Cal. Water Code § 22840.5

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may elect a chairperson from its members and may elect, in addition to a chairperson, a vice chairperson who shall have the power to perform all the duties of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson, or in the event of his or her inability to perform those duties. If the board elects a chairperson or vice chairperson, any reference to president or vice president in any provision of this division, other than this chapter, means the chairperson or vice chairperson of the board. The board may, in this case, designate a chief staff person to be known as the president.