Three vie for vacant board seat on powerful Kern water agency

Three people have put their hats in the ring for a Kern County Water Agency board seat that was left vacant when that board member was hired as the agency’s General Manager.

Tamara Johnson, Director of California Water Service’s southern region; Greg Wegis, longtime farmer and farm manager; and Mark Mulkay, retired General Manager of the Kern Delta Water District, all submitted letters of interest for the seat.

The board is expected to select the new board member at its meeting on Wednesday.

Johnson notes that she has a master’s degree in business administration along with 40 years experience in the water utility industry, including as CalWater’s Bakersfield district manager. As such, she has also served on the Kern County Water Agency’s urban water advisory committee, she states in her letter.

Wegis’ farming experience has given him a strong understanding of ag water districts, most of which are member units within the agency, he writes in his letter. The agency holds the state water contract on behalf of 13 agricultural water districts, which are known as member units of the agency.

Mulkay was the manager of one of those member units, the Kern Delta Water District for 30 years, his letter states. Those years gave him a deep understanding of the inner workings of the State Water Project. Mulkay also served as the Kern River Watermaster and brings a wealth of knowledge of Kern River rights, according to his letter.

The agency board seat was left vacant after former board member Eric Averett resigned in October and was subsequently hired as the agency’s general manager.

The term for this seat ends in December 2026.