Steering Committee

DON BANKHEAD

OCWD 2nd Vice President

James D. "Don" Bankhead was appointed to the Orange County Water District (OCWD) Board of Directors in January 2009 by the Fullerton City Council to represent Division 10. Director Bankhead was elected to his first four-year Fullerton City Council term in 1988, and re-elected in 1992. He left the Council briefly in the summer of 1994, and was re-elected to a four-year term in November of that year, and again in November 1998 and November 2002. He is the current Mayor for 2009 and served as Mayor in 2001-03, 1997-1998 and 1991-92, and as Mayor Pro Tem in 2005-06, 2000-01, 1990-91, 1993-94, and 1995-97.

Originally from Texas, California became Director Bankhead's home in 1954 when he was discharged from the Navy where he saw action in the Korean War. He worked for a while at the U.S. Postal Service, General Motors and Union Oil before he was hired by the Fullerton Police Department in 1957.

After joining the Police Department, Director Bankhead quickly began to move up the ranks. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1962, to Lieutenant in 1964, and to Captain in 1978. After his promotion to Captain, he commanded the Uniform Division until 1980, and was then assigned to command the Investigation Division, a position he held until his retirement from the force in September 1988.

While he moved up the ranks, Director Bankhead continued his education, earning an associate of arts degree in police science from Fullerton Junior College, and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's in public administration, both from California State University, Fullerton.

Director Bankhead has served as President of the League of California Cities, Orange County Chapter, and as Immediate Past President. He has also represented the Fullerton City Council on the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities Legislative "Strike Force;" as chairman of the Resolutions and Issues Committee of the Orange County League of California Cities; the Orange County Regional Airport Authority; the Orange County Representative of the League of California Cities on the Transportation, Communication and Public Works Committee; the Board of Directors for the Orange County Fixed Guideway (Rail) Agency; the Public Health and Socio-Economic Task Force of the Air Quality Management District; the Task Force on Growth Management of the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities; the Criminal Justice Super Committee for the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities; the Independent Cities Risk Management Authority; the Fullerton Transportation Center Study Selection Panel; the Fullerton Affordable Housing Committee; and on the Fullerton Economic Development Team.

Active in the community, he is a member of the Fullerton Rotary - Main, the President's Circle of St. Jude Medical Center, the Fullerton Elks Lodge, the American Legion, the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, the California Peace Officers' Association, and the Sunny Hills Church of Christ. He has also been a long-time supporter of youth activities, including local Little League and soccer programs, as well as the PTA and Boy Scouts.

Honors received by Director Bankhead include being named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Fullerton Rotary - Main. He was also honored by the North Orange County Community College District as the 2002 Distinguished Alumnus of the College, and by the North Orange County YWCA as the 2004 Man of the Year.

Director Bankhead and his wife Carol have seven children and five grandchildren.