Quick Take
The Cabrillo College governing board voted 4–2 to appoint former Watsonville mayor Francisco “Paco” Estrada to fill the Area V trustee seat left vacant by the death of Manuel Bersamin. The board cited Estrada’s community ties, leadership experience and connection to Bersamin’s legacy in selecting him to serve through the 2026 election.
The Cabrillo College governing board voted 4-2 Monday night to appoint Francisco “Paco” Estrada, a former Watsonville mayor, to fill the seat of the late Manuel Bersamin, who died in October.
Estrada’s appointment as the new trustee for Area V, which includes the city of Watsonville, starts immediately and he’ll serve in the position through the next regular election for the board of trustees in 2026.
Estrada, 42, currently works as an analyst for the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County, a regional service planning agency that has regulatory and planning powers and oversees government agencies and their service areas.
During the board’s Monday meeting, Estrada and a second candidate, Jenni Veitch-Olson, answered questions and told the trustees about their relevant experience and qualifications. Estrada mentioned the impact Bersamin had on him after they worked together at Hartnell College in Salinas.
“I’m really grateful for this opportunity,” said Estrada. “I wish I didn’t have to be here today. I wish Manuel was still standing here and helping to lead and make some really good decisions. He was a friend. He was a mentor. He’s always pushed me to do the right thing.”
The governing board also considered a third candidate, Aloke Mukherjee, who wasn’t able to attend the meeting. Throughout the meeting, the six trustees emphasized how qualified both Veitch-Olson and Estrada are and how difficult it was to choose among the candidates. About 14 public speakers advocated for one or the other, with more people voicing support for Veitch-Olson.
Trustees Ken Wagman, Christina Cuevas, Dan Rothwell and Steve Trujillo voted to support Estrada’s appointment while Adam Spickler and Donna Ziel voted against, stating their support of Veitch-Olson.
Rothwell said he felt both candidates were wonderful, and that he would like to vote for both.
“But we have to make the tough choice, I’m going to vote for Paco because I’m impressed with his connection to the community,” he said. “All the leadership positions that he’s taken, I think, is obviously a plus. I love the fact that he’s a history teacher.”
Spickler similarly said they’re both great candidates, but that he would ultimately support Veitch-Olson.
“I think there is a particular skill set that Jenni has,” said Spickler. “That is bringing people together in and around policy and funding, which I’ve experienced with Jenni, that I am blown away by and I think our college would benefit tremendously from.”
Wagman, in stating his support for Estrada, said that Bersamin brought a unique experience to the board that other trustees didn’t have: overcoming barrier after barrier to get through college. He said that Bersamin was driven to remove the same barriers for students at Hartnell College, where he was a counselor.
Wagman added that because of Estrada’s experiences, growing up in Watsonville, his leadership roles and working as a teacher, he thinks Estrada can do the same thing for Cabrillo College. Estrada worked at Hartnell College as a history adjunct instructor.
“We lost our heart when Manuel passed,” said Wagman. “And I think Paco can give that to us.”
Estrada, whose parents are immigrants from Mexico, said his upbringing started in a home’s converted garage.
“There were a lot of challenges in getting to where I’m at,” he said. “There were no guarantees. But every place I’ve been, I feel like it has added to my ability to serve here.”
After graduating from UC Santa Cruz in 2006 with a degree in history, he worked in several roles for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and then for the Health Trust of Pajaro Valley. In 2018, he was elected to the Watsonville City Council, where he served until 2022. He was the development executive director for nonprofit FoodWhat!? through 2023, when he went on to the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County, where he is an analyst.
Estrada is new to the seat at a challenging time for the college, as it faces declining enrollment impacts, a budget deficit, the construction of a new student housing complex and a leadership transition with President Matt Wetstein’s retirement this month.
Estrada is scheduled to be trained this week to prepare him for finalist interviews for the new superintendent/president of Cabrillo College, taking place on Wednesday and Thursday. Wetstein is retiring from the college after seven years on Dec. 31.
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