Orange County Water District taps Debay

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- Former Councilwoman Jan Debay has been named to a

seat on the Orange County Water District.

Debay, who stepped down in November after eight years on the council,

joined the 10-person board this week.

The other board members nominated Debay, who said she was thrilled by

the appointment.

“We’ve got a lot of work [to do] in the next few years,” she said.

“I’m very happy to be designated on the board of directors.”

The water agency maintains and manages the ground-water basin under

Northern and Central Orange County. The basin supplies 75% of the water

needs of more than 2 million county residents, including those in Costa

Mesa and Newport Beach.

Water district spokesman Ron Wildermuth said Debay was warmly received

at her swearing-in ceremony Wednesday.

“We’re very excited about having her as a new member of our board,” he

said. “She brings excellent experience.”

Debay has spent more than 13 years as a public servant. She was first

elected to the City Council in 1992 and reelected four years later. She

also served a stint as mayor.

The West Newport resident and former nurse couldn’t run for a third

term because of the city’s two-term limitation.

Debay started her career as a planning commissioner in 1987. In 1993,

while on the council, she was named to the board of the Orange County

Sanitation District.

Also in that year, Debay was elected to the board of the Southern

California Assn. of Governments. On the board, Debay represented the

county in efforts to assess the planning challenges of major regional

public projects.

Debay also held a seat on the board of the Orange County League of

Cities.