New Member Appointed to the Water District Board of Directors

SANTA CLARA COUNTY – The Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors has appointed Patrick Kwok to fill the vacant District 5 seat.

Kwok currently serves as the Vice Mayor for the City of Cupertino. He will resign from the office prior to being sworn in at the water district on Tuesday, August 7.

“Mr. Kwok brings a vast amount of experience to the district and his expertise in water issues makes him an excellent addition to our board,” said Board Chairman Tony Estremera.

Kwok is a civil engineer who spent two decades working as a manager with the City of San Jose’s wastewater treatment plant. He also served as a district manager with the Windsor County Water District and Associate Engineer with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.

“I’m really excited about coming to the water district because I’ll be able to put my engineering skills to good use. I have a lot of technical knowledge that will be helpful in making key decisions. I believe the organization has a strong leader under Stan Williams and I’m looking forward to working with him, along with the rest of the board and the staff.”

Kwok was elected to the Cupertino City Council in 2001 and re-elected in 2005. He was elected by the council as mayor in 2004 and has served as Vice Mayor this year.

In addition to his elected office, Kwok has also served on numerous water-related boards and committees. These include the California Water Environment Association, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Santa Clara Recycling and Waste Reduction Committee, Santa Clara Valley Water District’s Water Commission and Flood Control Committee and Public Environmental Advisory Committee.

Kwok earned his MPA Public Management at California State University, Hayward, and a Masters in Civil Engineering at San Jose State University. Kwok and his wife, Susan, have six children and seven grandchildren. They have resided in Cupertino for the past 22 years and have lived in the Bay Area for almost 40 years. The family came to California from Hong Kong in 1967, and Kwok became a citizen in 1972.

“Having lived in the district for more than 25 years, I know what issues are relevant to people here. I’ll miss my colleagues on the Cupertino City Council, but I’m eager to tackle challenges facing a larger constituency,” said Kwok.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages wholesale drinking water resources and provides stewardship for the county's five watersheds, including 10 reservoirs, more than 800 miles of streams and groundwater basins. The water district also provides flood protection throughout Santa Clara County.