The COPE Committee
What is COPE?
The Committee on Political Education (COPE) is the Guild’s political arm, actively endorsing candidates and campaigning for or against legislation that affects our California Community College (CCC) districts, our students, and our profession. As a publicly funded institution, decisions made by elected officials (such as budgets and funding priorities) hold immense importance for us as faculty members. Donating to COPE supports the Guild’s work in these vital electoral and legislative spaces, safeguarding and advocating for our collective future within CCC.
POLITICAL ACTION AND LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY:
Our Guild advocates for the colleges our communities deserve through political action. We select and elect candidates, support and oppose legislation, and educate and empower our neighbors across our district, our state, and our country.
Our Guild does this through two bodies:
- COPE: Our Committee on Political Education recruits faculty to educate, endorse, and elect leaders for elected office from the LACCD Board of Trustees to the U.S. Congress to fight for worker power, public education, and student success. COPE donates to candidates, funds independent campaigns by the Guild, supports local campaigns of the LA County Federation of Labor, and supports state campaigns by the California Federation of Teachers and the California Labor Federation. Through COPE, Guild faculty join millions of working people across California in a broader labor movement for good jobs, social and economic justice, and democracy in the workplace.
- FACCC: The Faculty Association of California Community Colleges unites community college faculty throughout California, regardless of union membership, to support candidates for state office and support pro-college faculty legislation. With FACCC, Guild faculty join our colleagues across the state in voicing strong support and funding for California’s community colleges.
you can sign up here for both today!
Both COPE and FACCC meetings and campaigns are open to all Guild members. Because of campaign finance laws, however, you have to contribute to COPE and FACCC separately from the dues you pay to keep your Guild running
(fill out form and authorize amount under “Support the Union’s Committee on Political Education)
COPE:
At COPE, Guild faculty educate, endorse, and elect leaders! State legislators, members of Congress, and Trustees decide how our colleges run, and what resources we have for our students. When we organize to elect candidates and support or oppose legislation, we’re putting the “community” in our community college system! Contact your chapter COPE rep, chapter President, CAT lead, or Guild staff to join the 2024 Guild campaign team!
This year, the Guild has joined the Los Angeles and California labor movements to support these pro-worker, pro-student, and pro-community college candidates and ballot initiatives:
Meet Your COPE Representatives
Chris Cofer
Dir. Gov’t Relations
Eddie Torres
Political Director
Martha Clayton
City Chapter
Jeff Hicks
City Chapter
Marcel Morales
East Chapter
Stuart Souki
East Chapter
Mona Reddick
Harbor Chapter
Alberto Pimentel
Harbor Chapter
Mario Escobar
Mission Chapter
Gabe Kovnator
Mission Chapter
Denise Robb
Pierce Chapter
Curt Duffy
Pierce Chapter
Chris Cofer
Mission Chapter
Erika Miller
Southwest Chapter
Sandra Lee
Southwest Chapter
Kathleen Yasuda
Trade Chapter
Joseph Guerrieri
Trade Chapter
Wesley Oliphant
Valley Chapter
Ruby Brougham
Valley Chapter
Lorenzo F. Ybarra
West Chapter
Grace Chee
West Chapter
John McDowell
Emeritus Chapter
Marty Hittelman
Emeritus Chapter
Would you like to show more support for the COPE Team?
Simply complete a COPE Card to offer your support right away! Email your card to your College Chapter Representative.
Bills, Legislative Fights, and Trustee Elections: Our Current Actions
Stay updated on the political campaigns we’re endorsing, the legislative fights we’re tackling, and the Board of Trustees elections we’re closely monitoring.
