State law dictates LAFCO composition. In Santa Clara County, LAFCO is composed of seven commissioners:
- Two County Supervisors appointed by the Board of Supervisors
- One Council Member from the City of San Jose appointed by the City Council
- One Council Member from any of the other cities appointed by the Cities Selection Committee
- Two Board Members from independent special districts – one appointed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District, one appointed by the Independent Special District Selection Committee
- One Public Member appointed by the other members of the Commission
Alternate commissioners are appointed for each of the categories.
State law provides that LAFCO commissioners must exercise independent judgment and represent the interests of the public as a whole in furthering the purposes of LAFCO and not solely the interests of their appointing authority.
All correspondence to LAFCO should be sent to the LAFCO office:
LAFCO of Santa Clara County
777 North First Street, Suite 410
San Jose, CA 95112
Email: lafco@ceo.sccgov.org
Individual commissioners may be contacted using the information provided below.
Commissioners
Russ Melton
Chairperson
Appointed by the Santa Clara County City Selection Committee
Phone: (650) 455-1163
Email: meltoncouncil@sunnyvale.ca.gov
First Appointed: January 2017
Current Term Expires: May 2028
Sylvia Arenas
Vice Chairperson
Appointed by the County Board of Supervisors
Phone: (408) 299-5010
Email: sylvia.arenas@bos.sccgov.org
First Appointed: January 2023
Current Term Expires: May 2026
Jim Beall
Appointed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District
Phone: (408) 265-2600
Email: JBeall@valleywater.org
First Appointed: January 2023
Current Term Expires: May 2027
Rosemary Kamei
Appointed by the San Jose City Council
Phone: (408) 535-4901
Email: rosemary.kamei@sanjoseca.gov
First Appointed: January 2023
Current Term Expires: May 2028
Yoriko Kishimoto
Appointed by the Independent Special District Selection Committee
Phone: (650) 323-5590
Email: ykishimoto@openspace.org
First Appointed: January 2013
Current Term Expires: May 2025
Otto Lee
Appointed by the County Board of Supervisors
Phone: (408) 299-5030
Email: Supervisor.Lee@bos.sccgov.org
First Appointed: January 2023
Current Term Expires: May 2026
Terry Trumbull
Public Member, appointed by the other 6 LAFCO Commissioners
Phone: (650) 321-7538
Email: terrytrumbull1011@gmail.com
First Appointed: May 2003
Current Term Expires: May 2027
Alternate Commissioners
Domingo Candelas
Appointed by the San Jose City Council
Phone: (408) 535-4908
Email: district8@sanjoseca.gov
First Appointed: March 2023
Current Term Expires: May 2028
Helen Chapman
Appointed by the Independent Special District Selection Committee
Phone: (408) 780-4545
Email: district3@openspaceauthority.org
First Appointed: January 2021
Current Term Expires: May 2025
Cindy Chavez
Appointed by the County Board of Supervisors
Phone: (408) 299-5001
Email: cindy.chavez@bos.sccgov.org
First Appointed: August 2013
Current Term Expires: May 2025
Teresa O'Neill
Alternate Public Member, appointed by the other 6 LAFCO Commissioners
Phone: (408) 219-9624
Email: teresa.oneillSC@gmail.com
First Appointed: May 2023
Current Term Expires: May 2027
Mark Turner
Appointed by the Santa Clara County City Selection Committee
Phone: (408) 310-4647
Email: mark.turner@morganhill.ca.gov
First Appointed: February 2023
Current Term Expires: May 2028