IRWD Board of Directors
As an independent, not-for-profit public agency, IRWD is governed by a publicly elected five-member Board of Directors. Board members are elected from five divisions and serve four-year terms. The Board is responsible for the District’s policies and decision-making.
About the board
Board members participate in bi-monthly board meetings and committee meetings where they evaluate and provide guidance on important water resource and reliability projects. They have approval authority on critical district projects.
IRWD believes it is essential to be connected to the communities we serve. Board members:
- Attend community and industry meetings within the service area.
- Participate in meetings at the Orange County Water District, the Municipal Water District of Orange County, the Orange County Sanitation District, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
- Connect with the business community through the Orange County Business Industry Association and the Orange County Business Council.
- Contribute to water supply reliability discussions and policy efforts at the state and federal levels.
Public elections are held every two years, and directors serve four-year terms. Terms are staggered to ensure continuity.
Steve LaMar
- Water Resources Policy and Communications Committee
- Finance and Personnel Committee (alternate)
Steve LaMar, a water policy and planning expert, was appointed to the IRWD Board of Directors in February 2009 to fill a board vacancy and was subsequently elected to four-year terms in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Dan Ferons
- Finance and Personnel Committee
- Supply Reliability Programs Committee
- Engineering and Operations Committee (alternate)
- Water Resources Policy and Communications Committee (alternate)
Dan Ferons, a water professional with more than 40 years of experience, was elected to the Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors in 2024.
Doug Reinhart
- Engineering and Operations Committee
- Finance and Personnel Committee
- Supply Reliability Programs Committee (alternate)
Doug Reinhart, a licensed civil engineer, was appointed to the Irvine Ranch Water District Board of Directors in 2004 to fill a vacancy and was subsequently elected to four-year terms in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Peer Swan
- Supply Reliability Programs Committee
Peer Swan was elected to the Board of Directors in 1979 and has been re-elected to subsequent terms, including 2022. He was President of the Board of Directors for 15 years and has actively participated in numerous other committees.
John Withers
- Engineering and Operations Committee
- Water Resources Policy and Communications Committee
John Withers, a partner with California Strategies LLC, was appointed to the IRWD Board of Directors in 1989 to fill a board vacancy and has been elected to subsequent terms, including 2020, when he was elected to represent Division 1 under a new division-based election process.