Lorenzo Rios elected President of California Special Districts Association
California Special Districts Association (CSDA) announces Lorenzo Rios, CEO of Clovis Veterans Memorial District (CVMD), as its newly elected board president. Rios is a Certified Special District Manager who has served as the CEO of CVMD since 2015 where he has forged strong partnerships with local, state and federal stakeholders to advance the district’s work to serve, honor and support veterans and the community.
After convening the statewide association’s first board meeting of 2026 today, Rios stated: “Special districts are the most local and specialized form of governance in our country, delivering essential services that families and businesses rely on every day. I am proud to serve our membership as President and to advance our mission of helping special districts best serve their communities.”
Joining Rios on the CSDA Executive Committee are Pete Kampa of Groveland Community Services District as Vice-President, Antonio Martinez of Contra Costa Water District as Treasurer, Don Bartz of Phelan Pinion Hills Community Services District as Secretary, and Elaine Magner of Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District as Past President.
CSDA represents more than 1,000 special districts providing nearly all of California’s 39 million residents with at least one essential service. Special districts are owned, funded, and governed by the community they serve. These local public agencies are led by local service specialists.
Services offered by special districts throughout California include irrigation, water, sanitation, fire protection, open space, park and recreation, cemetery, electricity, library, resource conservation, port and harbor, veterans memorial, and healthcare.
CSDA is a 501c(6), not-for-profit association that was formed in 1969 to promote good governance and improved core local services through professional development, advocacy, and other services for all types of independent special districts. The association is governed by an 18-member board of directors elected by its membership, with three members elected to each of six “networks” or regions across the state.
In addition to the selection of new board officers, CSDA announces the election of two new board members: Kevin Phillips, General Manager of Paradise Irrigation District and Steve Palmer, General Manager of Donner Summit Public Utility District. The Board of Directors also appointed Nikki Winslow, District Director of Altadena Library District to fill a vacancy due to the retirement of Arlene Schafer, former Board Member of Costa Mesa Sanitary District.