For the Valley Water Board, District 6 · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Safe water. Honest budgets. Flood protection for every street.
Santa Clara Valley Water District
These are the district's numbers, not any candidate's. This is the scale of what the board votes on.
Anderson Dam retrofit
$2.8B
Valley Water annual budget
$1.28B
What a household pays
$5.63/mo
Displaced by the 2017 flood
14,000
Sources: Valley Water adopted budget and project reporting; City of San Jose 2017 Coyote Creek flood review
Milan R. Balinton is running for the Santa Clara County Valley Water District Board, District 6. He brings more than a decade of experience leading a growing public-facing organization through crisis, budget expansion, and community-driven decision making.
Milan is a Bay Area native. He was born in Oakland, raised in San Francisco, and has called San Jose home for the past 26 years. He serves as Executive Director of the African American Community Service Agency, a role he took on in 2011 when the organization had just two employees and almost no budget.
Under his leadership, the agency has grown to 15 employees with a projected 3 million dollar budget. It added seven new staff positions during the pandemic, when many other organizations were cutting back. That record of expanding services while managing a growing public budget is the same work the Valley Water board requires.
Water is where fairness starts. It should reach every street, not just some.
His public service record includes a term as Trustee of the Franklin-McKinley School District. That is direct experience governing as an elected board member accountable to the public. He was named a 2022 Impact Warrior by the Golden State Warriors, and he was invited to the White House Communities in Action event on Building a Better California.
Milan's leadership was tested during the COVID-19 pandemic. He guided the agency in redirecting its services to the community's most urgent needs: food distribution, mental health support, housing assistance, and economic empowerment. Under his direction the agency distributed food boxes and essential supplies to more than 25,000 people, and helped organize housing assistance for families through partnerships with Hyatt House, Destination Home, and corporate supporters.
Milan is running for the Valley Water board to bring that record of accountable public leadership, budget management, and cross-agency work to one of the region's most essential public services. The goal is a safe, reliable, and fair water supply for every community in Santa Clara County.
Milan's own record
Milan's record of service across Santa Clara County, before he asked for this seat. Every item is public and checkable.
2015
Milan served as a Commissioner on the Senior Citizens Commission for the City of San Jose, advising the city on the needs of older residents.
2020
When schools closed, Milan helped put laptops in the hands of local students so they could keep learning at home.
2020
Milan led his agency through the COVID-19 emergency, reaching more than 25,000 people with food and essential supplies. He grew the staff to meet the need at a time when many organizations were cutting back.
2022
Milan brought students together with Lockheed Martin engineers to spark interest in science careers.
2023
Milan served on the Franklin-McKinley School District Board. It is direct experience governing as an elected board member answerable to the public.
He ran again in November 2024 and did not win. He kept going to the same meetings and the same neighborhoods. This campaign grew out of those conversations.
2024
On June 10, Milan was invited to the White House for the Juneteenth Celebration.
2024
On July 30, Milan took part in the Communities in Action event on Building a Better California at the White House.
26 years
Milan has called San Jose home for 26 years and has spent his career in community service across Santa Clara County, leading programs for youth, seniors, and working families.
Every family deserves water that is safe to drink and always there when you turn on the tap.
In 2017, the Coyote Creek flood forced 14,000 neighbors from their homes. Milan will make flood protection a promise, not a plan on a shelf.
Valley Water spends about 1.28 billion dollars each year. A typical family pays about 5.63 dollars each month. Milan will treat every dollar with care.
Water decisions touch every home. The people who make them should speak with every community, in the language people use at home.
Titles are for identification only.
State and federal leaders
Labor
Santa Clara County leaders
San José city leaders
Valley Water leaders
School and community leaders
General election
Sample ballot · Valley Water Board
Milan Balinton
Community services director
Vote on or before Nov 3, 2026
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Paid for by Milan Balinton for Valley Water 2026 · FPPC ID #PENDING
Titles are for identification only.
The African American Community Service Agency does not endorse candidates. The organization is named for identification only.
MILAN BALINTON