Francisco X. Rivera Appointed to Otay Water District Board of Directors

The Otay Water District Board of Directors announced at its September board meeting that it appointed Francisco X. Rivera to fill the Division One vacancy that resulted from the resignation of Tim Smith. Director Rivera was one of three candidates vying for the position to represent Division One.

Following the unanimous 4-0 vote by the board of directors, the District administered the Oath of Office. Director Rivera immediately assumed all powers and duties of the board of directors.

“I am honored to have been considered and selected as part of this public process and it is with a lot of pride and pleasure that I take the responsibility seriously for the Otay Water District,” said Rivera. “I’m ready to begin serving our ratepayers of division one and am dedicated to helping the board and staff carry out the District’s mission. I hope to build on what has already been accomplished at the District and to find ways to continue to make improvements.”

Public Interviews Part of Hiring Process

The board of directors conducted open interviews during the regularly scheduled September 4 board meeting. The candidates, whose applications and resumes were included in the board packet, were asked the same set of questions in a public forum. Following the interviews, a nomination was made.

District Board President Jose Lopez welcomed Rivera to the board. “We were impressed by Director Rivera’s background in engineering and his commitment to the community, which will help contribute to the District’s goals. We are confident that he will make a great asset to this board.”

Rivera Brings Engineering Experience to Otay Board

Rivera began his career with the City of Chula Vista in 1984, retiring in 2023 after holding key positions such as principal civil engineer, deputy city engineer, and deputy director of engineering. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the United States International University in San Diego and holds California professional licenses in both civil and traffic engineering. Over the years, he has managed major infrastructure projects, including transportation improvements and wastewater systems.

Bilingual in English and Spanish, Director Rivera is also an active member of his community, serving on the executive board of the Eastlake III Homeowners Association, the Salvation Army South County Advisory Board, and the SANDAG TransNet Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee.

During his tenure on the District’s board, Director Rivera aims to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction, foster exceptional employee morale, and minimize water and wastewater rate increases. Director Rivera will serve the remaining 15 months of Smith’s term, with the next election for the four-year seat scheduled for November 3, 2026.