Santa Ana River Board Elects Fred Jung as Vice Chair

Fred Jung, mayor of Fullerton, won election as vice chair of the Santa Ana River board on March 27. He is the first Korean American to hold the position and now represents the Orange County Executive Committee.

The board also picked Pat Burns, mayor of Huntington Beach, to serve as chair.

Jung Commits to Regional Water and Flood Safety

“It’s an honor to take on this role,” Jung said. “I appreciate the trust member cities have placed in me. I’ll keep working to protect Orange County from flooding and to ensure a safe, reliable water supply.”

He said he plans to lead with transparency and strengthen coordination across member cities.

Board Coordinates Water Management for 19 Cities

The Santa Ana River board directs flood control and water management along the Santa Ana River, which flows from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Local officials formed the agency over a century ago to reduce flood risks in the region.

The board includes 19 cities: Fullerton, Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.

Together, these cities manage infrastructure, flood planning, and emergency response. As vice chair, Jung will help shape the agency’s policy direction and lead regional planning efforts.