The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California voted to appoint a new top manager, dismissing Adel Hagekhalil after a seven-month investigation into allegations of discrimination that exposed deep divisions within California’s largest urban water supplier. The new general manager of the MWD will be Deven Upadhyay, who has been serving in the position on an interim basis since Hagekhalil was placed on leave last year. Board members announced their decision to make a final offer of a legal settlement to Hagekhalil … Hagekhalil’s lawyer, Kerry Garvis Wright, said he rejected the offer. “This decision is nothing more than a political power grab, clearing the way for Metropolitan to return to old and antiquated water policies,” Garvis Wright said in an email. “Over the past week, Mr. Hagekhalil offered to resolve his legal claims against MWD, but now is left with no choice but to pursue all his legal options to protect his rights and reputation.”

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