San Fernando representative committed to continuing district’s efforts to adapt to climate change, reform financial business model

LOS ANGELES-Adán Ortega, Jr. will remain at the helm of Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors through 2026 following a unanimous vote today by the board to reelect him as chair.

“We continue to benefit from this water by using every drop wisely.”

Ortega, who will begin his second two-year term on Jan. 1, 2025, pledged to continue his leadership on critical issues, particularly the urgency to address climate change in water planning decisions and investments. Ortega has served on Metropolitan’s 38-member board since 2019 and has worked in government relations and water for more than 30 years. He was unchallenged in his bid for reelection.

Ortega said his proudest accomplishment over the past two years has been organizing the board around Metropolitan’s need to adapt to climate change. He has been a driving force behind Metropolitan developing a Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water, and he has reorganized the board’s structure to better address the issue, including adding a new board vice chair on climate adaptation.

“One of my goals when I was first elected chair was to reduce some divisiveness on our board. The board has harnessed the urgent need to adapt to climate change as a unifying priority that drives us to work better together,” Ortega said. “Today’s vote to continue my tenure is an indication of the success we’ve had moving in that direction. I am committed to continuing this evolution.”

Ortega pointed to the board’s recent adoption of new rates as another example of working collaboratively to make tough, but necessary decisions.

“As others have pointed out, tap water is a good bargain in Southern California, especially given the complexity of importing half of the water we use from hundreds of miles away and the challenge of ensuring reliability in the face of weather extremes and more prolonged droughts,” he said. “We continue to benefit from this water by using every drop wisely.”

“Climate adaptation isn’t only the responsibility of environmentalists or a social movement. It involves all of us – our engineers, financial experts, planners, communicators, and every single board member,” Ortega continued. “It is at the core of everything we are doing to ensure water reliability and affordability for Southern California.”

Ortega said the CAMP for Water process also embodies a growing collaboration with the leadership of Metropolitan’s member agencies. Member agency managers have joined board members participating in a CAMP for Water task force – a model Ortega hopes to replicate as Metropolitan begins considerations to reform the agency’s financial model.

“I have strived over the past two years to support everyone having a voice that is heard by all – my colleagues on the board, our member agency managers, Metropolitan’s staff, and members of the community, far and wide,” Ortega said. “This effort is becoming stronger. For the first time in about 50 years, all 26 member agencies agreed on the urgency of modifying our business model to meet the climate challenge.”

The principal of Ortega Strategies Group, a public affairs and government relations firm based in Fullerton, Ortega previously served as Metropolitan’s vice president of external affairs from 1999 to 2005. Before his role with Metropolitan, he was chief deputy for then-Secretary of State Bill Jones and assistant general manager of both West Basin and Central Basin municipal water districts.

In 2013, Ortega was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to the California Water Commission. Prior to that, he was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve on the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, where Ortega chaired its water committee from 2005 to 2012.

As a consultant, he has helped lead efforts to bring assistance to small community water systems in disadvantaged communities across the state.

Ortega is the 20th chairman in Metropolitan’s 94-year history and the first Latino chair. He was appointed as San Fernando representative on Metropolitan’s board in March 2021 after previously representing the city of Fullerton from February 2019 to February 2021.

As head of Metropolitan’s board, Ortega represents district policies and programs at the national, state and local levels. He also presides over monthly meetings of the board and its executive committee. In addition, he appoints all members of the district’s 15 standing committees, as well as the leaders of any special committees or task forces.

A Fullerton resident, Ortega holds bachelor’s degrees in English and history from Whittier College.

Contacts

Rebecca Kimitch, (213) 217-6450; (202) 821-5253, mobile; rkimitch@mwdh2o.com
Maritza Fairfield, (213) 217-6853; (909) 816-7722, mobile; mfairfield@mwdh2o.com