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Westlands Water District (WWD) has announced the selection of a new general counsel and special council earlier this week. The WWD board of directors has chosen Philip Williams for the position of general counsel and Jeffrey Mitchell for the position of special counsel to the Board.
The Board made the decision in June of 2016 to separate the roles of General Manager and General Counsel in an effort to ensure confidence in the District’s decision-making. The Board’s decision acknowledged that management of the district – in light of the complexities involved in water delivery, groundwater management, and securing new water supplies – requires the full attention of the General Manager. The Board believes the changes in the operational structure of the District will promote transparency and good government practices.
Williams has served as Westlands’ Deputy General Counsel since 2014, where he has provided legal counsel to the Board and staff, and has overseen litigation and administrative efforts to secure a reliable water supply future for the region’s farmers and families. In his new role he will be managing the legal affairs of the District. This will include providing advice on legal strategy, district policies, personnel matters and other matters as requested by the Board.
Williams holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah and a Juris Doctor and a Masters of Law in Water Resources from Pacific McGeorge School of Law. Before joining Westlands, he served over eight years as an Officer and United States Army Ranger, earning the rank of Captain, and served two tours in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division.
Mitchell, a shareholder in the firm of Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann, and Girard, has predominantly counseled public sector clients including cities and special districts in matters relating to governance, land use, real estate, and general municipal law. With more than 20 years of experience, Mitchell advises his clients on a wide range of day-to-day legal and contractual matters facing public entities. He has broad experience in state and federal laws related to use and reuse of land, tax credits, development issues, and funding programs for housing and economic development projects. Mitchell will be advising the Board on the procedures and policies necessary to comply with laws governing special districts, including the Brown Act.
In their respective roles, Williams and Mitchell will report directly to the Board of Directors.
