Santa Clara County’s largest water supplier has selected longtime agency veteran Aaron Baker as its next Chief Executive Officer. In a 5-2 vote on Tuesday, the Valley Water board of directors appointed Baker currently the agency’s chief operating officer to take over the role on January 4, 2027, with an annual salary of $506,789.03. Until his official start date, Baker will work alongside Interim CEO Melanie Richardson to ensure a smooth administrative transition.
Baker brings over 25 years of operational and leadership experience to the position, having originally joined Valley Water as an engineer in 1999. Reflecting on his new mandate, Baker emphasized a commitment to cultivating an empowering workplace culture and ensuring public accountability, stating his primary goal is to foster an environment where employees take pride in their work and the public feels actively heard.
Strategic Priorities and Major Infrastructure Projects:
Stepping into the role following a turbulent period for the district, Baker outlined a clear focus on core operational mandates:
Water Reliability and Public Health: Safeguarding regional water supplies and maintaining rigorous safety standards.
Capital Improvements: Overseeing massive investments, including critical treatment plant upgrades and the approximately $2 billion Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project.
Fiscal and Schedule Discipline: Enforcing strict adherence to project timelines, budgetary transparency, and cost controls.
Workforce Stability: Empowering internal staff and maintaining strong leadership continuity across departmental units.
Board Chair Tony Estremera supported the appointment, highlighting Baker’s decades-long track record of achievement and the strategic rationale behind pairing him with Richardson to manage cascading internal staff promotions. Meanwhile, Directors Jim Beall and Rebecca Eisenberg cast the dissenting votes, with Beall citing concerns over the structure of the transition arrangement rather than opposition to Baker personally.
Background of the Leadership Change:
Baker’s promotion follows the February resignation of former CEO Rick Callender, who stepped down after a lengthy misconduct investigation substantiated allegations of sexual harassment and policy violations. The ensuing fallout including a separation agreement that kept Callender on as a paid special adviser triggered widespread employee protests demanding leadership accountability. With Baker now at the helm, the agency aims to restore institutional stability, focus on critical infrastructure goals, and move forward into its next operational chapter.
