Metropolitan Water District board dismisses general manager

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which manages water deliveries to cities and counties across the region, fired General Manager Adel Hagekhalil on Wednesday.

Hagekhalil was placed on administrative leave in June following allegations of harassment and creating a hostile work environment.

“We thank Mr. Hagekhalil for his contributions to Metropolitan,” board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. said following a closed-session meeting in which the decision was made. “With a more than 80% vote, the board took decisive steps to stabilize our organization and workforce, while doubling down on climate action and long-term water supply sustainability. We need to reinforce our focus on fulfilling our core mission and addressing the immediate challenges ahead.” 

Twenty-seven of the 38 board members voted to present Hagekhalil the district’s “best and final offer” of a legal settlement. The details of the offer were not disclosed. If the offer was not accepted, the decision was to terminate Hagekhalil’s employment without cause. 

Six board members voted “no,” and five were absent. 

Hagekhalil rejected the board’s final order, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“Metropolitan takes all allegations of discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment seriously,” Ortega added. “We are committed to maintaining a workplace environment that upholds the values of fairness, respect, and due process.”

Deven Upadhyay, MWD assistant general manager and chief operating officer, has been the interim general manager since June. He was officially appointed to the job Wednesday, and a board vote expected in February will decide on Upadhyay’s employment contract.

Kerry Garvis Wright, Hagekhalil’s attorney, said in a statement to City News Service that his client “did not engage in any misconduct, and the investigation against him did not substantiate the alleged retaliation, harassment, or hostile work environment.”

Wright said, “Hagekhalil is grateful to his many colleagues and supporters who testified to his record of cordiality, respect and inclusion,” the statement said. “Mr. Hagekhalil was hired to reform MWD, and he achieved significant accomplishments, guided the agency through historic drought conditions and earned excellent performance reviews every year. However, change is never easy, and some saw change as a threat and filed several baseless claims against him.

“Instead of supporting Mr. Hagekhalil and his reforms, the Board voted to terminate his contract without cause, which is a continuation of the racist, discriminatory and retaliatory treatment of him throughout his tenure with the agency. As an Arab and Muslim American, he and others were subjected to overtly racist comments and actions by board members who organized opposition to him and voted against him in board meetings,” Wright continued.

“This decision is nothing more than a political power grab, clearing the way for Metropolitan to return to old and antiquated water policies, favoritism and quid pro quo practices, which in turn will silence the voices of staff, stakeholders, and community members,” Wright said.

The Metropolitan Water District is a cooperative established by the state government that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties and is the nation’s largest water agency. The MWD oversees water deliveries from the Colorado River and Northern California and helps members develop water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

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