Dr. Perla A. Hernandez Trumkul, EdD, MPA, is a public sector executive and advocate for equitable access to public resources. She brings more than two decades of experience in public service and community engagement, with a professional focus on governance, equity, and systems that support lifelong learning.

Dr. Hernandez Trumkul currently leads an independent consulting practice focused on promoting workplace equity and strengthening organizational systems so that women, particularly caregivers, can thrive. Her work centers on creating equitable leadership pathways, designing inclusive organizations, and implementing data-driven strategies that improve outcomes for diverse communities.

Previously, Dr. Hernandez Trumkul spent twenty-two years working with U.S. Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano, most recently as District Chief of Staff, where she led the San Gabriel Valley district office, oversaw community engagement, and built coalitions that mobilized local and national resources to address community needs across Los Angeles County.

She holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Arts from Whittier College.

Linda Freedman was elected to her second term on the City Council in 2024. Before she was elected to the City Council in 2020, she served on the City of Walnut Parks and Recreation Commission and has also volunteered in a variety of capacities throughout the City. Linda spent her career as a public school teacher in the Walnut Valley Unified School District.

Councilmember Freedman serves on multiple boards and commissions. She was appointed as a commissioner on the Local Governmental Control Services in 2020 by the League of California Cities. She also was appointed to the LA County Library Commission by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. She is a member of the Foothill Transit Board and League of California Cities Board. She also serves as a member of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.

Emmanuel J. Estrada was first elected in November of 2020 and is one of the youngest to ever serve as Mayor. He is a proud son of an immigrant, working-class mother. He credits her for instilling in him a strong work ethic and principles.

Emmanuel is a product of Baldwin Park. He graduated from Sierra Vista High School and then went on to study automotive services at the Baldwin Park Adult School. He holds a certificate in accounting and is currently finishing his bachelor’s in marketing.

Emmanuel is an advocate for working families. He understands the need for a more equitable city that hardworking families can be proud to come home to after a long day’s work.

His priorities include housing, green spaces, and increasing civic participation.

When Emmanuel is not at work you may find him doing a variety of activities. He enjoys volunteering to serve the homeless, playing in a Latin band, and spending time with his family.

Ruth Low was first elected to the Diamond Bar City Council in 2015. She served as mayor in 2018 and again in 2021. Low was a member of the City’s Planning Commission from 2013 through 2015, and from 2003 through 2005. She held the position of chairman in 2015 and vice-chairman in 2005. Prior to that, Low served on the City’s Parks and Recreation Commission from 2005 through 2009, and served as its chair and vice-chair.

Low is a Deputy District Attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. She regularly appears in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and the California Court of Appeals representing the People of the State of California. She has prosecuted serious and violent crimes such as murder, vehicular manslaughter, robbery, home invasion robbery, burglary, rape, and child sexual abuse.

As a member of the Special Prosecution Bureau, she has successfully prosecuted multi-defendant cyber-crimes involving losses in excess of $1M, large-scale financial fraud cases, major health care frauds, and crimes involving controlled substances and firearms. In 2011, she was recognized as Outstanding Prosecutor by the FBI for successfully prosecuting complex cases involving state and federal laws.

Low and her family have lived in Diamond Bar since 1995. She and her husband, Rick Rogers, are active in community activities, most notably co-chairing the Annual Wine Soirée and Benefit Auction. They have been members of the Diamond Bar Friends of the Library for 16 years; Low served as its President from 2013-2014.

Revé Gipson Parks is the Publicity Coordinator for the legendary group, Frankie Beverly and Maze. Revé was the first African American Publicist hired worldwide for Capitol Records where she worked with Peabo Bryson, Ashford and Simpson, Tina Turner and many others.

Revé has many professional affiliations. She is a lifetime member of the Recording Academy (NARAS) and an active voting member for the Sciences; Alpha Theta Chapter of Beta Phi Gamma; National Honorary Journalistic Fraternity; Child Care Advisory Board; County of Los Angeles; and the American Guild of Authors and Composers.

She has served on many city and county commissions. She formerly served as a Commissioner of Music & Performing Arts, County of Los Angeles; a Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, County of Los Angeles; a Commissioner for the Aging, County of Los Angeles and she is presently serving as a Commissioner for the Los Angeles County Library Commission, appointed by Supervisor Yvonne Burke and re-appointed by Supervisor Holly Mitchell.

