Annual Meeting and Board Candidate Petition
Voting for the candidates will be at the Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 12, via Zoom. Online-only absentee voting begins on June 1, 2022 and regular voting begins at the end of the congregational meeting and ends at 1 pm, Monday, June 13th. Results will be announced via eblast on Tuesday, June 14th.
If you are interested in adding yourself to the slate of candidates for the Board, you can do so by a petition process.
View the Church's Constitution, the board petition process, and the nominating committee petition process.
If you are interested in adding yourself to the slate of candidates for the Board, you can do so by a petition process.
View the Church's Constitution, the board petition process, and the nominating committee petition process.
Board Candidate Meet and Greets!
Meet your 2022 / 2023 Board Candidates at two more Meet and Greet opportunities!
- Sunday, May 22, 10:30 am at the Hillcrest Campus Immediately following the 9:30 am Worship service.
- Sunday, May 29, 5 pm Virtual Meet and Greet
Your 22/23 Board Candidates

Hello, I’m Everardo Franccesco Aguilar, I use the pronouns “he, him, his” and in Spanish “él”. I am honored to be a candidate for the Board of Trustees.
I’ve been a member of this church since 1986. I’ve spent most of my adult life being a part of this community. We’ve grown together. I served on my Board previously for five years during the mid-2000s during Rev. Straube’s tenure.
It is my great honor to be nominated to the Board again. This is a Board of TRUSTEES, not a Board of Directors. The members of the Board work for YOU and have a fiduciary duty to serve the needs of this church community. I think this a time of possibilities and a potential for new growth. I look forward to having the opportunity to help guide this congregation to a new and brighter future.
I’ve been a member of this church since 1986. I’ve spent most of my adult life being a part of this community. We’ve grown together. I served on my Board previously for five years during the mid-2000s during Rev. Straube’s tenure.
It is my great honor to be nominated to the Board again. This is a Board of TRUSTEES, not a Board of Directors. The members of the Board work for YOU and have a fiduciary duty to serve the needs of this church community. I think this a time of possibilities and a potential for new growth. I look forward to having the opportunity to help guide this congregation to a new and brighter future.

Karen Lamphere
I have been a member of First Church for about 20 years. I became involved when my daughter was enrolled in the preschool and I had an opportunity to learn about the church. I was drawn to the congregational commitment to social justice and began attending church regularly in about 2000.
My involvement with First Church incudes being an RE teacher and an OWL facilitator. I served on the Generosity Ministry Team and the Social Justice Executive Team, and I lead the Reproductive Justice Action Group. I recently was a member of the Developmental Minister Search Committee.
The future holds great opportunities for positive change and growth for our church and I’m excited to be a part of it as a member of the Board of Trustees.
I have been a member of First Church for about 20 years. I became involved when my daughter was enrolled in the preschool and I had an opportunity to learn about the church. I was drawn to the congregational commitment to social justice and began attending church regularly in about 2000.
My involvement with First Church incudes being an RE teacher and an OWL facilitator. I served on the Generosity Ministry Team and the Social Justice Executive Team, and I lead the Reproductive Justice Action Group. I recently was a member of the Developmental Minister Search Committee.
The future holds great opportunities for positive change and growth for our church and I’m excited to be a part of it as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Leland Beck
As a member of First UU since 1980, I enjoyed being part of Looking Glass Mobile Theatre's production of Alice in Blunderland. I have served on the Facilities Committee and the search committee that selected Rev. Ian Riddell to be our Minister of Music. I spent many happy years singing bass in the Chalice Choir until the pandemic hit, and I'm looking forward to resuming that very soon. I've been married to Marla for 32 years and we enjoy our dogs Bailey and Bodhi.
I was honored to be nominated to serve on the Board. I value the complicated job they have to do in making decisions and maintaining open communication with a congregation of varying needs, especially in this time of transition. As I complete 40+ years as an administrator, teacher, and mentor at SDSU, I hope to use my skills to help serve the needs of our congregation.
As a member of First UU since 1980, I enjoyed being part of Looking Glass Mobile Theatre's production of Alice in Blunderland. I have served on the Facilities Committee and the search committee that selected Rev. Ian Riddell to be our Minister of Music. I spent many happy years singing bass in the Chalice Choir until the pandemic hit, and I'm looking forward to resuming that very soon. I've been married to Marla for 32 years and we enjoy our dogs Bailey and Bodhi.
I was honored to be nominated to serve on the Board. I value the complicated job they have to do in making decisions and maintaining open communication with a congregation of varying needs, especially in this time of transition. As I complete 40+ years as an administrator, teacher, and mentor at SDSU, I hope to use my skills to help serve the needs of our congregation.

