The Mojave Water Agency named Thurston “Smitty” Smith as the board’s new president, and Jim Ventura of Joshua Tree as vice president. Ventura was first elected to the MWA as the representative for Division 2 in 2000. Ventura has lived in Joshua Tree since 1980. Throughout the years, Ventura has been distinguished with many community awards for his work in the Morongo Basin, which include being inducted to the Copper Mountain College Community Leadership Hall of Fame and winning the Community Distinguished Citizenship Award.
Smith was initially elected to MWA’s Board in 2016 and represents Division 7 of the Agency’s service area, which encompasses parts of Hesperia and Apple Valley. The meeting also saw Jeanette Hayhurst, who was elected to the MWA Board in 2018 and represents Division 6, resume her role as Board Secretary, and Kimberly Cox, who served as Board President in 2018 and represents Division 1, take the reigns as Board Treasurer.
