Orange County Sanitation District Elects Ryan Gallagher and Jon Dumitru as Chairman and Vice-Chairman

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — The Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) is pleased to announce the election of Ryan Gallagher, Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Tustin, as the new Board Chairman, and Jon Dumitru, Councilmember for the City of Orange as the Board Vice-Chairman.

Ryan Gallagher succeeds Chad P. Wanke, Councilmember for the City of Placentia, who led the OC San Board for two years, overseeing the completion of various strategic plan goals which include recycling 100 percent of OC San’s reclaimable flow, completion of the Headquarters building, and many others.

The elections were made at the May 22 OC San Board of Directors meeting and will take effect on July 1, 2024, and hold a two-year term limit.

“I’m privileged to take the position of Chairman for the Orange County Sanitation District and it is my hope to continue what my predecessors have started,” stated Ryan Gallagher. “OC San is one of the best clean water agencies in the state, and I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve its mission.”

Mr. Gallagher joined the City of Tustin Council in 2020 and began his service with OC San that same year. In 2022, he was nominated as the Board Vice-Chairman. He also serves on several committees, including the Operations Committee, Administration Committee, General Legal Services Ad Hoc Committee, Steering Committee, and the joint OC San and Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System Committee. Additionally, he served on the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee in 2022.

Born and raised in Southern California, Mr. Gallagher holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and is a licensed Civil Engineer in the State of California. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, running, and spending time with his family, including his wife, four young children, and dog, Gus.

Mr. Dumitru has been a member of OC San’s Board of Directors since 2023, previously serving from 2007 to 2012. He serves on the Steering Committee, Operations Committee, Audit Ad Hoc Committee, and the General Counsel Legal Services Ad Hoc Committee. As an OC San representative he serves on the National Water Research Institute Board of Directors as well.

“I am truly honored to have been chosen to serve as the Board Vice-Chairman for such an honorable and forward-thinking organization,” stated Jon Dumitru. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue OC San’s success.

Mr. Dumitru is a former Mayor Pro Tem and served as a City Council Member in the City of Orange from 2004 to 2012. He was elected to represent District 2 in the Orange City Council in November 2020.

Dumitru is a lifelong Orange resident and lives his life giving back to the community.

For more information about the Orange County Sanitation District, please visit www.ocsan.gov.

About OC San

OC San is a public agency that provides wastewater collection, treatment, and recycling for approximately 2.6 million people in central and northwest Orange County. OC San is a special district that is governed by a 25-member Board of Directors composed of 20 cities, four special districts, and one representative from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. OC San has two operating facilities that treat wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial sources.