,” she added.
Gray takes the helm of Metropolitan’s governing board at a time when the district is dealing with water supply and climate change challenges on both of its imported water sources from Northern California and the Colorado River. Her experience working on and supporting recycled water projects at West Basin will serve her well as Metropolitan explores investing in the largest recycled water project in the nation.
Gray currently chairs Metropolitan’s Water Planning and Stewardship Committee. She was first elected to the West Basin board in 2006 and represents the cities of Inglewood, South Ladera Heights and Lennox, in addition to other areas. She has twice served as the president of that board.
She also served for four years on the Delta Stewardship Council, after being appointed by former Assembly Speaker Karen Bass in 2010, and on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors water quality community task force. She also represents West Basin on the Association of California Water Agencies Region 8, where she serves as the vice chairwoman, and the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Executive Committee.
Gray retired from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services as a Health Care Administrator. She also served on the Inglewood Unified School District Board of Education.
With her election, Gray becomes the 19th chair in Metropolitan history. As the head of the agency’s 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 district’s nine standing committees, as well as the leaders of any special committees or task forces.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, serves nearly 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.
Note to editors: A digital photograph of Chairwoman Gray is available upon request.