Steve Howard
I want to help make sure that 1st UU is here far into the future, as it was for me when I arrived in 1986.
My highest priority will be working to build more trusting and loving relationships among all of us. We have already begun this effort with Listening Circles, and Revs Deanna and Denice’s Unfolding Peace work.
I am a lifelong UU, and an old White guy who is committed to the lifelong process of noting, and unlearning, the sexism and racism I have absorbed from my family, my church communities, and the culture at large.
I have been involved in all parts of our mission statement:
* Build Community: D4$, neighborhood group, UUMF support group, most of my friends are from the church
* Nurture Spiritual Growth: Sunday Worship, Wisdom Circles, Big Questions, led adult RE classes
* Act on our Values: homeless shelter, pride parade, SOLACE, JTW, Food Pantry
I want to help make sure that 1st UU is here far into the future, as it was for me when I arrived in 1986.
My highest priority will be working to build more trusting and loving relationships among all of us. We have already begun this effort with Listening Circles, and Revs Deanna and Denice’s Unfolding Peace work.
I am a lifelong UU, and an old White guy who is committed to the lifelong process of noting, and unlearning, the sexism and racism I have absorbed from my family, my church communities, and the culture at large.
I have been involved in all parts of our mission statement:
* Build Community: D4$, neighborhood group, UUMF support group, most of my friends are from the church
* Nurture Spiritual Growth: Sunday Worship, Wisdom Circles, Big Questions, led adult RE classes
* Act on our Values: homeless shelter, pride parade, SOLACE, JTW, Food Pantry

Valerie Jaques
First Church has been my “religious home” all my life. My mother liked to talk about the first time I participated in services: at 5 months old, as “baby Jesus” in the Christmas tableau (in those days it was the “Generic Mother and Child”). I became a member in the mid 2000s, though the exact year escapes me. My kids started dragging me to church every Sunday when they discovered the youth groups. I began singing in the choir and am now involved in both the Chalice Choir and Treble Voices, as well as the bell choir. In serving on the church board, I hope to help move our congregation forward in healing from the past and moving forward into a trusting and open relationship with each other. In my “spare” time, I breed and raise Arabian horses and compete in endurance riding, where my favorite distance is the 100 mile 1 day ride.
First Church has been my “religious home” all my life. My mother liked to talk about the first time I participated in services: at 5 months old, as “baby Jesus” in the Christmas tableau (in those days it was the “Generic Mother and Child”). I became a member in the mid 2000s, though the exact year escapes me. My kids started dragging me to church every Sunday when they discovered the youth groups. I began singing in the choir and am now involved in both the Chalice Choir and Treble Voices, as well as the bell choir. In serving on the church board, I hope to help move our congregation forward in healing from the past and moving forward into a trusting and open relationship with each other. In my “spare” time, I breed and raise Arabian horses and compete in endurance riding, where my favorite distance is the 100 mile 1 day ride.
Nominating Committee Candidate Petition
View the slate of candidates. Pictures and bios below.
If you are interested in adding yourself to the slate of candidates for the Nominating Committee, you can do so by a petition process.
View the Church's Constitution and the nominating committee petition process.
If you are interested in adding yourself to the slate of candidates for the Nominating Committee, you can do so by a petition process.
View the Church's Constitution and the nominating committee petition process.
Your 22/23 Nominating Committee Candidates

Christy Anderson - 2 year term
Attending First church for twenty years, I have often taught children’s RE. I’m new to governance but served on the Nominating Committee for part of this last year. It was an interesting experience, in which I got to meet many thoughtful and kind UUs, and I look forward to meeting many more and learning about the church. After working as a statistician for the last 20 years at UCSD, I have recently reduced my hours and hope to spend more time traveling, hiking, reading, and spending time with my husband and pandemic pup.
Attending First church for twenty years, I have often taught children’s RE. I’m new to governance but served on the Nominating Committee for part of this last year. It was an interesting experience, in which I got to meet many thoughtful and kind UUs, and I look forward to meeting many more and learning about the church. After working as a statistician for the last 20 years at UCSD, I have recently reduced my hours and hope to spend more time traveling, hiking, reading, and spending time with my husband and pandemic pup.

Mitch Mitchell - 3 year term
Mitch has been a First Church member for over 30 years. In addition to serving on the Nominating Committee, he served on last year's Intern Committee, the 2017-18 Celebration of Thanks committee, and the 2018-19 Generosity Ministry team. In past years Mitch did publicity for the Specialty Rummage Sale, taught Religious Education classes, and volunteered at the post-service coffee table. He is married to Cora Pendergast and has two adult children, Kate and Mitch, Jr.
Mitch has been a First Church member for over 30 years. In addition to serving on the Nominating Committee, he served on last year's Intern Committee, the 2017-18 Celebration of Thanks committee, and the 2018-19 Generosity Ministry team. In past years Mitch did publicity for the Specialty Rummage Sale, taught Religious Education classes, and volunteered at the post-service coffee table. He is married to Cora Pendergast and has two adult children, Kate and Mitch, Jr.

Tony Brumfield - 3 year term
Member since 1988
Past President of the board.
Co-chair of ministerial search committee.
Leader of JTW and DRUUMM .
Member since 1988
Past President of the board.
Co-chair of ministerial search committee.
Leader of JTW and DRUUMM .

Marcia Biller - 2 year term
Nominating Committee
Contact: nomcom@firstuusandiego.org
Members of the Nominating Committee:
Members of the Nominating Committee:
- Christy Anderson
- Marcia Biller
- Adrienne Kaplan
- Mindy Hochgesang
- Mitch Mitchell