News release
Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency Board President Maria Gutzeit has officially announced her campaign for re-election, pledging to continue delivering safe, reliable, and affordable water while promoting efficiency, transparency and sustainability for the community.
An engineer and small business owner, Gutzeit has been a water official since 2003 and currently leads the agency as president. She played a key role in the unification that created the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, a move that has saved ratepayers more than $10 million through improved efficiency and collaboration, Gutzeit’s campaign said in a news release.
“Serving the people of Santa Clarita has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Gutzeit said in the release. “Water isn’t political — it’s essential. My focus has always been on practical, cost-effective solutions that protect our community’s future.”
In the release, former state Sen. Scott Wilk praised Gutzeit’s leadership, calling her “a smart, steady, and community-focused leader who gets things done.”
Gary Martin, vice president of the SCV Water Agency board, added, “Maria’s thoughtful leadership has brought stability and innovation to our agency.”
Bill Cooper, also vice president of the board, said in the release, “Maria consistently delivers results and leads with integrity.”
Gutzeit’s campaign has already earned support including endorsements from Martin and Cooper as well as SCV Water Directors Dirk Marks, Ken Petersen, Piotr Orzechowski and Dan Masnada, as well as Santa Clarita Councilman Jason Gibbs and former Councilman Cameron Smyth.
Gutzeit added she intends to build on the agency’s success in securing state and federal funding, expanding groundwater treatment and improving drought resilience. “Our community deserves dependable, affordable water,” she said. “That’s what I’ve worked for — and that’s what I’ll keep fighting for.”
Gutzeit represents the agency’s Division 3, which encompasses western portions of the SCV including Castaic, Stevenson Ranch and some portions of Valencia, Saugus and Newhall.
