Loma Prieta Chapter Member vote

Information for Loma Prieta Chapter Elections by friends and members of the chapter

The Sierra Club’s Loma Prieta Chapter was established in 1933. For more than ninety years the Chapter has championed open space protection and preservation, environmental education, and advocacy for wildlife.

Read email excerpt Member perspective

THE YIMBY ACTION SOLICITATION

As copied below, in August the Director of YIMBY ACTION (a Sacramento‑based housing advocacy group) urged its local membership to join the Sierra Club and vote in this year’s Loma Prieta Chapter leadership elections. (highlights added)

From: Leora Tanjuatco Ross <leora@yimbyaction.org>
Date: Wed, Aug 13, 2025, 2:53 PM
Subject: Get in, we’re flipping the Sierra Club
I am involved with a small group of environmentalists looking to change the direction of the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club. (Loma Prieta spans San Mateo, Santa Clara & San Benito Counties.) Their local policy stances are terrifying in the face of climate change. But we can make a BIG difference in the Loma Prieta Chapter because leadership positions are decided by a handful of votes in their fall elections. ** I am asking you to join the Sierra Club so we can vote for better leadership candidates. Join online at sierraclub.org for $15, it takes three minutes. ** Once you sign up or if you are already a member, let me know (via this form) or respond to this email. If you don’t, I will be pestering you with more emails. This might even be your second email from me, since you haven’t filled out the form. Then, this fall, I will send you a list of some amazing candidates who will turn the local chapter into a force for good. Help us make a powerful difference locally. And please pass this email along to friends! Leora Leora Tanjuatco Ross she/her

Our perspective


We contend that the vast majority of Loma Prieta Chapter members do not see the Club’s focus on open space preservation, environmental education, wildlife protection, and cleaner energy “terrifying”.


In fact, we are proud of it.


We also contend that most Loma Prieta members do not want our focus to shift from educational and environmental protection to a primary focus on advocacy for denser housing. While the latter may also be an important issue, this has not been the Chapter’s only priority. Nor has this been the reason that people join and dedicate their time to OUR chapter.


While we do not claim a monopoly on altruism and good deeds, most already see our Loma Prieta Chapter as “a force for good” and thus we do not see ourselves in need of redemption. (Why else would our Chapter’s political endorsements be so sought after and held in such high esteem?)


Many within our Loma Prieta Chapter also support affordable housing initiatives.


From our perspective, our Chapter’s internal policy debates and discussions of where the lines between habitat preservation and new housing opportunities should be drawn is one that should be held between active Chapter members and not dictated by an adversarial entity looking to "flip" OUR chapter.


Our 92‑year‑old chapter is not asking to be flipped by a “small group of environmentalists” and their recently recruited members most of whom have had little, if any connections with the Chapter, its projects, or its aspirations.


We believe that if a complete change in the Chapter’s agenda is to come to pass, it should be because of a vote of OUR membership, and not because of a handful of votes by the very recently recruited members and candidates with a different agenda.


Please vote

Please vote and ask your member friends, and their member friends, to vote as well.

To preserve the independence and maintain the long-standing commitments of the Loma Prieta Chapter, we strongly recommend that you vote for these proven and dedicated members:

For Chapter Executive Committee

  • Robin Montoya
  • Sue Chow
  • Shruti Chandrasekhar
  • Nicole Lee

For Peninsula Regional Group

  • Marianna Raymond
  • Robin Montoya (also running for Chapter Executive Committee)
  • Sue Chow (also running for Chapter Executive Committee)
  • Dave Olson
Member voting info

How to Vote

Paper Ballot Instructions

  1. Keep your envelope. Your member number and group code are printed above your name. You will need these for your ballot.
  2. If you threw away your envelope, call 650-390-8411 and ask the administrator to look up your numbers. Leave a callback number if she does not answer.
  3. If you have a single membership, you are Member 1.
  4. Joint memberships: your spouse/partner votes using the Member 2 column.
  5. Be sure to SIGN your ballot.
  6. Be sure to PUT A STAMP on the return card.

Electronic Voting Instructions

  1. Go to: sc.org/VoterPortal
  2. If needed, click Create an Account.
  3. Enter your name, ZIP code, and email in the box on the right and press Submit.
  4. If you live in San Mateo County down to Sunnyvale, you may vote in the Peninsula Regional Group election. South of Sunnyvale is the GRG region (2 candidates for 2 seats).
  5. For help, call Barbara Muir, Chapter Administrator, at 650-390-8411.

Further reading

For more information see candidate statements and biographies and the news article Battle for influence splits local Sierra Club chapter (Almanac News).


Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the individuals involved in this campaign. They do not represent the official positions, policies, or endorsements of the Sierra Club, the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club, or any of their officers, staff, or governing bodies.

© Friends & Members of the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club.