Santa Clara Valley Water District CEO Resigns After Misconduct Probe

The CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Rick Callender, has resigned following a year-long investigation into allegations of misconduct. Callender, who has held the position since 2020 and has worked for the agency since 1996, will officially step down on March 1, 2027, after an agreement was approved by the district’s board on February 16. During the transition, he will serve as an advisor while continuing to earn his current salary of 520,000 USD annually, along with benefits.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District, also known as Valley Water, provides essential drinking water and flood protection services to approximately 2 million residents in Santa Clara County. It operates through funding from water charges and taxes. The board’s decision to approve Callender’s resignation came after a closed session meeting, where they voted 6-1, with board member Rebecca Eisenberg dissenting.

Tony Estremera, the district’s board chairman, described the decision as a necessary compromise. He emphasized the need to focus on providing services rather than engaging in prolonged litigation. “You can have everybody suing everybody instead of providing services to the public,” Estremera remarked. He expressed hope that the outcome would allow the agency to move forward.

Callender has been on leave since December 2024 following a complaint filed by a female employee, which was subsequently joined by two other complaints from different employees. The specific details of these allegations remain undisclosed. In January 2025, Callender’s attorney, Lori Costanzo, submitted a letter to the district requesting his personnel file and threatened legal action, citing claims of a “hostile work environment, discrimination, retaliation, and more.”

While on leave, Callender continued to receive his full salary for over 14 months as the district engaged the legal firm Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo to investigate the allegations. The district also enlisted the services of Progress Public Affairs, a crisis communications firm based in San Francisco, to manage public relations during the inquiry.

Estremera stated that the investigation is now complete and that a final report will be available soon, albeit redacted to protect the privacy of witnesses. “I don’t want to get ahead of the report. I’ll let it speak for itself,” he added when asked about the investigation’s conclusions.

Eisenberg, a board member representing Palo Alto, has been vocal about the investigation, previously alleging that Callender faced multiple accusations of sexual harassment. In a post last year, she stated that Callender was under investigation for “serial predatory behavior” supported by substantial written evidence. She criticized the decision to allow him to remain in a paid position while the investigation was ongoing, describing it as “unjust enrichment.”

Callender, 55, has maintained his innocence, asserting that the allegations stem from a personal dispute initiated by an employee facing discipline. He has declared his intention to clear his name and stated, “There was no veracity to the complaint.”

In light of Callender’s resignation, Melanie Richardson, currently serving as interim CEO, will remain in her position while the board searches for a permanent successor. The handling of Callender’s situation and the lack of transparency surrounding the investigation have drawn criticism from employees. Salam Baqleh, vice president of the Valley Water Employees Association, expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing uncertainty, stating, “It’s appalling that he will stay on as a special consultant and our members are still in the dark after more than a year.”

Callender’s tenure as CEO began in 2020 after he was appointed through a narrow 4-3 board vote, making him the first African American to lead the agency. His career has included significant roles in public relations and government affairs within the district. A native of Las Vegas, Callender grew up in San Jose and holds a degree in industrial engineering from California State University, Chico. He has also served as president of the California-Hawaii NAACP State Conference in recent years.

The forthcoming report on the investigation is anticipated to shed light on the allegations and the circumstances surrounding Callender’s resignation, further defining the future of the Santa Clara Valley Water District.