Three Valley Water board members begin terms

Valley Water will hold a ceremonial swearing-in during the board meeting on Dec. 10, 2024, for newly elected director Shiloh Ballard and re-elected directors Nai Hsueh and Richard P. Santos.

Directors Ballard, Hsueh and Santos officially took the oath of office on Dec. 6, 2024. The meeting on Dec. 10 will be Director Ballard’s first as a member of the board.

Director Ballard will represent District 2, encompassing the central and southern parts of Santa Clara and the west and central parts of San Jose. Communities and neighborhoods include the lower half of Santa Clara, south of the Union Pacific Railroad, its downtown corridor, and San Jose’s Downtown, the SoFA District, Rose Garden, Buena Vista, Willow Glen, Dry Creek, and Naglee Park.

Director Ballard brings 15 years of experience from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a high-tech trade association that coordinates policy needs between Silicon Valley companies and public agencies. Director Ballard also served on a Valley Water Board Advisory Committee, the Environmental and Water Resources Committee, which assists the board with policies and issues related to water supply, flood protection and environmental stewardship.

Director Ballard was also Co-Chair of the 2020 renewal of Valley Water’s Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

In addition, Richard P. Santos and Nai Hsueh were re-elected to represent Districts 3 and 5, respectively.

Director Hsueh, the 2024 Board Chair, was first elected to the Board of Directors in 2012. Director Hsueh represents District 5, which encompasses the cities of Cupertino, Saratoga, parts of Central and South Sunnyvale, and parts of Southwest San Jose.

Director Hsueh has a bachelor's and master’s degree in hydraulic engineering and is a registered civil engineer in California. Director Hsueh worked at Valley Water for three decades, rising from Junior Engineer to Chief of Capital Programs, and has in-depth knowledge of Valley Water programs, projects, finances, and budget.

Director Santos, the 2024 Board Vice Chair, was first elected to the Board of Directors in 2000. Director Santos represents District 3, which encompasses the city of Milpitas, parts of North Sunnyvale, parts of North Santa Clara, and parts of North San Jose.

In 1968, Director Santos was hired as a San Jose firefighter, promoted to fire engineer and fire and arson inspector, and retired as a fire captain in 2001 after 33 years of service. Director Santos earned an Associate of Arts degree in police science and an Associate of Science degree in fire science and has a lifetime teaching fire science credential from the California Community College system. Director Santos also has a bachelor’s degree in public administration.