The governing bodies of the San Diego County Water Authority, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Imperial Irrigation District, Coachella Valley Water District, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and the Department of Water and Power of the City of Los Angeles shall each submit to the Governor two lists of not less than three persons on each with a recommendation as to whom should be appointed from one list as its member on the board and from the other list as its alternate on the board. The Governor shall appoint each agency’s member and alternate from the designated lists. If, after 60 days following submission of the initial or any new list, the Governor has not made an appointment, the person recommended by the governing body shall be deemed appointed. Each governing body if it desires to have a new member or alternate, or both, may submit new lists at any time. A member of the governing body of an agency may be appointed as a member of the board or as an alternate. Each alternate shall, in the absence of the appointed member for any cause, including vacancy in the office of the appointed member, have all the authority and rights of the member to which he or she is an alternate.