Directors of the Kern County Water Agency selected Tamara Johnson, a long time California Water Services manager, to fill a vacant board seat, despite an outpouring of support from agricultural water districts for another candidate. Representatives from several of the agency’s 13 member ag districts spoke at Wednesday’s meeting in support of Mark Mulkay, former Kern River Watermaster and retired General Manager of the Kern Delta Water District. Managers agreed all candidates were outstanding but said Mulkay brought needed expertise with regard to the State Water Project as well as local water rights.

Other organizational news:

• AgAlert (California Farm Bureau): California Farm Bureau updates group’s policies