LOS ANGELES, March 4, 2003 -- James F. Turner of Oceanside has been seated on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
He is one of four San Diego County Water Authority representatives on the Metropolitan board, on which he previously served from January 1999 through December 2000.
Turner will serve on Metropolitan's engineering and operations committee; the budget, finance and investment committee; and the desalination subcommittee.
He replaces Harold W. Ball, who retired from Metropolitan's board after representing the Water Authority since May 2001.
Named the city of Oceanside's water utilities director in 1976, Turner developed a water and sewer system to serve a community that grew from 25,000 to 155,000. His career has included duties as assistant city manager, and, on two occasions, as city manager of Oceanside. He retired in December 1998 after 37 years of service.
Turner was appointed in 1986 to serve on the Water Authority board. He chaired the authority board from 2001-2002, and also has chaired the board's contract and emerging business enterprise committee; public affairs committee; and the planning and environmental committee. His term on the authority board expires in 2004.
Born in Oceanside, Turner attended Mira Costa College. He is married with five children and eight grandchildren.
A photo of Director James F. Turner is available upon request.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The District imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage, and other water-management programs.