The California Avocado Commission Board of Directors is comprised of 16 individuals serving as producers, handlers and public members. Effective November 1, 2026, the state’s avocado growing region will be broken down into four districts, with two producer members and one alternate producer member elected to serve each district for a total of 12 growers on the board (8 members and 4 alternate members). In addition, there are one handler member, one alternate handler member, along with one public member and one alternate public member.
The annual CAC General Election will be held in October for two producer members and one alternate producer seat in each of the four CAC districts. In addition, one handler member, one alternate handler member one public member and one public member alternate seats also are open. Elected individuals shall serve either one-or two-year terms ending on October 31, 2027, and October 31, 2028, respectively.
Per CAC Election Procedures, producer candidates for member or alternate member seats may be nominated by a petition signed by five eligible producers in the district in which they are seeking election. Handler candidates for member or alternate member seats may be nominated by a petition signed by one eligible handler (aside from the handler organization the nominee represents).
The Commission will conduct the 2026 General Election utilizing a ranked choice voting method. Ballots will ask voters to cast their vote by ranking candidates in order of preference. The candidate receiving the highest number of first choice votes will be offered the available seat. In election cycles where two seats are available, among the candidates remaining, the candidate with the highest combined total number of 1st, 2nd and 3rdchoice votes will be offered the second available seat.
The Summary of Open Seats (below) lists the seats that shall be filled in the upcoming election. Also included below is a schedule of important dates and deadlines related to the 2026 CAC General Election.
SUMMARY OF OPEN SEATS*
District | Two Member SeatsOne 2-year term | One Alternate SeatOne 2-year term |
1(formerly District 1 & 2) | Robert Jackson | Enrico Ferro |
2(formerly District 3) | Maureen Cottingham | Doug O'Hara |
3(formerly District 4) | Rachael Laenen | Nathan Lurie |
4(formerly District 5) | Andy Sheaffer | Adam Franscioni |
One Member SeatOne 2-year term | One Alternate SeatOne 2-year term | |
Handler | John Dmytriw | Currently Vacant |
Public Member | Marty Ordman | Maddie Cook |
*Names shown are incumbents presently holding producer/handler seats
2026 ELECTION SCHEDULE
July 15 | Election announcement / self-nomination notice sent to all Producers and Handlers |
August 17 | Deadline for receipt of signed nomination petitions, candidate disclosure statements & affidavits and requests for voter access mailings |
August 28 | Deadline for CAC receipt of voter access mailings |
September 18 | CAC mails ballots to producers and handlers |
October 19 | Deadline for receipt of ballots by CDFA |
November 2 | CDFA advises CAC staff of election results |
November 10 | CDFA announces election results to CAC Board and seats new Board Members and Alternates |
The nomination packets for producers and handlers are available online as are the CAC Election Procedures and CAC Governing Documents. Should you have any questions regarding the election process, or serving as a commissioner, please contact the Commission at 949.341.1955 or [email protected]. Candidate information will be posted on the CAC website once ballots are mailed.