Bell Gardens City Council member Jorgel Chavez is running for the Southern California Water Replenishment Board Division 4 seat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The nonpartisan race also includes Samuel A. Peña and Sergio Joseph Calderon.
Chavez announced his candidacy with a focus on making the water board more visible to residents, The SELA Sun reported. Asked in our candidate questionnaire why he is running, Chavez said: "I am running because 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."
Family in politics or government: "No. I did not grow up in a political family or with connections to government. I got involved because I wanted to make a difference in the community where I grew up."
Experience and public service
Occupation and work history: "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."
Previous and current elected or appointed offices: "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."
Past accomplishments: "As a Councilmember and former Mayor, I have had to make real decisions involving budgets, infrastructure and essential public services. 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 water 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."
Balancing infrastructure investment and affordability: "We have to do both. 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."
Groundwater replenishment and conservation: Chavez said he wants the water board to be "more aggressive about preparing for the future … I want to see greater investment in stormwater capture and groundwater recharge, including opportunities along the LA River and throughout our communities."
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."
Candidate responses were collected through the Santa Monica Wave's candidate questionnaire. Answers have been edited for length but not substance.
