By IMPERIAL VALLEY PRESS STAFF

October 23, 2011, 2:54 a.m.
Imperial Irrigation District General Manager Kevin E. Kelley announced the appointment of Antonio Ortega to the district’s governmental affairs team.An El Centro resident, Ortega will serve as government affairs specialist for IID. For the past year he has been a member of IID¿s Energy Consumers Advisory Committee and served as senior field representative for Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez.“Antonio brings valuable experience to this critically important role,” Kelley said, ¿His experience, not only in the Imperial Valley but also at the state and federal levels, will help IID influence and stay on top of pending legislation.¿Ortega will be responsible for coordinating the district¿s governmental affairs programs and activities to deliver maximum value from its water and energy resource portfolio for district customers. To this end, he will promote IID policies, programs and initiatives through liaison, communication, coordination and interaction with federal, state and regional governmental and legislative agencies.Ortega is a graduate of the University of California, Riverside, having earned a bachelor¿s degree in sociology in 2006. He has also worked in the state Capitol as a legislative aide for Assemblyman Hector De La Torre and Sen. Abel Maldonado.