Lisa Cleri Reale is principal of Cleri Reale & Associates. She provides consulting to multiple sectors including corporations, government, and academia, but has built a 40+ year specialty in the non-profit and philanthropic fields. Cleri Reale considers herself a generalist, advisor, and implementation strategist.

Cleri Reale spent 11 years with Times Mirror and the Los Angeles Times directing their community affairs efforts. During her tenure there, she launched several initiatives, including a literacy hotline and the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Cleri Reale is an active, passionate community leader. She was appointed by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell to serve on the LA County Library Commission where she serves as Commission Secretary. She serves as a standing member of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles’ corporate board. She also serves as the chair of Community Partners.

Cleri Reale has championed several events and community initiatives over the years, including the Measure L campaign for Los Angeles Public Library, the LA County Office of Food Systems, the Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights Celebration, the Olympic Torch Relay Events in LA and others.

She has received awards from SBCC Thrive LA for her work in the community. State Senator Curren Price named Lisa a “SHero”, and she was one of 30 nonprofit leaders in LA to be honored by the Center for Nonprofit Management with its Nonprofit Excellence Award on the occasion of the Center’s 30th Anniversary.

A 38-year resident of Los Angeles, she remains proudly connected across generations through her son, age 34, who is a graphic designer and daughter, age 30, who is an actress.

Dean Francois is a former federal budget manager with a career spanning multiple roles in the federal government, including auditing and investigating government programs. Notably, he served as a welfare fraud investigator and defense contract administrator.

Throughout his lifetime, Francois has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the South Bay, particularly in Hermosa Beach. His efforts have focused on controlling development, preserving the city’s unique character, protecting its environment, and improving street safety for residents and cyclists. As a Sierra Club leader, he successfully prevented the construction of an oversized hotel in Hermosa Beach, eliminated storm drain pollution from beaches, and expanded bike paths along beaches and streets.

Francois has a strong background in community service, having volunteered with various organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, city commissions, the American Red Cross, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). His interest in politics led him to intern on Capitol Hill for the Speaker of the House. The attacks on the Capitol building motivated him to run for City Council.

Francois was elected to the Hermosa Beach City Council on a platform promoting transparency, community engagement, and inclusive decision-making. He, along with another council member, joined three incumbents, bringing a new balance and dynamic to City Hall. As a Councilmember, Francois has made significant strides in promoting transparency, engagement, and inclusion.

Some of his notable achievements include establishing Town Hall forums, which have seen significant resident participation, and forming a civic facilities project advisory group to engage residents in addressing aging facilities. The city continues to sponsor community events like the concert beach series, movies on the beach, and the St. Patrick’s Day parade, which foster community unity and economic growth. Furthermore, Francois has worked to improve e-bike regulation and education while maintaining a low crime rate.

Francois probably spends more time on regional issues than most other local officials. He represents the South Bay Council of Governments on the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and has worked tirelessly in seeking workable plans that include a gentle restoration of the Ballona Wetlands. He also was recently elected to the Los Angeles County Library Commission.

David Lesser is a Manhattan Beach City Council Member. Initially elected in 2011, he left office in 2019 due to term limits and was elected to his current term in 2022. David served as Mayor in 2013 and 2017 and is scheduled to serve as Mayor again beginning in August 2025.

During his Council service, David has pursued issues including open government, environmental sustainability, and construction of new community facilities. He helped lead efforts to build the new Manhattan Beach Library. His current Council assignments include representing the City of Manhattan Beach on the South Bay Cities Council of Governments, South Bay Regional Public Communications Agency, and Clean Power Alliance Boards of Directors.

David and his wife have lived in Manhattan Beach since 1996 and are proud parents of two young adults. He has served as a Planning Commissioner, coached Little League and AYSO soccer teams, and remains active with multiple community organizations. He currently serves on the Greater LA Scouting Board of Directors and Chairs its Pacifica District.

Professionally David has been a business attorney since 1989 with several law firms and as general counsel. David is a graduate of the University of Oregon, Loyola Law School, and Georgetown University Law Center.

