NEWS RELEASE

Date: May 31, 2002

Water district announces appointment of chief administrative officer

Santa Clara Valley Water District CEO Stanley M. Williams has announced the appointment of Paul D. Romero as the district’s chief administrative officer.

Romero - who has served the past seven years as director of the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department, including 15 months as acting director of the county’s Environmental Resources Agency - will manage a workforce of more than 300 of the district’s nearly 700 employees with a budget of nearly $300 million.

“I’m sad to leave my colleagues at the County of Santa Clara, especially my staff at the Parks and Recreation Department,” Romero said, “but I am excited about taking on new challenges and joining the team at the Santa Clara Valley Water District.”

Romero will join the water district June 10.

Romero previously served 10 years with the County of Riverside as director of its Parks and Recreation Department and as general manager of the Regional Parks and Open Space District. In addition to Romero’s management experience, he is an adjunct professor at San José State University presenting graduate courses in strategic planning and evaluation, and seminars in management principles, and marketing and finance.
“Mr. Romero’s management experience and knowledge of Santa Clara County is just what we were looking for in an administration lead role for our agency,” Williams said.

Included in Romero’s responsibilities will be management of the district’s Business Resources Division, which includes the Environmental Health and Safety Unit, Risk Management Program, Equal Opportunity Program, and departments responsible for human resources, budget and finance.

Romero will also be responsible for the Information Management Division, which includes the district’s computer network; the Office of Performance Systems Management; the Office of the Clerk of the Board, and the units specializing in real estate, construction administration, wells and water production, land surveying and mapping, and equipment and materials management.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages wholesale drinking water resources, coordinates flood protection for its 1.7 million residents, and provides stewardship for the county’s 10 reservoirs and more than 700 miles of streams.