Santa Clara Valley Water District CEO Resigns After Misconduct Probe

Rick Callender will continue as an advisor for one year as part of separation agreement

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The CEO of Silicon Valley's largest water agency, Rick Callender, has resigned following a year-long misconduct investigation during which he had threatened to sue the agency. Callender, who has worked for the Santa Clara Valley Water District since 1996 and served as CEO since 2020, will step aside on March 1 and work for one year as an advisor reporting to the district's board chairman.

Why it matters

The resignation of the water district's CEO amid a misconduct investigation raises questions about leadership, accountability, and transparency at the agency that provides drinking water and flood protection to 2 million residents in Santa Clara County.

The details

The district's board voted 6-1 to approve the separation agreement, which will have Callender continue earning his $520,000 annual salary plus benefits until he steps down in March 2027. The investigation was sparked by a complaint filed by a female employee, with two other women later filing complaints as well. Callender had threatened to sue the agency, claiming he was wrongfully accused.

  • Callender went on leave in December 2024 after the initial complaint was filed.
  • The investigation lasted for over a year, with the final report expected to be released next week.

The players

Rick Callender

The former CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Water District who resigned following a misconduct investigation. Callender had worked for the agency since 1996 and served as CEO since 2020.

Tony Estremera

The board chairman of the Santa Clara Valley Water District who characterized the vote to approve Callender's separation agreement as a compromise.

Rebecca Eisenberg

A board member of the Santa Clara Valley Water District who voted against the separation agreement and had previously criticized the handling of the investigation.

Salam Baqleh

The vice president of the Valley Water Employees Association, the union representing many of the agency's 850 workers, who criticized the lack of transparency around the investigation's outcome.

Melanie Richardson

The current interim CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Water District who will remain in the role while the board searches for a permanent replacement.

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What they’re saying

“You can have everybody suing everybody instead of providing services to the public. We have to balance that out. Do we want to spend the next five years in litigation as part of these varying disputes? We've always try find a balance.”

— Tony Estremera, Board Chairman (mercurynews.com)

“I was planning on retiring at the end of 2025. I stayed on to clear my name.”

— Rick Callender (mercurynews.com)

“Allowing the top executive who has been accused of such terrible behavior by so many people to go on voluntary paid vacation is not a consequence. It is unjust enrichment.”

— Rebecca Eisenberg, Board Member (mercurynews.com)

“Our members who complained about the harassment still haven't learned the outcome of the investigation and neither have we. It's appalling that he will stay on as a special consultant and our members are still in the dark after more than a year. This is ratepayer money.”

— Salam Baqleh, Vice President, Valley Water Employees Association (mercurynews.com)

What’s next

The final investigative report on the misconduct allegations against Callender is expected to be released next week.

The takeaway

The resignation of the Santa Clara Valley Water District's CEO amid a misconduct probe underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability at public agencies, especially when it comes to addressing allegations of wrongdoing by top executives.