Harold Williams was elected to the West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) Board of Directors in November 2014. He represents the Division l cities of Carson, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, as well as the unincorporated Los Angeles County area of Rancho Dominguez. Williams was appointed by his colleagues to serve as one of two West Basin representatives on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) board of directors. He is also a board member of the CalDesal Executive Committee.
Williams is a California registered civil engineer by profession, a career that he has held for over 40 years. He is currently doing business as a consulting Civil Engineer, helping cities and special districts resolve their infrastructure challenges. Prior to entering private practice, Williams led the Department of Public Works for the City of Gardena as the Director of Public Works and City Engineer. He has held similar positions with the cities of Carson, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale and Lynwood.
Williams was elected to the Carson City Council in a special election in 2004 and was re-elected in a regularly scheduled election in 2005. A longtime Carson resident and community leader, Williams held leadership positions in numerous civic organizations and served on different city commissions.
During Williams’ second term on the Carson City Council, he served as an at large director on the Board of Directors of the League of California Cities and a member of the Environmental Quality Policy Committee of the Los Angeles County Division of the League. Currently, he serves on the Los Angeles County Building Board of Appeals.
As an active member of his professional community, Williams served as President of the Southern California Chapter of American Public Works Association, President of the City and County Engineers Association, and Treasurer of the Los Angeles Council of Black Professional Engineers.
Williams’ desire to serve the community began in his years as a Cub Scout and as a soldier in the U.S. Army. He is still actively involved in various organizations such as the Carson Lions Club of The International Association of Lions Clubs, District 4-L3. Williams served as Chair of the Southern Region from 2014 through 2015, which includes most of the communities in the South Bay. In the eighties, he served as an Assistant Professor (P/T) for the Civil Engineering Department at California State University Los Angeles.
Williams has a long list of accolades which include:
- The City of Carson – Unity Day Harmony Award, 2003
- Carson Chamber of Commerce – Leadership Carson, 2003
- Los Angeles County Democratic Party – Male Democrat of the Year, 2002
- Toastmasters International – Distinguished Toastmaster Award for Communication and Leadership Excellence
- Southern California Chapter of the American Public Works Association – “2015 Top Elected Official Award”
- Elected Chair of the 64th Assembly District Delegation of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party
- The “Faith Award” from Faith Hope and Love Unlimited for more than three decades of community service.
Williams graduated from Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. He earned his associate degree from Los Angeles Trade Technical Community College, and he received his bachelor’s degree from California State University Los Angeles. In addition, he earned a master’s degree in Civil Engineering and a certificate in Small Business from California State University Long Beach.
