Terry McAteerNID Board · Division I

Nevada Irrigation District · Division I · Grass Valley & Nevada City

Candidate for NID Board of Directors · November 2026

Our water is our future. Let's protect it.

A steady, independent voice for reliable water, fair rates, and a resilient watershed — from the Yuba and Bear headwaters to your tap.

Join the campaign See the priorities

Terry McAteer at an NID canal in the Sierra high country — Terry McAteer

The Platform

Eight priorities for a reliable, accountable water district

Grounded in the decisions actually on NID's docket — rates, supply, wildfire, and how the district governs itself.

01

Reliable water, year-round

Terry believes in protecting our raw-water supply from the Yuba, Bear & Deer Creek headwaters and keeping 450 miles of canals maintained — so homes, farms, and firefighters can count on it.

02

Fair, transparent rates

Terry believes in scrutinizing the cost-of-service study line by line, defending the low-income assistance program, and ending rate surprises with plain-language budgeting.

03

Wildfire & watershed resilience

Terry believes in investing in forest health, vegetation management around canals and reservoirs, and dam safety — because a healthy watershed is our first line of defense.

04

Smart storage & drought planning

Terry believes in planning honestly for dry years — sensible storage, conservation, and groundwater strategy — instead of lurching from one drought to the next.

05

Open, accountable governance

Terry believes in meetings that actually listen, documents that are posted early, and the numbers published in public — so ratepayers can see how every dollar and drop is managed.

06

Recreation & access

Terry believes in keeping Rollins and Scotts Flat — the campgrounds, trails, and beaches — open, safe, and welcoming for local families.

07

Stop the water grab

Terry believes in telling LA and Sacramento to keep its hands off our water.

08

Improve NID's image

Terry believes in helping to turn NID's image into more community involvement and a welcoming utility.

About the Candidate

Terry McAteer

Terry McAteer has spent his career in public service and giving back to this community. He served as County Superintendent of Schools for 22 years — winning six countywide elections. Today he teaches for Sierra College, serves on the Nevada County Planning Commission, and chairs the Grass Valley Historic Commission. He has taught government, economics, and journalism at Bear River High School. He is the co-founder of the monthly Community Forum. In 2007 the county named the Terence K. McAteer Family Resource Center to honor his work in our educational community.

Community leaders who have worked with Terry will tell you the same two things: he does his homework, and he has a passion for public service.

Terry and Liz McAteer sitting together on a wooden deck in the trees, Liz holding a guitar

Terry and Liz with family, smiling together among the trees

Terry kneeling in the snow beside Buddy, the family's golden retriever

Terry and Liz on a mountain hike with a lake and forest far below

Terry sitting on a log along a trail with a golden retriever puppy

Terry in a life jacket with family on the rocks of a river

Terry at the wheel of a boat on a mountain lake

Terry splitting firewood in the woods beside a red cabin

Family & Life at Home

Rooted in the foothills

Terry and his wife, Liz, have been married for 42 years and raised their two children here in Nevada County, where both attended local public schools. They’ve called Grass Valley home for decades and have spent many summers at the family cabin in Cascade Shores, which they built in the 1980s. Terry is also a new grandpa, adding another generation to the family’s story here.

Outside of his community work, life is about family, friends and time together. Terry and Liz are avid travelers who love getting outdoors, whether that means heading somewhere new or staying closer to home in the foothills. And there’s usually another member of the family nearby: Buddy, their golden retriever.

Terry has also never quite figured out how to sit still. He loves local history, teaching, leading historic walks, and bringing people together to talk about what’s happening around Nevada County. Even in retirement, he jokes that he may be busier now than when he was working full-time.

In the Community

A record of showing up for Nevada County

Not promises — a habit of public service you can see around town, year after year.

Terry McAteer speaking from the dais as a Nevada County Planning Commissioner

Planning Commission

Standing up on the Idaho-Maryland Mine

As a Nevada County Planning Commissioner, McAteer made the motion to deny the reopening of the Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine.

Terry McAteer moderating a Community Forum conversation on stage

Community Forum

Bringing the big issues to a public stage

McAteer is a co-founder and moderator of Community Forum, which brings major issues and stakeholders to a monthly free public forum at the Sierra College/Grass Valley campus.

Terry McAteer teaching a full classroom in the Sierra College OLLI Program

Sierra College OLLI

Still in the classroom

McAteer is a history and government instructor for the Sierra College OLLI Program, which serves the educational needs of senior citizens.

Terry McAteer leading a crowd on a historic walking tour of downtown Grass Valley

Historic Commission

Sharing our history, for free

As Chair of the Grass Valley Historic Commission, McAteer provides free historic walking tours of Grass Valley, Nevada City and the Transcontinental Railroad Tunnels at Donner Summit.

Terry McAteer receiving an award for his contributions to education as outgoing Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent of Schools

A career built on public education

As County Superintendent of Schools for 22 years, McAteer was instrumental in creating community involvement and excellence in education.

Supporters

Endorsed by the director who holds the seat today

As your current NID Director, I know this job well — and I know Terry McAteer will do it right. I urge you to vote for him.”

Ricki HeckNID Director, Division I

District Map

Are you in Division I?

NID directors are elected by division. Search your address — or click the map — to find yours.

Division boundaries from the Nevada Irrigation District. You can also consult the official NID division map.

From the Campaign Trail

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Campaign updates, event announcements, and news — mirrored here as they're posted.

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Get Involved

This race is won at the neighborhood level.

NID directors are elected by just the voters of Division I — which means a handful of conversations, yard signs, and mailboxes decide it. Here's how you can help.

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Questions? Email terry4nid@gmail.com.