California,  Politics

Metropolitan Water District Watch: Former Assembly Democratic Leader Richard Katz Applies for MWD CEO/General Manager

February 2, 2006 /

Former San Fernando Valley Democrat Assemblyman and former Assembly Democratic Leader Richard Katz is BACK…….

Sources at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California have revealed to Flap that Katz has recently applied for the position of CEO/General Manager of the MWD.

The position opened in November 2005 with the passing of Dennis Underwood, MWD CEO/General Manager.

Katz, a member of the California State Water Resources Control Board has since leaving the California Assembly (due to terms limits in 1996) been running a small business providing strategic consulting in public affairs for clients involved in transportation, banking, education, and entertainment. He was appointed to the California State Water Resources Control Board by Governor Gray Davis in 2001.

So, what is the FLAP?

The good folks at the MWD are afraid a newly constituted board with four new appointees by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa may give favorable consideration to an old political hack like Katz rather than a qualified water management professional.

Are their concerns justified?

Let’s look at some of the other candidates. Although this is not a complete list, Flap is assured that sources within the MWD and outside will soon provide the names and biographies of everyone who has applied.

Debra C. Man, Interim CEO/General Manager and COO of MWD

Man began her career at Metropolitan in 1986 as an engineer in the district’s resources division, developing groundwater storage programs. She advanced to become a principal engineer in the planning division in January 1990 with the responsibility of overseeing facility plans for the district’s capital improvement program. She progressed to assistant director of planning in September of 1990, director of planning in November 1992, and chief of planning and resources in July 1994. She became Vice President for Water Transfers and Exchanges in July 1999. She was named the Chief Operating Officer in December 2003.

A native of Honolulu, Man earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Hawaii and a master’s degree in civil/environmental engineering from Stanford University.

Prior to joining Metropolitan, she was a project engineer for CH2M Hill, Inc., in Santa Ana for four years, planning and designing water and wastewater treatment and distribution facilities.

A registered professional civil engineer in California and Hawaii, Man is a member of the American Water Works Association and the Association of California Water Agencies.

Gilbert F. Ivey, Executive Vice President, MWD

Gilbert F. Ivey is the Executive Vice President of The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, having served as interim Chief Executive Officer during the agency’s five-month search for a permanent replacement in 2005. Ivey is the chief liaison to the board chairman and directors.

Ivey joined Metropolitan 35 years ago as a summer trainee in the District’s Engineering Division. He has held various positions in Finance, Right-of-Way and Land, Operations, Human Resources and Executive Offices. Additionally, he negotiated several major transactions such as the lease for the District’s former headquarters at California Plaza for below-market rates, and favorable above-market sale transactions for the District’s former Sunset Boulevard headquarters and its Bolsa Chica property.

He was the project director in charge of development and construction of Metropolitan’s headquarters at Union Station. At 535,000 square feet above ground and another 317,000 square feet below ground, he delivered this $135 million facility two months ahead of schedule and under budget. Since the official opening December 11, 1998, his team and the project have won several awards and accolades. The Building Operators and Managers Association recently recognized Metropolitan’s headquarters building as an outstanding government building in Los Angeles.

Born in Oceanside and raised in Compton, California, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills. He also has earned several professional designations and certifications in management from both Pepperdine University and the University of Southern California.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California does NOT need a retread POL from the Gray Davis School of State Mismanagement.

Flap is sure that the MWD executive search committe has at least two candidates and perhaps more (as the candidates names become known) that are MORE QUALIFIED than the Leftie Katz.

Stay tuned………

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