MEET THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Members of the Board of Governors are more than just the organization's leaders, they work to set the standard for the next generation, ensuring that their future will be one of strong leadership, and a passion for justice and action, not just empty promises.
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Student Governors of the Young Leaders PAC are the elected voting representatives of California's students. The Board of Governors chooses candidates to endorse, influences various pieces of legislation, distributes awards, and adopts a budget. In addition, Governors’ signatures are affixed on every certificate of endorsement. Each Governor daily demonstrates a passion for leadership, from issuing bold proposals, to communicating with legislators about the issues that affect students between the ages of ten and nineteen. The Members of the Board of Governors are elected by an assembly of community leaders across the state, while the President of the Board of Governors and the Vice-President are elected directly by all students in California.
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Pursuant to the Charter of the Young Leaders Political Action Committee, there are five voting member seats -- with President Raphi Rebucas, Assistant President Makena R. Bactat (4th District), Governor Emily G. Espinosa, (1st District), Governor Maison D. Gamble (3rd District), and the 2nd District Governor seat currently vacant.
Click each Member of the Board of Governors's photo to read more
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, PRESIDENT REBUCAS AND HIS DESIRE TO SERVE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY RECOGNIZED, AS HE CREATES GROUNDBREAKING SOLUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST PRESSING CONCERNS.
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The President of the Board of Governors leads one of the largest student led political action committees in the United States. In the previous leadership term, the Young Leaders PAC raised thousands of dollars for local candidates and voter information. In addition, the committee hosted numerous conferences and the President's presence was requested at dozens of fundraising events for candidates running on reforms that best represent youth interests. Among a wide range of issues, President Rebucas remains committed to ensure public safety, protect religious freedoms, and speak up for the rights of children of all ages.
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Under the President's leadership, YLPAC Board of Governors oversees the overall fair practices of the committee, raises money for candidates running for office, and informs voters regarding important issues. The Young Leaders PAC is a bipartisan organization that celebrates diversity of political opinion in young leaders across the state.
A RESILIENT PUBLIC SERVANT AND DECORATED CHEERLEADER, ASSISTANT PRESIDENT MAKENA R. BACTAT IS THE TWELFTH ASSISTANT PRESIDENT OF THE YOUNG LEADERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.
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The Assistant President of the Young Leaders Political Action Committee is entrusted with the responsibility of working to bridge political conflicts in order to oversee effective youth representation. On September 20, 2022, California's students elected her Assistant President in the Young Leaders Political Action Committee during the general election. She has served as a Governor since March 26, 2022, and was sworn-in as Assistant President on January 28, 2023.
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Assistant President Bactat has all the duties of a Governor. In the absence of the President, she assumes the role. Her vote is to be counted twice when there is a tie.
The Board of Governors continues to take initiative in reflecting the diversity of political opinion in the state's student body, and the scale shown below displays the sitting members of the Board of Governors based on their political beliefs on a political compass. The locations on the graph were concluded through various political tests, in addition to an examination of the motions by which Governors voted either for or against. As evidenced by the graphic, each member of the Board of Governors has a unique philosophy and leadership style. Because of the vast contrast in the beliefs of the board members, the Board of Governors's political beliefs and personal backgrounds create a balance which results in a more effective representation of the interests of California's young leaders.
MEET THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR
The Political Director of the Young Leaders Political Action Committee is responsible for the implementation of policies enacted by the Board of Governors. On May 14, 2022, the Board of Governors voted to appoint Lily Tun-Brown as Political Director. She was subsequently sworn-in on July 3, 2022.
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The Political Director serves California's students at the pleasure of the Board of Governors. They aid in driving the expansion of the committee, and assist in the management of student activities. They also supervise the Cabinet along with other agents and staff.
COUNCIL OF ADVISERS
The Council of Advisers of the Young Leaders Political Action Committee provides advice and general counsel to the Board of Governors and to the students' administration at-large. Established by Constitutional Amendment in August 2021, the inaugural members of the Council of Advisers were formally appointed on October 26, and sworn-in on November 8, 2021.
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This body, which is composed of upstanding community leaders and elected officials, are appointed when one elected Member of the Board of Governors selects them to be their mentor and a simple majority of Members of the Board of Governors vote in concurrence.
The Council of Advisers meets regularly to offer formal advice to the Board of Governors before they convene in public session. Advisers are volunteers, and just like elected Governors, do not receive any financial compensation. One Advisory Council Member must approve Constitutional Amendments resolved by the Board of Governors before ratification.
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The motto of the Council is "Guide, Not Override." Members of the Council of Advisers are entrusted to make sure that the organization remains consistently student-led. There are five seats on the Council of Advisers, one member to mentor each Governor individually. The current membership of the Council includes Chris Cate, William D. Uphoff, Ron Riggs, Aura Imbarus, and Armen H. Kurdian.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Chart Approved by President Rebucas on August 22, 2022. Click on chart to download PDF.