RD 1600 is governed by a three-member Board of Trustees who serve alternating four-year terms.  Thus, every two years, either one or two trustees are elected at a general district election or appointed by the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.  Like other “landowner districts,” only landowners or their legal representatives are qualified to serve as trustees and vote in RD 1600’s general district election.  The election and appointment process have the same beginning, as explained further below. 

RD 1600 conducts its general district elections every odd-numbered year pursuant to Reclamation District Law, California Water Code sections 50000 et seq, and the Uniform District Election Law, California Election Code sections 10500 et seq.  RD 1600 begins by publishing a notice in late summer or early fall that the District seeks to hold a general district election in November and requests that interested persons file nomination petitions for the position of Trustee with the District no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 54th day before the election.  The nomination petitions must comply with Water Code sections 50731.5 and 50731.6.  Then, RD 1600 will hold an all-mail ballot election if either of the following occurs:

(1) RD 1600 receives more valid nomination petitions than seats up for election by the deadline; or

(2) RD 1600 receives a valid petition requesting a district election signed by five percent of the landowners requesting an election. 

If neither of the two conditions above occurs, RD 1600 will then publish a notice that an election shall not be held and, that instead, the nominees shall be appointed to the position of Trustee by the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.