Get to Know Jimmy

I am a U.S. Navy veteran, and I've spent most of my professional life in public service. From my military service to more than 25 years working in local government, serving others has been a consistent part of my life.

My local government career has included work at both the county and city level, eventually serving as Finance Director and then City Administrator for Gilroy. I've managed budgets, utilities, infrastructure projects, employees, public safety departments, economic development efforts, and the everyday services residents depend on.

Those experiences taught me something important: good government usually isn't very dramatic. It comes from people doing their homework, asking good questions, listening to the community and professional staff, and making responsible decisions.

That is the kind of public service I know, and it is the approach I would bring to Valley Water.

I live in Morgan Hill, and much of my career has been spent serving the communities of South County.

I worked for the City of Morgan Hill for several years, including serving as the City's Budget Manager and managing the finances and operations of its water and wastewater utilities. Later, I served the City of Gilroy as Finance Director and City Administrator.

That means I've had the opportunity to serve both of South County's largest cities and to understand the challenges our communities face from more than one perspective.

So when we talk about water rates, Anderson Dam, flood protection, reservoirs, trails, growth, or infrastructure, these aren't abstract policy questions to me. They affect communities I know and people I consider neighbors.

South County deserves a strong voice at Valley Water. I'm not running because I've made a career out of politics. I'm running because I've made a career out of public service — managing budgets, overseeing utilities, solving problems, and being accountable for results. I want to put that experience to work for the people of South County.

Water systems are complicated, and the decisions made about them have real consequences for residents and ratepayers.

Before becoming Gilroy's Finance Director and City Administrator, I managed water and wastewater utility operations and finances for the City of Morgan Hill. At the time, the utility faced significant financial and operational challenges.

We developed a long-term recovery plan, stabilized the utility's finances, addressed infrastructure needs, developed a strategic business plan, and worked directly with residents to explain why changes were necessary.

Later, as Gilroy City Administrator, I helped establish the city's Utilities Department and served as General Manager of the South County Regional Wastewater Authority while it undertook a major wastewater treatment plant expansion.

That experience matters because Valley Water will face significant decisions involving infrastructure, rates, water supply, flood protection, and billions of dollars in public investment.

Board members don't need to run the organization. That's the job of professional staff. But they should have the experience to understand the issues, challenge assumptions, and ask the right questions before making important decisions.

I have spent much of my career working with public budgets.

I served as Finance Director in Monterey and Gilroy, managed major city budgets and capital programs, worked on debt financing, developed long-term financial forecasts, and became a Certified Public Finance Officer.

But budgets aren't just spreadsheets.

Every number represents a choice about services, infrastructure, employees, rates, taxes, or someone's hard-earned money.

My approach has always been straightforward: understand the numbers, explain them clearly, think beyond the next budget year, and treat public money with care.

Valley Water ratepayers should be able to understand where their money is going, why it is being spent, and what today's major projects will eventually mean for their water bills.

My career didn't begin with the idea that I would someday become a city administrator.

I earned a bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration and later a Master of Public Administration from San José State University. I also became a Certified Public Finance Officer through the Government Finance Officers Association.

I've continued learning throughout my career because public leadership requires it.

No board member, city manager, engineer, finance director, or elected official knows everything. Good leaders recognize that.

Leadership isn't about walking into the room with all the answers. It's about knowing which questions to ask, listening to people who know more than you do, understanding the facts, and then taking responsibility for the decision.

One reason Valley Water is different from many other public agencies is that its responsibilities extend beyond pipes, dams, and reservoirs.

Valley Water also oversees creeks, trails, reservoirs, open spaces, and other public lands that contribute to the quality of life in our communities.

I think those resources should be treated as exactly that: public assets.

Of course, public access has to be balanced with safety, environmental protection, water operations, and infrastructure needs. Those are legitimate considerations.

But I believe we should start by asking how we can responsibly increase opportunities for the public to enjoy these resources rather than beginning with reasons why access isn't possible.

These lands and facilities belong to the public, and where responsible access is possible, the public should have the opportunity to enjoy them.