Committee Members
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DISTRICT 1 REPRESENTATIVE
Erin Gil
2-year term
(2024-2026)Erin Gil is a second generation farmer living and growing in Santa Clara County. He is a small business owner, along with his sister. His community experience includes membership with the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association (president 2000), Santa Clara County Chapter of the California Farm Bureau Federation (past president two terms), Valley Water Community Board Member for Landscape Advisory Committee(1991 – 2002) and the Agriculture committee (2023 -current). Erin enjoy bike riding regardless of whether it is on a road, mountain or gravel roads. He also enjoys spending time with his family in nature. -
DISTRICT 2 REPRESENTATIVE
Frank Cancilla
2-year term
(2024-2026)Frank Cancilla has been involved in the Berryessa Community since 2010, holding positions that include President of the Berryessa Business Association and Chair/President of the Berryessa Art Festival. Frank was formerly a member of the Measure Q Expenditure Oversight Committee for 5 years and recently transitioned to become a member of the CAC to expand and diversify his involvement in protecting Open Space by advocating for the benefits of Open Space in our communities, for the environment and for the public’s well-being. -
DISTRICT 3 REPRESENTATIVE
Robert Sippel
2-year term
(2024-2026)Robert Sippel spent his summers on his grandfather’s ranch where he raised grain and cattle and also has experience with raising Morgan horses. Robert is a tireless volunteer, working with the Human Rights Committee, the Santa Clara County Trail Watch, the Guadalupe Community Garden, the Guadalupe River Task Force, and the SJPD Citizen Advisory Committee. He and his wife currently volunteer at the Historical Rose Garden at Grant Ranch on Mount Hamilton and he is the president of the Rose Garden Neighborhood Association. In 2005, Robert was presented with the Martin Luther King award for his work on ethnic issues. He greatly enjoys being outdoors and hiking. -
DISTRICT 4 REPRESENTATIVE
Alyson Falwell
2-year term
(2024-2026)Alyson Falwell joined the Citizens’ Advisory Committee in 2023. She is a lifelong hiker and has traveled all around the world hiking peaks and trails in Asia, Australia, South America, and Europe. An avid user of Open Space Authority trails, Alyson is excited to contribute to the Open Space Authority as a member of the Committee and hopes to inspire others to enjoy and protect the precious local natural resources. Alyson has a Master’s degree in Public Health and works at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. She is passionate about the power of nature and movement as medicine to help heal the mind, body, and spirit. -
DISTRICT 5 REPRESENTATIVE
Loren Lewis
2-year term
(2023-2025)Loren Lewis was born in Santa Clara County and has lived in South San Jose all his life. By trade, he is a high tech project manager with a Masters in Political Science and substantial coursework in sustainability, water resource management, and environmental policy. Loren came to know the Open Space Authority through training several hours each week year-round as a competitive trail runner. He has a particular affinity for wildflowers. -
DISTRICT 6 REPRESENTATIVE
Vacant
2-year term
(2023-2025) -
DISTRICT 7 REPRESENTATIVE
Raj Bhanot
2-year term
(2023-2025)Joining the Citizens' Advisory Committee in 2015, Raj Bhanot has served the local community in a myriad of ways as both an auditor for both California and San Jose, and as a volunteer. He has been a Human Rights Commissioner for the City of San Jose, a Human Relations Commissioner in Santa Clara County, and an Advisory Committee member for affordable housing measures. Bhanot is also the co-founder of the Hindu Temple and Community Center of Sunnyvale, as well as the founder of Indo American Society of Bay Area. He looks forward to spreading awareness about Open Space Authority’s mission. -
At Large
Justin Fields (Chairperson)
2-year term
(2024-2026)Justin Fields, who joined the Citizens’ Advisory Committee after 2010, has a vested interest and pride in protecting open spaces while promoting the tradition of agriculture in Santa Clara Valley. He is a fifth generation cattle rancher in the Coyote Valley area who enjoys helping others understand the importance of grazing, including the protection of native species and their habitats, as well as increasing fire protection. Justin is the Immediate Past President of the Santa Clara County Cattlemen’s Association. -
