Vote Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Experienced leadership
for our water future
Candidate for the Board of Directors, Division 3 — La Verne & Claremont
More than 35 years of engineering and water industry experience, and 25 years serving Walnut Valley Water District.
Licensed Professional Civil Engineer
California, 1996 — currently active
B.S., Civil Engineering
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 1993
General Manager / Chief Engineer
Walnut Valley Water District (retired)
Resident of La Verne
Since 2000
Recently retired as General Manager and Chief Engineer of Walnut Valley Water District — one of Three Valleys' own member agencies — and now a candidate for the Three Valleys board in Division 3, representing La Verne and Claremont.
Sherry served Walnut Valley Water District for 25 years in leadership and engineering roles including Engineering Manager, Director of Engineering, and ultimately General Manager. As General Manager she was the District's chief executive officer: leading operations, setting strategic direction, overseeing department leadership, and keeping water service reliable while planning for the District's long-term needs.
Among the accomplishments she is proudest of: overseeing approximately $125 million in capital improvement projects, implementing the District's 4/10 work schedule, completing the District headquarters building, and launching the new Operations Building.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1993, and became a licensed Professional Civil Engineer in California in 1996. Before Walnut Valley, she worked for the consulting firms Civiltec Engineering and Stetson Engineers, both well known across the San Gabriel Valley.
Sherry first lived in La Verne from 1988 to 1991, and has made it home with her husband, Bob, since 2000. Their two adult children, Nick and Melissa, are both graduates of Cal Poly Pomona — during Melissa's studies in Aerospace Engineering she received scholarship support through the City's Rotary program. Outside her professional career, Sherry operates a Jazzercise fitness program in the City of La Verne, and volunteers at her church, playing drums and leading a married couples' group.
Three Valleys faces rate pressures, aging infrastructure, and an invasive species already inside its system. These are the six issues her candidate statement addresses.
Metropolitan's shift toward higher fixed charges, combined with falling usage-based revenue, puts real pressure on rates. Sherry credits Three Valleys with translating those fixed costs to member agencies through a fair allocation methodology based on Equivalent Dwelling Units, and with advocating for the use of ad valorem property tax revenues to help stabilize and reduce rates.
Sherry followed the major pipeline leak and subsequent repairs Three Valleys undertook during 2023–2024 — an experience that reinforced her view that proactive infrastructure replacement matters. Her engineering and management background is in capital improvement programs and how those investments affect rate studies and financial planning.
Sherry has remained actively engaged in understanding the golden mussel's impacts on both the State Water Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct. With the invasive species identified within the Three Valleys system, she recognizes the importance of implementing effective solutions to protect treatment facilities and maintain reliable water service.
Balancing responsible investment against rate stability is the core judgment call a water board makes. Sherry has sat on the agency side of those budgets and rate adjustments, and knows what the numbers mean before they reach a ratepayer's bill.
Sherry stays current on the issues that decide where our water actually comes from: the Pure Water Project, the State Water Conveyance Project, and negotiations over Colorado River water rights.
Investing in employees today is how an agency has managers ready tomorrow. Sherry strongly supports leadership development throughout the Three Valleys organization.
Every item here is drawn from Sherry's own biography and candidate statement.
Became a licensed Professional Civil Engineer in California in 1996.
Consulting work with two firms well known throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
Worked on the City's Water Master Plan — valuable insight into its balance between imported water and groundwater, and the water quality challenges it still addresses today.
Leadership and engineering roles including Engineering Manager, Director of Engineering, and ultimately General Manager / Chief Engineer — leading operations, strategic direction, and department leadership.
Plus the District's 4/10 work schedule, completion of the District headquarters building, and the launch of the new Operations Building.
Worked closely with Three Valleys staff on annual budgets, rate adjustments and long-term planning as a member-agency General Manager.
“With more than 35 years of engineering and water industry experience, I am committed to ensuring reliable water supplies, responsible financial stewardship, sound infrastructure investment, and strong organizational leadership.”
Sherry Shaw
Three Valleys Municipal Water District is facing several significant challenges, including rate pressures, infrastructure replacement needs, and the emerging threat of golden mussel infestation. Additional challenges are expected in the coming years, making experienced leadership more important than ever.
As General Manager of Walnut Valley Water District, one of Three Valleys' member agencies, I worked closely with Three Valleys staff on annual budgets, rate adjustments, and long-term planning. One of the most significant recent changes has been the Metropolitan Water District's shift toward increased fixed charges within its rate structure. At the same time, water agencies throughout California have been challenged to reduce water consumption, resulting in declining usage-based revenues while infrastructure replacement costs continue to rise.
Three Valleys has done an excellent job translating these fixed costs to member agencies through a fair allocation methodology based on Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs). The District has also been a strong advocate for the use of ad valorem property tax revenues to help stabilize and reduce water rates. My engineering and management experience has given me a thorough understanding of capital improvement programs and how infrastructure investments affect rate studies and financial planning.
I have remained actively engaged in understanding the impacts of the golden mussel infestation on both the State Water Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct. As this invasive species has been identified within the Three Valleys system, I recognize the importance of implementing effective solutions to protect treatment facilities and maintain reliable water service.
I also closely followed the major pipeline leak and subsequent repairs undertaken by Three Valleys during 2023–2024. This experience has reinforced my appreciation for the importance of proactive infrastructure replacement and responsible investment in critical water facilities.
My experience preparing the City of La Verne's Water Master Plan in 1997 provided valuable insight into the City's complex balance between imported water and groundwater resources, as well as the water quality challenges it continues to address today.
In addition, I remain current on several key regional water issues, including the Pure Water Project, State Water Conveyance Project, and negotiations related to Colorado River water rights. I also strongly support leadership development throughout the Three Valleys organization. Investing in employees today helps prepare the next generation of managers and leaders who will guide the District into the future.
With more than 35 years of engineering and water industry experience, I am committed to ensuring reliable water supplies, responsible financial stewardship, sound infrastructure investment, and strong organizational leadership for the communities served by Three Valleys Municipal Water District.
— Sherry Shaw
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