Bell Gardens City Councilmember Jorgel Chavez is running for the Southern California Water Replenishment Board, Division 4, in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The nonpartisan race also includes Samuel A. Peña and Sergio Joseph Calderon.

Asked why he is running, Chavez said in our candidate questionnaire: "I believe our communities deserve clean, reliable and affordable water, and new leadership that is focused on the future. I was born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles, so these are the communities I know and care about."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: "Democrat."

Education: "I graduated from Bell Gardens High School and attended Long Beach City College, where I earned associate degrees in Political Science and Communication Studies. I transferred to USC, where I earned my bachelor's degree in Political Science with a minor in Communications, Policy and Law, and later earned my Master of Public Administration. I graduated Cum Laude and was the first in my family to graduate from a four-year university."

Family: "I come from a working-class family and was born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles. My family taught me the importance of working hard, helping others and never forgetting where I came from."

Experience and public service

Chavez said in our questionnaire: "I currently work as an Infrastructure Consultant and serve as a Bell Gardens City Councilmember. Before that, I worked as a union organizer with SEIU, where I organized alongside workers and working families throughout Southern California."

Asked about previous offices, Chavez said: "I was first elected to the Bell Gardens City Council in 2020 and reelected in 2024. I have served as Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. I also serve as the Small Cities Representative on the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency, representing 33 cities."

Asked what accomplishments show he can handle the job, Chavez said: "I am especially proud of helping deliver a new $31 million Aquatics Center for our community and investing in parks and infrastructure."

On the issues

Top water challenges: Asked about the three most important challenges facing the district's service area, Chavez said: "First, we need to protect our groundwater from PFAS and other contaminants and make sure we are investing in treatment and prevention. Second, we need to become less dependent on expensive imported water by expanding water recycling, stormwater capture and groundwater recharge. Third, we need to prepare our infrastructure for the future … I also want to see greater investment in projects along the LA River that can capture more stormwater instead of allowing that water to flow out to the ocean."

Balancing infrastructure and affordability: "We cannot continue putting off infrastructure investments because eventually residents end up paying even more when systems fail. At the same time, we cannot balance every investment on the backs of working families. I would prioritize projects based on need, pursue state and federal funding whenever possible and make sure we are getting the most out of every dollar we spend."

What sets him apart: "I bring a new generation of leadership and a different perspective to this race. I have experience as a local elected official, an infrastructure professional and a former union organizer. I understand how government works, but I also understand what it means to organize, show up and listen to people directly."

Public vs. private water ownership: Chavez voted against moving forward with the proposed sale of Bell Gardens' water system to Golden State Water Company, according to The SELA Sun. He said in his campaign announcement: "We had a choice of whether or not to sell a public asset, and for me, it's always about putting the residents and ratepayers first."

Candidate responses were collected through the South Bay Tide candidate questionnaire. Answers are presented verbatim.