John Varela

John Varela was appointed to the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) Board of Directors in December 2015. He was elected by the voters in November 2016 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. His current term Expires December 2026.

John also serves on the Association of California Water Agencies’ (ACWA) Board and was recently appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees of the ACWA Foundation.

As a Director of Valley Water, John serves on numerous committees which include the Board Ethics and Conduct Committee, Agricultural Water Advisory Committee, Santa Clara Valley Water Commission, Joint Water Resources Committees with cities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy, Santa Clara County Water Retailers and Water Storage Exploratory Ad Hoc Committees, and San Felipe Division Reach One.

John is a former Morgan Hill city mayor and councilmember. He serves on the Board of Directors for Joint Venture Silicon Valley, Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, and the Pajaro River Watershed Flood Protection Authority. He is also involved in Safe Clean Water Independent Monitoring Committee and the South County Regional Wastewater Authority.

His private life includes a forty-year history in the toy industry. He first met Barbie and Ken when they began dating, as well as Mr. Potato Head, Slinky, G.I. Joe and of course, The Cabbage Patch Kids early into his toy career. He is a stage performer playing various comedic and dramatic characters as a thirty year plus community theater actor. His hobbies include photography, kayaking, hiking, camping, spending quality time with his wife of 58 years, Vivian, and his three daughters and five grandchildren. His family defines who he is.