At Large
Steve Mink
2-year term
(2023-2025)Steve Mink joined the Citizens' Advisory Committee in 2019 and is a “triple threat” volunteer, regularly serving on Trail Patrol, Land Stewards, and Trail Masters. He has always enjoyed the outdoors, participating in Boy Scouts as a youth and now enjoying camping, hiking, and cross-country skiing with his family. Upon retirement, Steve was looking for a way to get outside every day, take a break from technology, and engage new people and ideas. This led him straight to the Authority. -
At Large
Vacant
2-year term
(2023-2025) -
At Large
Daniel J. Kenney
2-year term
(2024-2026)Dan Kenney is a longtime member of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee who keeps himself quite busy with a plethora of volunteer experiences throughout the community, from beautification and conservation of Coyote Valley and Morgan Hill parks, to homelessness solutions and music volunteering at Montalvo. -
At Large
Lani Wong-Bassett
2-year term
(2024-2026)Lani Wong-Bassett has been an active community member/volunteer of several causes and committees over the past 13+ years. She has given her time to organizations such as Silicon Valley Pride, the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Project More+, was proudly on the board that created the San Jose Equality March and is beyond excited to join the Citizens’ Advisory Committee. Lani is also the founder of CWP (Cosplay with Pride) a group that she created 6 years ago to help fundraise and provide volunteering opportunities for local communities and events. As a multi-ethnic queer woman of color Lani is very passionate about sharing points of view from those underrepresented and cares deeply for movements that work to ensure that all are heard. She is also a hardworking Silicon Valley career mom whose daughter just turned five, meaning her family is constantly looking for "things to do." Now as a Morgan Hill resident Lani has fallen in love with the incredible outdoor open spaces and is excited to help create /sustain a world where her daughter can easily find spaces to enjoy as she grows up in the area they have chosen to call their home. -
At Large
Mera Burton
2-year term
(2023-2025)Mera Burton joined the Citizens’ Advisory Committee in 2021. She holds a MA in Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Education from Santa Clara University and enjoys engaging with people from diverse backgrounds. Mera is the Water Education Program Manager for Valley Water and is passionate about educating the public about watershed stewardship. Mera is committed to connecting people to nature and has served as a volunteer naturalist for Walden West and Monterey Outdoor School. Mera hopes to bring more awareness of open spaces for all members of the community. -
At Large
Ed Von Runnen
2-year term
(2023-2025)Ed became involved with the Open Space Authority in 2019 as a Land Steward cleaning up North Coyote Valley after the property was first acquired and since then with community outreach and training events at Coyote Valley OSP, Máyyan 'Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge, Tilton Ranch and Spina Farms. Nature, open space, camping, and hiking have always been an important part of Ed’s life beginning as a toddler when his parents were exploring the western states in their travel trailer. Born and raised in Sunnyvale, California, Ed witnessed the landscape change from farms and orchards to the cityscapes of today. As a resident of Rancho Santa Teresa since 1982, he is particularly concerned about the future of Coyote Valley and South County in general as well as the last remaining swaths of open space within the region that deserve equal consideration. Ed hopes to learn and contribute as much as possible to the community and CAC to help protect our last remaining spaces that are so important. -
At Large
Joe Henwood
2-year term
(2024-2026)Joe is a recent retiree from a career with AT&T. In February of 2022, he did his first Trail Patrol with the Open Space Authority at Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve. Since then he has become a Land Steward and Trail Master. He has done Outreach Events and enjoys informing people what the Open Space Authority has to offer. Joe enjoys fishing, camping, backpacking and family time. He hopes to continue learning more about Máyyan'Ooyákma-Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve and contribute to the community.
