The Santa Clara Valley Water District has appointed John Varela to its South County seat. The former Morgan Hill mayor was sworn in Thursday.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District is looking for a temporary replacement for Dennis Kennedy, the South County board member who resigned.

A man is only as good as his word, and some South County farmers are putting Dennis Kennedy to the test. A comment Kennedy made last year about not running for re-election if appointed to the Santa Clara Valley Water District is now under close inspection.