Candidate with ties to data center project is running for water and power agency board seat

A candidate named Carlos Duran, who has identified himself as a Community Information Representative for the data center developer Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, is running for a seat on the board of directors of the Imperial Irrigation District (IID). The developer is seeking to build a massive, $10 billion data center complex in the region, but the IID, the local water and power agency, has not yet agreed to supply the electricity needed for the project. Political science professor Brian Adams says it is unusual for a company without an existing operation in the jurisdiction to insert itself into a local election, typically this is done to protect an already operating business. The developer has accused the IID in court filings of trying to sabotage their project and prioritizing a competitor. The IID has denied some of the allegations against the agency. The data center project is a key factor in this election, as the developer needs the IID to provide the necessary power supply. With the candidate's ties to the project, the race raises questions about the influence a prospective business can wield over local government decision-making.