Barragán Urges Transparency and a Public Process as Water Replenishment District Hires New GM

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán expressed her deep concerns with the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) Board of Directors' rushed actions to force out its current general manager and hire a special interim general manager.

"WRD should continue its initial plans to hire an independent recruitment firm to conduct an open, ethical, and transparent search to fill the general manager position. Additionally, WRD must allow the public adequate opportunity to communicate feedback about potential candidates. Doing anything short of that would be a disservice to the millions of residents served by the WRD and erode the trust and reputation of the WRD," Barragán said in a letter to be read during the WRD Board meeting today.

Barragán compared the WRD Board's lack of transparency and secretive hiring process to actions by the Trump Administration: "For the last four years this country has endured an Administration who has no regard for facts, process, the law or transparency. Individuals were hired because of relationships and political favors, not necessarily qualifications. Actions were taken in the dark of night or behind closed doors as to not draw attention to the matters. We don't need that lack of trust and lack of transparency undermining our local groundwater agency."

On December 3, Congresswoman Barragán called into WRD's Board meeting to initially express her concerns. On December 7, she led the Los Angeles-area congressional delegation on a letter to the WRD Board urging transparency in the hiring process.

The WRD is the largest groundwater agency in the State of California and serves the critically important function of managing and protecting local groundwater resources for millions of L.A. County residents.

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