The Sweetwater Authority appointed two Latina women to lead its governing board.
The Sweetwater Authority oversees over 200,000 customers in the South Bay region, including western and central portions of Chula Vista, National City, and Bonita. During a Dec.8 governing board meeting, National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, as Chair and Paulina Martinez-Perez as Vice-Chair, were appointed to serve a one-year term.
“It is an honor to have been elected as chair to help lead this body alongside Vice Chair Paulina Martinez-Perez,” Chair Sotelo-Solis said in a statement. “This is the first time in history at Sweetwater Authority that two Latina women are in side-by-side executive leadership positions, and I’m looking forward to continuing working to address our district’s water needs, conservation efforts, and helping to address the needs that COVID-19 has posed for our ratepayers. We are stronger together.”
Last year, Sotelo-Solis was appointed vice-chair. She has served the waterboard since 2019 and serves on committees for finances, administration, and communications.
The governing board received Martinez-Perez last year, and in 2020 she joined the South Bay Irrigation District (SBID) board of directors, where she became Vice President this year. The SBID, which has five members, appointed Martinez-Perez as president for the 2022 term of one year alongside Josie Calderon-Scott, who will serve as Vice President.
Martinez-Perez serves on several other committees, including communications, consultant selection, water quality and distribution.
The Sweetwater Authority is a publicly owned water agency with policies and procedures established by seven board members. The governing board is composed of five directors elected by citizens of the South Bay Irrigation District and two members appointed by the Mayor of National City Subject to city council confirmation.
