Longtime Morgan Hill resident John Varela announced July 18 his intention to run for the District 1 seat on the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s board of directors.
Varela currently sits as the Vice Chair of the Water Board after being appointed to the District 1 position in December 2015. He is serving out the term of form Morgan Hill mayor/water district director Dennis Kennedy, who resigned due to health reasons last year. Kennedy passed away March 2016 due to complications from brain cancer.
Varela pulled candidate papers earlier this week that qualify him for the ballot in the November election.
“It has been an honor and privilege to represent the residents of this district and carry on the legacy of Dennis Kennedy,” said Varela, also a former Morgan Hill mayor and city councilmember. “I believe my experience, background and dedication to public service give me a solid foundation for this campaign in November”.
District 1 includes the cities of Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gilroy and large portion of South San Jose.
Varela, a small business owner in the renewable energy industry, released a list of endorsements of district and county officials that includes current County Supervisors Mike Wasserman, Dave Cortese, former County Supervisors Don Gage and Blanca Alvarado, Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate and three other members of the Morgan Hill City Council.
“John has done a remarkable job in his first half-year as a SCVWD Director,” Mayor Tate said. “He’s absorbed a wealth of water knowledge while broadening his connections and relationships. We need to keep him on the board, strongly representing South County.”
