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Westlands Water District

Westlands Water District

Fresno, CA

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You are here: Home / About Westlands / Board of Directors

Board of Directors

The Westlands Board of Directors is comprised of nine members each of whom is a District landowner or designated or legal representative of a landowner.

Board elections are held every two years, and Directors are elected to four-year terms of office. Each landowner in the District is allowed one vote for each dollar’s worth of land to which he/she holds title.

The Board manages and conducts the business and affairs of the District. The Board meets on the third Tuesday of each month except on Holidays. Board meetings are open to the general public. Agenda and Minutes are available.

Jeff Fortune

President
2022-2024

Jeff Fortune is a third generation California farmer and the second generation Westlands farmer. He is a “boots on the ground” farmer with more than four decades of farming experience. Jeff works alongside his father and two brothers at their family farm growing tomatoes, almonds, and pistachios.

    Frank Coelho Jr.

    1991 – 2024

    Frank Coelho is a third generation farmer in Westlands since 1969. He, along with several family members, farms in the Five Points area. Their crops consist of processing tomatoes, wine grapes, almonds, cotton, garlic, and garbanzo beans.

      Jeremy Hughes

      2022-2026

      Jeremy Hughes, a fifth-generation farmer, has farmed in the District for over 25 years with his family. Mr. Hughes started the company that bears his name in 1997, farming various row crops including processing tomatoes, almonds, and pistachios. Mr. Hughes lives in Clovis with his wife and two children.

        William Bourdeau

        2015-2024

        William Bourdeau is from a fourth generation Westside family. He was born and raised in Coalinga and served as a local city councilman. He is the executive vice president of Harris Farms in Coalinga which grows several crops annually including lettuce, tomatoes, garlic, onions, melons, almonds, pistachios and wine grapes.

          Jim Anderson

          Vice President
          2013-2024

          Jim Anderson is a fifth-generation farmer in Westlands who farms with members of his family including his grandfather, mother and sister. Depending upon water supply, he farms lettuce, cotton, tomatoes, garlic, wheat, barley, corn, almonds and wine grapes.

            Donald Ross Franson III

            2022-2026

            Ross Franson’s family has farmed in Westlands since the District’s formation in 1952. Mr. Franson’s family grows almonds, pistachios, tomatoes, and other row crops. The family business also operates almond and tomato processing facilities in the District. Mr. Franson currently resides in Fresno with his wife and three children.

              Ernie Costamagna

              2022-2026

              Ernie Costamagna is a third-generation family farmer in California. He began farming in Westland’s in the 1980’s. His farming operation is comprised of nuts, wine grapes, cherries, garlic, onions, cotton and processing tomatoes. He is a resident of Hanford CA with his wife and has 7 children.

                Justin Diener

                2022-2026

                Justin Diener continues to work in the same area his family began farming in the 1930s. Mr. Diener, with his family, grows processing tomatoes, garlic, almonds, and lemons and raises lambs. Mr. Diener lives in Five Points, where he was born and raised, with his wife and daughter.

                  Kevin Assemi

                  2020-2024

                  Kevin Assemi’s family has proudly farmed in Westlands for two generations. Kevin, along with his family, grows mostly pistachios, almonds, raisins, and row crops.

                    Committee Assignments

                    Finance & Administration

                    William Bourdeau, Chair 
                    Justin Diener
                    Jeremy Hughes
                    Jeff Fortune

                    Field Operations & Maintenance

                    Frank Coelho, Jr., Chair
                    Ernie Costamagna
                    Justin Diener
                    Jeff Fortune

                    Legal Affairs

                    Kevin Assemi, Chair
                    Ross Franson
                    Frank Coelho 
                    Jeff Fortune

                    Water Policy

                    Jim Anderson, Chair
                    Jeremy Hughes
                    Ross Franson
                    Jeff Fortune

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