Election Forum Responses

Candidates were asked ten questions to give voters more information about relevant issues. You can view the responses of all candidates to a question by clicking on the individual questions below.

Question 1

Question 1

Why are you seeking a position on the Board of Directors?

My love for the Sierra Club began 13 years ago, when I lobbied in the state capital. As a new member I was struck by the respect elected officials showed the Club and its 130-year legacy. Our recent public challenges have revealed areas where we can improve. I believe now is the time to launch a bold campaign about what the Sierra Club stands for, and I want to help lead that effort.

Question 2

Question 2

What experience do you have that prepares you for the responsibility of helping the Club stay fiscally sound for years to come, including but not limited to experience with internal information sharing and transparency?

For over a decade, I have held chapter leadership roles and contributed to budgeting efforts. I value confidentiality while ensuring transparency. My personal experience with financial insecurity deepens my commitment to fiscal responsibility. The Club’s financial health is critical to our mission.

Question 3

Question 3

Chapters are forced to wait for national financial data to plan. As a board member, what steps will you take to ensure timely delivery of financial data to chapters and protect their solvency, without burdening them to compensate for national financial shortcomings?

I understand the frustrations that arise when faced with obstacles around funding. I also acknowledge that when operating in an organization of the Sierra Club's size, certain protocols are in place to ensure we function as efficiently as possible. With that in mind, the board can appoint a task force to review the timeline of financial data releases. Relationships across all levels of leadership need repair. We can improve our partnership by nurturing a spirit of reciprocity.

Question 4

Question 4

How do you think that Sierra Club can better recruit and retain staff and volunteers, particularly from underrepresented groups, while prioritizing equity?

Our culture must reflect our values. Both staff and volunteers need to feel that their work is appreciated. Our hardworking staff must be assured that their jobs are not in jeopardy, and establishing pay equity must remain a priority. Additionally, the Sierra Club can create policies that provide support to volunteers, such as offering meals at meetings and Zoom options for those who cannot attend in person.

Question 5

Question 5

The Sierra Club has had 4 years in a row, budget deficits requiring layoffs. What can be done to prevent this from happening in the future?

The last four years have been an anomaly that could not have been predicted, but moving forward, we will adopt strategies that are designed to help us pivot with the moment. For the future, we will be stabilizing our budget with innovative fundraising campaigns. Given the planetary threats that we are facing, this organization cannot afford to lose anyone.

Question 6

Question 6

How should the Sierra Club prioritize efforts in the food and agricultural sectors, given that they contribute significant global greenhouse gas emissions and are the significant source of water pollution?

As someone who lives in an agriculturally rich pocket of the planet (shoutout to the Oxnard plain!), this is an issue near and dear to my heart. I have firsthand experience with the toll that pollution takes on the body, and our community faces exurbanite rates of asthma due to the disproportionate industry burdens that we have been forced to live with. The Sierra Club can continue to advocate for small-scale regenerative agriculture and launch campaigns that encourage community gardens.

Question 7

Question 7

How can we build a culture and set of processes by which the allocation of resources to campaigns and issues be more inclusive of all volunteer leadership perspectives?

By practicing genuine engagement and surveying volunteers with a sincere desire to implement feedback.

Question 8

Question 8

What role do you feel Sierra Club should play as threats to democracy and vulnerable communities escalate?

As I write this from the safety of my home, folks are on the streets responding to state-sanctioned violence. People are being kidnapped from my community right now. The Sierra Club understands that any threat to our democracy puts us all at risk. I am encouraged by the work the organization has played in endorsing strong political candidates and look forward to our continued engagement in their campaigns.

Question 9

Question 9

The planet is facing climate change and a mass extinction crisis while the Trump administration is attacking clean energy initiatives and land/habitat protections. How can the Sierra Club effectively support clean energy sources and land/habitat protections?

It's not hyperbolic to say that we are facing historic opposition forces. Strategies that worked in the past are no longer viable. Fortunately, the Sierra Club attracts the most passionate and dynamic people on the planet. We can form coalitions with people who might have differing political views by appealing to a commonsense desire to save money while maintaining a habitable climate for our children.

Question 10

Question 10

What does a strong and productive relationship between the Board of Directors and the Executive Director look like to you, particularly in terms of fostering trust and accountability?

Recent experience has proved to us that fostering a healthy relationship between the board of directors and the executive director is crucial to the success of our organization. Clear channels of communication and mutually agreed-upon expectations are key.

Elisabeth Lamar

Elisabeth Lamar
Residence
Oxnard, CA
Nominating committee candidate
Member Since
2013
Occupation
Educator
Sierra Club Leadership Positions

Santa Barbara/Ventura Chapter Executive Committee (2020-2026), Board of Directors Nominating Committee (2021-2024), Council of Club Leaders (2022-2025), Council of Club Leaders Nominating Committee Chair (2024-2025)

Statement

I am deeply humbled by my nomination for the Board of Directors, and committed to serving in any capacity that will contribute to the future of our organization.

 Thirteen years ago, I began my Sierra Club journey by lobbying for a ban on fracking in California. Since then, I have given presentations on the link between reproductive harm and oil production on behalf of our Gender Equity and Environment program. As Ventura group chair, I helped with our coalition work to stop the construction of yet another power plant on our coastline.

 Although many people in our community live near the beach, we remain unable to access it due to a hazardous Superfund site and power plant. Over the past few years, I have co-led school trips to one of our last remaining estuaries and witnessed the wonder that arises when students are immersed in nature. This experience has made me a staunch advocate for equitable access to green space.

 I have had the privilege of holding positions at both the local and national levels of the Sierra Club and have observed that cultivating reciprocal relationships is crucial to our organization. We must remain unified in our efforts to create a better world for our children.

 The desire to make a difference initially drew me to the Sierra Club, yet what has sustained me are the people I have had the pleasure of working with throughout the years. Like any other organization with a size and scope as impressive as the Sierra Club’s, we face significant challenges from both external and internal forces. Still, our strength lies within our incredible grassroots volunteer base and dedicated staff. I am amazed by the advocates working on such diverse issues from around our country, and the innovation found in our leaders is what is needed most at this moment. And the stakes have never been higher: we are in danger of losing not just a thread but the entire web of existence. As a director, I will focus on greater transparency within the organization and widen our sphere of influence. I vow to uphold our shared vision of a healthy planet while deepening our commitment to democratic leadership.

 

Endorsements

Patrick Murphy, Sierra Club President, James Hines, Conservation Leader