Jorgel Chavez, a Bell Gardens city councilmember, is running for the Southern California Water Replenishment Board in Division 4. The nonpartisan seat is on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Samuel A. Peña and Sergio Joseph Calderon are also running.

Asked why he is seeking the office, Chavez said in our candidate questionnaire: "I believe our communities deserve clean, reliable and affordable water, and new leadership that is focused on the future … I want to protect our groundwater, address PFAS and other contaminants, capture more stormwater, invest in our infrastructure and reduce our dependence on imported water."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: "Democrat."

Education: "I graduated from Bell Gardens High School and attended Long Beach City College, where I earned associate degrees in Political Science and Communication Studies. I transferred to USC, where I earned my bachelor's degree in Political Science with a minor in Communications, Policy and Law, and later earned my Master of Public Administration. I graduated Cum Laude and was the first in my family to graduate from a four-year university."

Family: "I come from a working-class family and was born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles. My family taught me the importance of working hard, helping others and never forgetting where I came from."

Experience and public service

Chavez said in our questionnaire: "I currently work as an Infrastructure Consultant and serve as a Bell Gardens City Councilmember. Before that, I worked as a union organizer with SEIU, where I organized alongside workers and working families throughout Southern California."

Asked about previous offices, he said: "I was first elected to the Bell Gardens City Council in 2020 and reelected in 2024. I have served as Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem."

Chavez cited his council record as evidence he can handle the job: "I am especially proud of helping deliver a new $31 million Aquatics Center for our community and investing in parks and infrastructure."

On the issues

Water challenges: Asked about the three most important challenges facing the district, Chavez said: "First, we need to protect our groundwater from PFAS and other contaminants … Second, we need to become less dependent on expensive imported water by expanding water recycling, stormwater capture and groundwater recharge. Third, we need to prepare our infrastructure for the future … I also want to see greater investment in projects along the LA River that can capture more stormwater instead of allowing that water to flow out to the ocean."

Infrastructure vs. affordability: "We cannot continue putting off infrastructure investments because eventually residents end up paying even more when systems fail. At the same time, we cannot balance every investment on the backs of working families. I would prioritize projects based on need, pursue state and federal funding whenever possible and make sure we are getting the most out of every dollar we spend."

Public vs. private water ownership: According to The SELA Sun, Chavez voted against a proposed sale of Bell Gardens' water system to a private utility. He said: "We had a choice of whether or not to sell a public asset, and for me, it's always about putting the residents and ratepayers first."

Board transparency: In his campaign announcement, Chavez said: "The question is, do you even know who your water representative is? Most people don't. So let's change that."

What sets him apart: "I bring a new generation of leadership and a different perspective to this race … I understand how government works, but I also understand what it means to organize, show up and listen to people directly."

Chavez has been endorsed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, U.S. Rep. Linda Sánchez, state Treasurer Fiona Ma and state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, according to Ballotpedia and The SELA Sun.

Candidate responses were collected through the Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire. All answers are attributed to the candidate.