Janae Cannon is a proud Kern County native but for the last 18 years has called Los Angeles home. Janae attended the University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication where she earned her Master’s degree in Communications Management with an emphasis in Marketing and graduated with honors as a Phi Kappa Phi Member.

With a strong passion for literacy, community engagement, and mentorship, upon graduation she started an online and annual print publication titled Yoo-N-LA Magazine here in Los Angeles. Yoo-N-LA sought to connect people between the ages of 18-30, who strove to be active in their community by seeking out ways to inspire and enrich others, while simultaneously pursuing personal dreams and aspirations of their own. As Editor-In-Chief, she managed a team of thirty-four and over the course of five years self-published five editions of Yoo-N-LA Magazine.

She worked at Sony Pictures Entertainment for three years as an Executive Assistant before being promoted to International Digital Marketing Manager. During her three year tenure, she led digital marketing campaigns for several high profile films such as Spider-Man Homecoming, The Magnificent Seven, and Don’t Breathe. She currently works at Netflix, Inc. as a Product Creative Strategist for UCAN, overseeing the strategy and creative development of on service promotional materials for Netflix’s Original Films and Documentaries, such as Don’t Look Up, The Harder They Fall, Hillbilly Elegy, Becoming, Over the Moon, The Only Girl in the Orchestra, and The Gray Man.

She’s happily married and has two beautiful / energetic daughters – aged seven eight and two years old. They often frequent the library as a family to explore new books, as she believes in the transformative power of libraries to foster education, inclusion, and lifelong learning. It’s important to Janae that she shows her daughters that through faith, hard work, and perseverance, they can do and be anything they set their minds to.

Nicole has nearly 20 years of cross-industry expertise related to philanthropy and is the Sr. Executive Director of External Relations at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. She began her development career at the United Way of Greater Kansas City and then spent seven years as Sr. Director of West coast regional giving at Northwestern University.

She grew up in Kansas City where her love of community building and service began. Nicole has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City and a BA in Communications from William Jewell College.

Building community continues to be a passion as she serves on the West Hollywood Public Facilities, Recreation and Infrastructure Commission. In her free time, she loves to travel both locally and internationally, seeking new places, experiences and people to learn from. She lives in West Hollywood with her husband and four-year-old daughter, they often frequent the library for story hour and explore new books.

Councilmember Mary Mendoza is serving her third term on the San Fernando City Council (November 2020 – November 2026), first appointed to fill the City Council vacancy on October 7, 2019. Mendoza served as Mayor from December 2021 to December 2022 and again from December 2024 to December 2025 She served as Vice Mayor from December 2020 to December 2021, and again from December 2022 to December 2024.

Mary was born and raised in the City of San Fernando. She is deeply rooted in the community as five generations of her family, including all of her children, live in San Fernando.

Mary attended Morningside Elementary, San Fernando Junior High, San Fernando High School and Los Angeles Mission College, when it was located in the City of San Fernando. She received her Associate in Arts Degree from Mission College, where she also worked for 43 years. Mary is deeply involved in the community, including as a member of the Las Palmas Senior Citizen Club and a Boardmember of the Greater Van Nuys Rotary Club.

As a City Councilmember, Mary has prioritized the residents of San Fernando. She will work to ensure public safety, protect the City’s water resources, improve roads and infrastructure, promote a healthy business environment, and a green community by planting more trees while being a good steward of the community’s tax dollars.

In addition to serving on City Council, Mary represents San Fernando on the Los Angeles County Library Commission, San Fernando Valley Council of Governments, Los Angeles County City Selection Committee, Upper Los Angeles River and Tributaries Working Group, League of California Cities, and various City Council Ad Hoc Committees.

Marianne Riggins was elected to the City Council in November 2022. Her term will expire in November 2026.

Marianne’s family moved to Malibu permanently in 1968 when she was 18 months old. She attended Point Dume Elementary School (now Malibu Elementary), Malibu Park Junior High School (now Malibu Middle School) and Santa Monica High School. She also lived in Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, California. For 17 years, Marianne worked at the City of Malibu in both the Planning and Environmental Sustainability Departments.

Marianne is married and has one child who attended Malibu public schools. She has volunteered for many community organizations, including Girl Scouts, Malibu High School Athletic Booster Club, and the SMMUSD Bond Oversight Committee and Facility District Advisory Committee, and has been involved in many other community activities.

