LOS ANGELES — Former Congressman Mel Levine was reappointed to the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners on Aug. 20.
Levine, who was first appointed in August 2013, serves as president of the board that sets policy for the nation's largest public utility.
"The challenges that the LADWP is facing underscore the need for a steady hand and firm management of resources while being cognizant of the ratepayers' interests," said Councilmember Felipe Fuentes, a Democrat who represents Northeastern San Fernando Valley and chairs the Council Committee on Energy and Environment. "Mr. Levine has done a great job at the helm over the last year, and I'm excited about this willingness to continue his stewardship to the city of Los Angeles."
The department is looking at billions of dollars in bond issuance to support a capital improvement plan to fund more environmentally sustainable practices.
A recent main line water main break that damaged streets on the city's west side and flooded parts of the University of California, Los Angeles campus highlighted the decaying state of the water infrastructure; the department is on a 300-year replacement cycle for water pipes.
Levine, who was re-elected to serve as president of the board by his colleagues in early August, will serve on the board through August 2019. He and William Funderburk, who was elected vice president, serve one-year terms in the leadership positions.
"Mel Levine has been an effective commissioner and we are grateful for his leadership and his willingness to take on this important assignment," said Council President Herb Wesson.
Levine told the council that he and his colleagues "are focused on ensuring the sustainability of L.A.'s water and power while also keeping the lights on and the water running. I commit to working hard to tackle LADWP's challenges, turn it around and once again make it a standard for all U.S. utilities to look up to."
Levine served in Congress from 1983 until 1993, and as a member of the California Assembly from 1977 to 1982. He was a partner at the Los Angeles-based global law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher from 1993 to 2012. He chairs the Advisory Board of the Center on Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School, serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, and as a Director of the Pacific Council on International Policy.
Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. The Board, comprised of 5 members, meets regularly on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 11:00 a.m.
