After a several months-long process of seeking and interviewing candidates, the College of the Sequoias Teachers Association (COSTA), California School Employee Association – Chapter 408 (CSEA), and College of Sequoias Adjunct Faculty Association (COSAFA), have endorsed candidates for the College of the Sequoias Board of Trustees in Wards 1, 2 and 5 for the upcoming 2026 General Election.
The three campus-based unions have come together to endorse candidates that their respective memberships strongly support to further student success, promote inclusiveness and transparency at the Board, and to flip how the Board interacts with the community, working with all of the college’s constituents, including the three labor groups on campus. The three unions have endorsed Louis Lyons for Ward 1, Susie Nava for Ward 5, and Kristina Roper for Ward 2.
Danielle Alberti, President of COSAFA, announces, “I am proud to be a part of COSAFA endorsing Louis Lyons and Susie Nava. If elected, Louis has committed to having an open-door policy with part-time faculty members, and has vowed to bring more transparency to the Board and the decision-making process, and Susie will also work to increase access to classes and services to the Hanford Center, which will provide stability for students and employees. Both Louis and Susie believe good labor relations are a key part of the continued success of COS.”
Louis Lyons, endorsed candidate for Ward 1, has been a resident of Visalia since he was two years old. Louis graduated from Redwood High School and later Fresno State before pursuing his Juris Doctorate at University of Oregon School of Law. He now practices family and bankruptcy law at the Law Office of Scott Lyons, where he’s worked since 2012. Louis serves his community as President of his son’s elementary school PTA, as Board Secretary of the Central California Bankruptcy Association, and as a member of the Tulare County Bar Association. COS Ward 1 covers most of the city of Visalia in Tulare county.
“Louis Lyons is CSEA’s choice for Ward 1,” according to Katie Cain, President of CSEA – Chapter 408, “because he has the perfect combination of ethical integrity and life experience to ensure COS remains the pride of our community. Susie Nava is CSEA’s chosen candidate for Ward 5 because she knows the struggles our students face and she will ensure that COS continues to be a beacon of upward mobility and personal growth for every student that walks in our doors.”
Susie Nava, endorsed candidate for Ward 5, is a proud alumnus of College of the Sequoias and credits the college with providing her the confidence and foundation that launched her career in public service. She is a behavioral health professional and community leader in Hanford, dedicated to the well-being of her community, expanding access to care, and ensuring services support individuals and families in need. She serves on the Board of Directors for the California League of City Employees Association (CLOCEA), and she is an active member of the Jimmy Carter Club and Latino Round Table. COS Ward 5 covers parts of Kings and Tulare counties, including the city of Hanford, parts of west Visalia, unincorporated areas of Goshen and Hanford-Armona.
“COSTA is proud to support Louis Lyons for the Board of Trustees Ward 1, as his commitment to transparency, accessibility, and community engagement reflects the leadership our district needs,” writes COSTA President, Tracy Redden, “and COSTA is proud to support Susie Nava for the Board of Trustees Ward 5. As a former COS student, Susie brings a firsthand understanding of the challenges students face and a deep commitment to their success. Both candidates will work to ensure COS remains a place where both students and employees can thrive.”
Kristina Roper, endorsed candidate for Ward 2, is a third generation Californian. She attended UC Berkeley and Sonoma State University, and she will retire this year after a 30-year teaching career in the Anthropology Department at Fresno State University. Early on in her career she worked for the National Park Service as an archaeologist in Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks, and then she eventually left the public sector to run her own consulting practice in historic preservation. For her work, she served 10 years as a Commissioner with the City of Fresno Historic Preservation Commission. Kristina is very active in her local community, having served as a Board of Trustee member for the Three Rivers School Board and currently serving as the president of the school foundation, as well as many other clubs, like the local Women’s Club. Ward 2 covers parts of Tulare and Visalia, as well as Exeter, Lemon Cove, and Three Rivers.
“Kristina Roper,” says Katie Cain, “is an astute and capable candidate who, if elected, is sure to be a responsible steward of both public resources and the future of COS students.” Tracy Redden is “proud to support Kristina for the COS Board of Trustees,” believing she will be a “strong and thoughtful voice,” and Danielle Alberti notes that Kristina has committed “to having an open-door policy with campus stakeholders” and that Kristina “will make sure that COS provides the best education and support that our community deserves.”
The endorsement of the candidates comes with financial support, campaign technical support, and an enthusiastic number of volunteers who will work with the campaigns to reach out to voters about their individual campaigns.