Four members of the Westlands Water District Board of Directors have been reelected to their positions, while a former board member also regained his position with the district.
The five members will serve four-year terms on the nine-member board.
The big picture: Current directors William Bourdeau, Jeff Fortune, Frank Coelho and Jim Anderson won their reelection bids to the board.
- Former Board president Ryan Ferguson, who was defeated two years ago, also won a spot on the board.
- Westlands requires board members to be either a district landowner or a designated legal representative of a landowner.
Flashback: Ferguson was ousted in 2022 when the so-called “Change Coalition” won spots on the board, leading to the exit of former Westlands General Manager Tom Birmingham after 22 years.
- Ferguson has farmed in the district for over two decades and served as the Board President from 2021 to 2022, helping lead the district’s groundwater sustainability plan and groundwater banking program.
Go deeper: Bourdeau was first elected to the board in 2015 and is the executive vice president of Harris Farms. He is also the CEO of Bourdeau Farms as well as the chairman of the Valley Future Foundation, the nonprofit organization that operates The Sun.
- Fortune was elected in 2022 and has been the board president ever since. He is a third-generation California farmer and has farmed in the district since 1978.
- Coelho is the longest-tenured board member, having been first elected in 1991.
- Anderson was elected in 2013 and is a fifth-generation Westlands farmer.
What she’s saying: “The re-election of these highly qualified and experienced individuals reflects our grower’s commitment to continue the District’s legacy of leadership and innovation as we continue to navigate the important challenges and exciting opportunities ahead,” said Westlands General Manager Allison Febbo.
- Febbo added, “The work before us is vital for the future of the hundreds of family farms and thousands of community members who rely on Westlands Water District. We are committed to rolling up our sleeves, collaborating closely, and making thoughtful, forward-looking decisions to ensure that the San Joaquin Valley can continue to feed the nation.”
