Miguel Luna Elected Chairperson of Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

Miguel Luna Elected Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Chair

LOS ANGELES (January 27, 2026) - At its first meeting of 2026, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy unanimously elected Miguel Luna Chairperson of the Conservancy. Luna is the Public Member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

Over the past two decades, Miguel Luna has worked on city and regional master planning efforts that have expanded urban green space, increased water supply, and improved water quality. His work has included the development of funding measures focused on directing resources to under-resourced communities. Miguel's practice places a strong emphasis on fostering meaningful participation in planning processes among individuals and communities who have historically been excluded, as well as facilitating dialogue among stakeholders who may initially perceive little common ground.

Miguel is the Chief Executive Officer of Urban Semillas and also serves as Chief Administrative Officer of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. In addition, he serves on the boards of the Council for Watershed Health, Water Education for Latino Leaders, is an advisory board member of the LA Development Fund, and Chairs the Tiuvac'a'ai' Tribal Conservation Corps.

California State Senator (ret.) Fran Pavley, the Designee of Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath, was unanimously re-elected Vice Chair. The former Chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, Pavley received a master's degree in environmental planning from California State University, Northridge; taught middle school for 28 years; and completed her teaching career in Moorpark. In 1982, she was elected as the first mayor of the City of Agoura Hills and served for four terms on the city council. She won election to the California State Assembly in 2000, and to the State Senate in 2008. During her 14 years in the Legislature, Senator Pavley received national acclaim for her work on three historic pieces of climate legislation that established California as a worldwide leader in promoting clean energy and reducing climate pollution.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is composed of nine voting members and three ex officio members. The nine voting members represent local, State, and federal government including the Superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, a member appointed by the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, a public member appointed by the Governor, a public member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, one public member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, a member appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, a member appointed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, the designee of the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency of California, and the Superintendent of the Angeles District of California State Parks. Ex Officio Members include the Supervisor of the Angeles National Forest and appointees of the California Coastal Conservancy and the California Coastal Commission.

A 26-member Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of local jurisdictions and members appointed by the Governor, the Senate Rules Committee, and the Speaker of the Assembly advise the Conservancy. At the meeting Sean Anderson, Ph.D., Representative of the County of Ventura, was Chairperson. Julie Newsome, Representative of Westlake Village was elected Vice Chairperson.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy was established by the State Legislature in 1980. Since that time, it has helped to preserve over 80,000 acres of parkland in both wilderness and urban settings. Its mission is to strategically buy back, preserve, protect, restore, and enhance treasured pieces of Southern California to form an interlinking system of urban, rural, and river parks, open space, trails, and wildlife habitats that are easily accessible to the general public.