Prior to retiring from Los Angeles County Department of Health Services after 33 years of service, Angelita Medina, MHA, held the positions of Director of the Children’s Health Outreach Initiative, Associate Director of the OB Overflow Program, Chief of Admissions and Financial Services at LAC-USC Medical Center, and Assistant Director of the County’s HMO Program.

Since her retirement, Ms. Medina continues to advocate for healthcare access for all. She was appointed to the California Dental Board by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon in 2021. She also continues to volunteer with various community nonprofits and is currently an appointee to the Los Angeles County Library Commission.

Ms. Medina has her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Redlands and her Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Southern California. She currently resides in Whittier.

Vilma Cuellar Stallings grew up in Paramount and graduated from Paramount High School. She has served on the City’s Public Safety and Parks & Recreation commissions, was elected to the Paramount City Council in March 2020, and has served one term as Mayor.

She is the appointed president of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments Board of Directors and is the City’s representative on the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, the Clean Power Alliance, the City Council/Paramount School District Ad Hoc Committee, the Landscaped Median Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee, and the Paramount Historical Society. She is also a representative for the LA County Library Commission.

Cuellar Stallings is retired from a 30-year career as a Librarian with the Paramount Unified School District. With her husband, Danny, she has two daughters and five grandchildren.

Steve Croft was first elected to the Lakewood City Council in March 2005 after having served the four previous years on the city’s Planning and Environment Commission.

Steve has served as mayor four times, in 2008-2009, 2013-2014, 2018-2019 and 2022-2023. He ran unopposed in the March 2009 and March 2013 elections, and was re-elected in March 2017. He was most recently re-elected in June 2022 by the voters of the new District 2 in Lakewood, and he is now serving his fifth term on the council.

Steve and his wife Tess live on Castana Avenue in the western portion of Lakewood, but Steve grew up in the eastern portion of the city on Pioneer Boulevard and remembers his grandparents’ enthusiasm for Lakewood’s annexation of their neighborhood in the early 1960s.

Great memories of growing up in Lakewood and participating in Lakewood Youth Sports and the after-school programs at Bloomfield Park made Lakewood the first choice for Steve and Tess when they decided where to make their home and raise their daughter Ana.

Steve is a proud member of the Lakewood Lions Club, and both he and his wife Tess are active members of the Friends of the Lakewood Libraries.

He serves as a board member of the Lakewood Regional Medical Center and Pathways Volunteer Hospice.

Council Member Croft’s current term on the City Council runs through June 2026.

Bill Uphoff was elected to the Lomita City Council in November 2020 and was reelected in November 2024 for a second term. Councilmember Uphoff previously served on the City’s Parks and Recreation Commission and served as Mayor in 2024.

Councilmember Uphoff currently serves on the City’s Airport Noise Ad Hoc Committee, Legislative Committee, Water Committee, Emergency Preparedness Ad Hoc, Circle of Honor Ad Hoc and Stormwater Ad Hoc.

He currently serves on the National League of Cities (NLC) Transportation/Infrastructure Services and Small Cities Federal Advocacy Committees and is a Member of the LA County Library Commission representing the 4th Supervisorial District. He serves on the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) Legislative Committee, the California Cities Communities Service Policy Committee, is 2nd Vice Chair for the South Bay Cities Association of Government (SBCCOG) and is a member of their Transportation Committee, Homeless Services Task Force and Senior Services Working Group.

He worked at Rockwell International, TRW/Northrop Grumman Corporation for 38 years in Finance/Operations and retired from Northrop in 2021.

Councilmember Uphoff holds a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration/Finance degree from San Diego State University, Awards in Accounting Certificate from UCLA and is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

Bill is a 34+ year Lomita resident along with his wife Karen. He has two children that still live locally, Amber and Andy, and four wonderful grandchildren, Annabelle, Hazel, Shayla and Arielle.

James P. Allen is a dedicated servant leader with a passion for enhancing library services in Los Angeles County. With over 31 years of experience in design, construction, and technology industries, Mr. Allen has spent the last 28 years working for the County of Los Angeles, including five years as the Assistant Director of Capital Projects and Facility Services for LA County Library. His servant leadership approach has been instrumental in driving positive change and innovation within the County and library system.

