Candidate for
Board of Directors; West Basin Municipal Water District; Division 1

William A. Baker was appointed to the Board of Directors of the West Basin Municipal Water District in March 2005 to represent the cities of Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates, Rolling Hills, and Carson. Baker is now President of the District, chosen to lead the Board after serving just ten months in office, and is championing new alternative supplies of water, promoting conservation efforts, and ensuring the safe delivery of the water supply.

Prior to his appointment Baker served as a distinguished member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He retired as a Division Chief. Baker was the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, including the Los Angeles County Valor Award, the Criminal Courts Bar Association Law Enforcement Award, and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Distinguished Service Award.

At the West Basin Municipal Water District, Baker helped develop a conservation master plan, strengthened water recycling efforts, and championed greater exploration of ocean water desalination as an economically viable water supply option. He has also been at the forefront of a groundbreaking collaboration with the five major water water supply regions in greater Los Angeles County to create a single water management master plan that will ensure safe, reliable, affordable future supplies as well as promote flood management, habitat restoration, water recycling, and other projects. Baker believes that education is a key to protecting our water supplies and environment and has actively supported the District's award-winning youth education program, Planet Protector Water Exploration.

William A. Baker has been an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at California State University Los Angeles. He holds two advanced degrees, a Master of Arts in Public Communications and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration.

He is an active member of the United States Desalination, the Association of California Water Agencies, the West Basin Water Association, the California Dental Board, and the California Committee on Dental Auxiliaries.

He and his wife, Pearl, have been married for 47years. They have two children.