Three of the five seats on the Mid-Peninsula Water District board are up this year, and each one has a single candidate: the director who now holds it. San Mateo County's candidate roster lists all three contests as off the Nov. 3 ballot.
Who holds the seats
- Division 3: Neela Patel, Ph.D. A Belmont resident appointed to the board in 2026; her term started in March. The district says she has more than two decades of experience in executive and advisory roles.
- Division 4: JoAnn Covington. Her term began in January 2025. She is general counsel to a Bay Area public transportation company and has a law degree from Harvard.
- Division 5: Charles "Chuck" Cotten. His term began in February 2025. He served two terms on the Belmont Parks and Recreation Commission and is a trustee of the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District.
All three current terms end in November 2026. Because no one else filed, each director keeps the seat without voters choosing among candidates.
How the district elects its board
On March 24, 2022, the board adopted Ordinance No. 122, which replaced at-large elections with five divisions beginning that November. President Louis J. Vella, first elected in 1999, represents Division 1. Matthew P. Zucca, first appointed in 2005, represents Division 2. Both of their terms run through November 2028.
Belmont's city races also have unopposed candidates; see our Belmont explainer.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.