The problem in your first paragraph is much broader than water rights. Politicians get money and favors from other people and corporations based on access to th

The problem in your first paragraph is much broader than water rights. Politicians get money and favors from other people and corporations based on access to the office, they own and trade in shares and a lot of other things. It's not like the governor would suddenly not be lobbied by farmers and others interested in water extraction if he didn't own his own farm.