Valley Water, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, has four of its seven board seats up in 2026: Districts 1, 4, 6 and 7. District 6 covers parts of central and East San Jose.
The candidates
- Milan Balinton
- Phuong Nguyen
Ballotpedia lists both as nonpartisan candidates. Your county voter guide has their candidate statements.
How the board works
Directors are elected from seven equal-population districts and serve overlapping four-year terms, with elections in even years. Candidates must live in the district they want to represent. They need nomination petitions with at least 20 valid signatures from district voters. Valley Water pays half the cost of each candidate's statement. Elections are run by the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.
Also on the ballot
Ballotpedia lists James Beall Jr. as the only candidate in District 4. District 1 is a contest between John L. Varela and Jimmy Forbis.
This explainer summarizes the candidates' own statements and published reporting. It does not endorse anyone.
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.