Former State Assemblyman Dante Acosta has resigned from his role as a director on the board of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency after eight months to pursue a new career in Texas.

Acosta, who has previously served as both a Santa Clarita City Council member and a state assemblyman for the CA-38 district, says he has resigned from the SCV Water board of directors to begin a position as district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration for the El Paso region.

“I was officially offered the job a week ago,” Acosta said Friday. “I put in my notice with the board yesterday.”

Acosta said he enjoyed his time on the SCV Water Board, as the diversity of the board members allowed for “interesting conversations.”

“That’s one of the beauties of the board,” Acosta said. “Even though we didn’t always agree on everything, we almost always agreed when it came to water.”

Bill Cooper, president of the SCV Water Agency board, said that he is, “really sorry to see Dante leave.”

“He was just becoming a big part of the board,” Cooper said. “We will miss him, but I’m very happy for him in his new position.”

In his new role, Acosta said he is charged with helping to get small business the “resources they need.”

“I’ve had a long passion for small business,” Acosta said. “My first job was in a small business.”

While Acosta is moving to Texas for the job, his family will not be following him at first.

“Our 18-year-old son is still going to school here, and my wife still works in Santa Clarita,” Acosta said. “It’ll be very similar to my time on the state assembly. We’re not selling our house. We’re probably going to rent it out at some point, but not right now.”

Acosta’s vacant spot is one appointed by Los Angeles County Board Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who is currently searching for a replacement.

“We are looking at a number of qualified candidates and expect to notify the Board with a decision as soon as possible,” said Tony Bell, spokesman for Supervisor Barger.

As Acosta moves on to his new role in Texas, he hopes to take the experience he earned over his time in Santa Clarita and apply it to small businesses in the El Paso region.

“It’s been an honor to work and serve this community, and I’m looking forward to doing the same for the small business community,” Acosta said.

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