Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Francis Pollara Draws Endorsements From Chu, Pérez and Five PCC Trustees in Area 1 Race

Candidate Francis Pollara’s campaign announced the PCC Board candidate picked up a number of endorsements from local electeds in an announcement this week. [Courtesy photo]

The Los Angeles County Democratic Party, labor groups and La Cañada leaders also back the PCC alumnus ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Francis Pollara, a candidate for the open Area 1 trustee seat at Pasadena City College, has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, five of the college’s seven current trustees and the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, his campaign announced.

Area 1 represents La Cañada Flintridge and West Pasadena. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang, former State Senator Carol Liu, Pasadena Vice Mayor Jess Rivas and ACT Pasadena are also backing Pollara, the campaign reported.

“Francis Pollara has the experience, integrity, and commitment to help lead Pasadena City College into its next chapter,” Congresswoman Chu, a former community college professor, is quoted by the campaign as saying.

“Francis Pollara brings a rare combination of leadership experience, economic development expertise and a deep commitment to student success. He understands the responsibility is not simply to provide access to education, but to ensure students have the support, skills, and pathways they need to succeed,” said Senator Pérez, who chairs the Senate Education Committee.

Liu, who served on the Senate Education Committee and the Pasadena City College Foundation Board, said she is proud to endorse Pollara for Pasadena City College trustee “because he will be a thoughtful advocate for students, a strong steward of public resources, and a leader committed to keeping PCC accessible, innovative, and responsive to the needs of our community.”

The campaign said that five of PCC’s seven current trustees have endorsed Pollara: Board President Steve Gibson, Alton Wang, Kristine Kwong, James Aragon and Sandra Chen Lau, who currently holds the Area 1 seat. Student Trustee Jesslie Vega, Associated Students President Jesus Cuevas Sanchez and the PCC Faculty Association also support him, it said.

The campaign said Pollara has earned every endorsement from currently elected officials in La Cañada.

Democratic clubs supporting Pollara include the Pasadena Arroyo Democratic Club, the Democrats of Pasadena Foothills, the Cañada Crescenta Democratic Club, the Stonewall Democratic Club and the East Area Progressive Democrats.

His labor endorsements include the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council and IBEW Local 11. The Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters has also endorsed him.

“I want to protect the things that have made Pasadena City College one of California’s premier community colleges,” Pollara said.

The campaign said that as trustee, Pollara would build career training with employers in health care, engineering, advanced manufacturing and the skilled trades. He would also expand dual enrollment and transfer pathways, keep PCC affordable and hold the budget and bond to strict, public oversight.

Pollara is a PCC alumnus, a first-generation American and the father of two young children. He took classes at PCC while in high school, before dual enrollment existed.

He has led economic development work for the city of Los Angeles and served as the city’s entrepreneur-in-residence. He served four years as a La Cañada Flintridge city commissioner, chairing the Sustainability & Resilience Commission and serving as vice chair of the Design Commission. He also sits on the YMCA of the Foothills Board of Directors.