Central Valley - CAWFP Member Rep Voting

It is Member Representative Election Season again at WFP! Member Reps represent Dues-Paying members in their region/subregion on the regional Steering Committees. As a dues-paying member of WFP in the Central Valley, you have the power to shape the future of our organization by voting in these elections.

You can vote for Member Reps outside of the sub-region you live in. For example, you can vote for a Member Rep in Kern County even if you yourself live in Fresno County.

Read about the candidates and their bios below

Kern County

Vote for 1

Lori Pesante (she/they) - Bakersfield

As a member rep, I aim to empower members through connection and support. With experience as an attorney, educator, and organizer in voting rights, police accountability, and climate justice, I strive for consistent progressive victories, solid redistricting strategies, and strong member cohesion. As a founding board member of the Pride Chamber of Kern County, I am committed to shifting narratives and balancing power with WFP.


Matty Burnham (they/them) - Bakersfield

I’ll engage members via the setting up of local discord or similar platform as well as social media, to lead to in-person events as much as possible. Experience: 5 years with Our Revolution Kern, DSA, Sunrise Movement, FoodNotBombs, and InTheField661.


Sacramento

Vote for 1

Simon Hyatt (he/him) - Sacramento

I'm Simon Hyatt from Sacramento (BA History-Sac State). I am a former substitute teacher and longtime activist fighting for climate, social, and economic justice. I’d like to mobilize Sac WFP members to engage at the State Capitol to help pass progressive legislation. I wish to help CA WFP build people power to fight against all those who seek to profit from the exploitation of common people and our environment.


At-Large

Vote for 1


Juan Vasquez (he/him) - Modesto

I've lived in Stanislaus/Merced County since immigrating from Mexico. Growing up in low-income neighborhoods, I graduated from Modesto JC and CSU Stanislaus with degrees in Agriculture Business and an MBA. I work with SEIU 521 as an External Organizer. I became politically active after discovering Bernie Sanders in 2016, organizing local Our Revolution and DSA chapters. I ran for city council in 2020 and currently serve on the Stan Dems Central Committee and CDP EBoard. My vision is to organize a progressive movement in the Central Valley, from Bakersfield to Redding, and grow the WFP in California.


Randy Villegas (he/him) - Visalia

Randy Villegas is a professor of Political Science at College of the Sequoias and a Trustee for VUSD. A product of public education, he recently completed his doctorate from UCSC. Randy serves on the board of directors for several nonprofits and is honored to serve our students, families, and community.