For the past decade, Mr. Allen has served on the LA County Library Commission, including six years as Vice Chair. During his tenure, he has focused on delivering quality 21st century library services to the diverse communities of Los Angeles County. His commitment to serving underserved communities has been evident in his support for initiatives that expand access to educational resources, technology, and cultural programs throughout the County.

Mr. Allen’s achievements on the Library Commission include championing increased involvement by the commission and its members in several critical efforts and establishing the Library Commission with a foundation to advance its advocacy and support of the 21st century programing of LA County Library. These efforts have helped to renew and rejuvenate the commission and align with the needs of library customers.

Mr. Allen’s dedication to public service extends beyond his professional roles, as he actively volunteers in various local non-profit organizations, further demonstrating his commitment to community development and education.

Tess Shih is a strategic leader with 20 years of experience working with institutions in corporate and non-profit sectors to expand brand presence and tangible market share. Spending almost a decade at JPMorgan Chase, Shih was a member of the Corporate Strategy team and provided recommendations to senior J.P. Morgan business executives. She is also passionate about applying her strategic and financial acumen to non-profit organizations providing access to education and building strong inclusive communities. Ms. Shih was appointed by the Fifth District Supervisor to the Los Angeles County Library Commission where she currently serves as Chair of the Benchmarking Subcommittee.

Ms. Shih received her MBA from Harvard Business School as a Eugene Sit Fellow. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and International Relations from the University of Southern California where she was Vice President of the USC Student Body and Commencement speaker for USC’s Marshall School of Business.

Corey Calaycay is serving his sixth term on the Claremont City Council (December 2024 – December 2028). He currently serves as a councilmember and previously served four one-year terms as Mayor (December 2025 – December 2025, December 2018 – December 2019, March 2015 – March 2016, and March 2009 – March 2010).

Corey was born in Chicago. Not long, thereafter, his family moved to Claremont where he has resided for the past fifty-one years. He is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church. He attended the United Church of Christ Pre-School, Foothill Country Day School, and Webb School of California. He went on to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, receiving a degree in Business Administration in 1992.

In 1990, he ran his first race for Claremont City Council at age nineteen. While he did not win, he garnered a strong 2,382 votes. He ran unsuccessfully again in 1992 and 1994 before finally receiving the nod of the voters in the election of March 2005. At his installation on March 16, 2005, Mayor Pro Tem Calaycay remarked that his 15-year journey to City Council brought new personal meaning for him to the old adage, “if at first, you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.”

Corey had been an active leader in the community in the years prior to his election. He served on the County of Los Angeles Local Suppression of Drug Abuse in Schools Advisory Committee and is Past-Chair of the City of Claremont Library Task Force, Past-President of the Friends of the Claremont Public Library, Past-Treasurer and Past-President of the Claremont Educational Foundation, and a founding member and Past-President of Active Claremont.

Corey has over ten years of experience working as a staff member for the California State Legislature and has had the opportunity to serve constituents in more than thirty communities in the region around Claremont including parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange Counties.

Councilmember Calaycay is Chair of the Los Angeles County Library Commission, Vice Chair of the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee, and Secretary/Treasurer of the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District. He also serves on the Foothill Transit Governing & Executive Boards, Pomona Valley Transportation Authority Board, Los Angeles County Sanitation District 21 Board, and the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California Board.

Richard L. Crosby has been a committed La Verne City Council Member since 2020, bringing a wealth of experience from his 28-year career in education. Throughout his tenure as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent, Richard has demonstrated a profound dedication to fostering educational and community growth.

In addition to his role on the City Council, Richard has actively contributed to the Los Angeles County Library Commission. His extensive background in education allows him to understand the vital role libraries play in lifelong learning and community enrichment. Richard advocates for innovative library programs and initiatives that promote literacy, digital inclusion, and community engagement.

Known for his collaborative leadership style, Richard works closely with fellow commissioners, library staff, and community members to ensure the library meets the evolving needs of Los Angeles County’s residents. His passion for public service and education drives his commitment to enhancing library services and resources, making them accessible and beneficial for all.

Richard’s vision is to create a vibrant, inclusive, and resource-rich library environment that supports the educational and cultural development of the community. His strategic insights and dedication continue to inspire positive changes within the Los Angeles County Library system.