Learn about CCE’s endorsed candidates, find your trustee area, join COPE, and discover ways to get involved this election season.
Sep 09, 2026
As we continue negotiations for our next contract, many of the conversations happening within our union right now are understandably focused on the issues that directly affect classified professionals—including COLA, wages, working conditions, job security, and ensuring that classified employees receive the respect and investment our work deserves.
Our strength at the bargaining table comes from an informed, engaged, and organized membership. Our political work through COPE is another part of ensuring that classified professionals have a voice in the decisions affecting our college.
With two Governing Board seats on the ballot this November, I wanted to follow up on our COPE presentation at our General Meeting with information about the election, CCE's endorsed candidates, and opportunities for members who are interested in getting involved.
As we continue negotiations for our next contract, many of the conversations happening within our union right now are understandably focused on the issues that directly affect classified professionals—including COLA, wages, working conditions, job security, and ensuring that classified employees receive the respect and investment our work deserves.
Our strength at the bargaining table comes from an informed, engaged, and organized membership. Our political work through COPE is another part of ensuring that classified professionals have a voice in the decisions affecting our college.
With two Governing Board seats on the ballot this November, I wanted to follow up on our COPE presentation at our General Meeting with information about the election, CCE's endorsed candidates, and opportunities for members who are interested in getting involved.
We bargain directly with the District over our contract, but the decisions affecting our workplace exist within a larger governance structure.
The Governing Board has significant responsibility for the college's budget, policies, institutional priorities, executive leadership, and overall direction. The Board also ultimately acts on collective bargaining agreements reached between the District and its employee organizations.
That is why CCE participates in Governing Board elections through COPE.
Our union voice does not stop at the bargaining table.
Two of the five Governing Board seats will be on the ballot this November:
Trustee Area 1 — currently represented by Dr. Judy Patacsil
Trustee Area 5 — currently represented by Jacqueline Kaiser
Following CCE's endorsement process, CCE has endorsed:
Dr. Judy Patacsil — Trustee Area 1
Dr. Patacsil is running for reelection.
Dr. Jennifer Jeffries — Trustee Area 5
Dr. Jeffries is running for the Area 5 seat currently represented by Jacqueline Kaiser.
Attached are digital copies of our candidate handouts with additional information about both candidates and CCE's endorsements.
Governing Board members are elected by voters residing within their respective trustee areas.
And remember: you do not have to live in Areas 1 or 5 to participate in volunteer activities.
If you want to become more involved in CCE’s political work, consider joining COPE. Joining requires an additional voluntary contribution, starting at $5 per month.
But joining COPE is about more than making an additional contribution. It gives you an opportunity to bring your voice into the committee and be part of the conversations behind our political work: discussions about candidates, endorsements, elections, political priorities, and how CCE engages with the broader community.
Some of these political conversations and activities cannot take place while we are on the clock, which makes having an engaged group of COPE members willing to participate outside of work especially important.
If you want to have a greater role in those conversations, learn more about the political work happening behind the scenes, and participate in COPE meetings and activities, you can join here:
Campaign volunteering does not have to mean giving up every weekend or having previous campaign experience.
The candidates' campaign teams have the tools, voter lists, scripts, literature, training, and resources needed for voter outreach. For voter-contact activities, campaign teams will use targeted lists focused on voters they identify as more likely to be receptive rather than simply sending volunteers out to contact households at random.
Members who are interested can participate in:
Candidate meet-and-greets — Host or help organize a smaller gathering where community members can meet a candidate, hear from them directly, and ask questions.
Text banking — Reach voters using campaign-provided texting tools, lists, and messaging.
Phone banking — Contact voters using campaign-provided lists, scripts, and resources.
Postcard writing — Help prepare handwritten campaign postcards to targeted voters.
Door knocking/precinct walking — Join other volunteers in speaking directly with voters using campaign-provided lists, literature, and talking points.
Campaign sign distribution — Help get campaign signs to supporters and appropriate locations.
Tabling — Help distribute candidate information and speak with community members during scheduled lunch, evening, or community events.
You can participate in the activities that work for your schedule and your comfort level.
We Especially Need Meet-and-Greet Hosts
One area where we are currently looking for help is hosting candidate meet-and-greets.
And I want to emphasize that volunteering to host does not mean being handed an event and being expected to figure everything out yourself.
I will serve as the coordinator for our meet-and-greets and work directly with interested hosts and the campaign teams on planning and logistics.
If you have a possible location, know people in your community who may be interested in attending, or simply think you might be willing to host, please indicate that on the volunteer form and I will follow up with you.
Completing the form does not commit you to every event or campaign activity. It lets us know what you may be interested in so that we can share relevant opportunities with you as they are scheduled.
As classified professionals, we know the importance of having a voice in decisions that affect our work, our students, and our college. Whether that means participating in our union, staying informed during negotiations, learning about the candidates running for Governing Board, volunteering for an election activity, or casting your ballot, there are many ways to participate.
Please review the attached candidate information, check which trustee area you live in, and complete the volunteer form if you would like information about upcoming opportunities.
In Solidarity,
Palomar CCE/ AFT Local 4522 COPE Team
Anel Gonzalez, President | Patricia Serafin, CCE/ AFT 4522R President
