Unanimously elected president by her peers in January, Gómez centers her Ward 2 campaign on resilience and emergency preparedness, environmental protection and financial stewardship
SAN RAMON — Six months after her fellow board members unanimously elected her president, East Bay Municipal Utility District Board President Luz Gómez is running for reelection to represent much of central and south Contra Costa County (Ward 2), pledging to keep the East Bay’s water system prepared for the earthquakes, wildfires and cyber threats she says the region can’t afford to be caught unprepared for.
“I’ve always been drawn to public service because I believe government can improve people’s lives in very real ways,” Gómez said Thursday at her campaign launch at Shish Grill in San Ramon. “Helping to advance sustainability, one day at a time, has always been what has shaped my career. Nothing is more fundamental to public health than healthy, safe and reliable water.”
Gómez was appointed to the EBMUD Board in April 2024 and elected by Ward 2 voters that November to complete a former director’s term. If reelected, Gómez said she will focus on three priorities:
Investing in resilience and emergency preparedness. Gómez says wildfires, the growing impacts of climate change and the likelihood of a major Hayward Fault earthquake are what keep her up at night, and that a modern water system must be hardened against every one of those threats, including the rising risk of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.
She supports accelerating the replacement of aging pipelines and facilities, strengthening wildfire prevention and response and deepening EBMUD’s partnerships with local fire agencies and cities.
“It’s our responsibility to do all we can to be prepared,” she said. “East Bay MUD has to continue strengthening our infrastructure and our emergency preparedness, and we also need strong partnerships with our cities and with our customers to make sure that everybody is prepared, because this is a joint responsibility.”
That work includes adapting the system to a changing climate. Last year Gómez backed the Walnut Creek Water Treatment Plant Pretreatment Project, an upgrade that adds treatment capacity to handle wildfire runoff, algae blooms and other climate stresses for the roughly 225,000 people the plant serves.
“After I looked at all the facts, there was no alternative,” Gómez said. “I had to vote based on what was going to benefit all of us,” despite some opposition from the treatment plant’s neighbors.
Gómez has also championed EBMUD’s first artificial-intelligence policy and an employee AI training program, both expected to come before the board this year, part of modernizing a century-old agency while protecting the public’s data and systems.
Environmental stewardship. Gómez frames protecting the East Bay’s watersheds and water quality as a core, generational responsibility.
“Stewardship means leaving something for the next generation stronger than we found it,” she said. “Much of Northern California is built around the reliability of our water system, and East Bay MUD has spent generations creating our system. We have all invested in it, and it truly is a collective system that we own.”
Financial stewardship. Gómez says the district must accelerate critical investments while spending responsibly and keeping water affordable, so that ratepayers’ interests stay at the center of every decision.
EBMUD is carrying out a 10-year, $5.6 billion capital program to rebuild pipelines, modernize treatment plants and strengthen reservoirs and pumping plants, even as it works to stabilize rates for customers.
Gómez tied that investment to the broader stakes for the region, saying, “Our water system doesn’t just sustain our homes; it sustains our schools, our hospitals, businesses, farms, firefighters, our economy — and, in many ways, the prosperity of the entire East Bay.”
Gómez immigrated to the United States from Colombia at 15 and was struck by the instant availability of safe, affordable tap water. A public health professional, Gómez chairs the Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission and brings more than 20 years of experience in public health, air quality and community engagement. She previously served as chief of staff to Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia and managed programs for Contra Costa Public Health and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. She holds a bachelor of science from UC Davis and a master of public health from UC Berkeley.
Gómez’s reelection is supported by local elected officials and community leaders across Ward 2. A full list of endorsements is available at www.luzgomezforebmud.com/endorsements.
“Luz has developed a reputation for working across political boundaries,” said former San Ramon Mayor Bill Clarkson. “She doesn’t just say she reaches across the aisle — she works with people like myself, who are Republicans. She’s very respectful of the process, and that’s why she’s successful.”
“It’s undeniable how much she cares about water and water safety,” said San Ramon City Councilmember Richard Adler. “Nobody could be as knowledgeable as Luz. I’ve watched her develop into a really good advocate for our water in this area, and her ability, knowledge and passion make her an obvious choice.”
“She’s been a great partner helping us address issues and work with EBMUD,” said Lafayette City Councilmember Jim Cervantes, citing joint work on Lafayette Reservoir seismic safety and pedestrian and bicycle pathway projects. “We’ve ‘walked the dirt’ together. You don’t run across a lot of people willing to do that. She takes the time, and that’s invaluable.”
“Luz is doing a phenomenal job, and she goes the extra mile to collaborate and help solve constituent issues,” said Concord City Councilmember Carlyn Obringer. “She’s been a wonderful, collaborative partner.”
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