TMDC General Meeting
May 7, 2026
Toxic air, fast-track drilling permits, methane leaks from idle wells, droughts and questionable forest management are a few issues requiring vigilance of Kern-Kaweah members, especially activists in the Chapter leadership. These concerns have prompted Chapter officers to seek an executive director who can speed up progress in dealing effectively with multiple problems. Enter Lori Pesante, a local attorney who takes on the job of executive director of the Chapter in mid- March.
“Kern County has a unique role on the front line of climate change issues,” said Pesante recently in a phone interview. “We need to make sure we have equity and funding to deal with the lawsuits that the next years will require. My role will be to support the activities and to strengthen membership and the board.
” Pesante is already well known in Kern County as a public defender, teacher, organizer and speaker. Her background in law makes her ideally suited to work with our Chapter, which currently has several lawsuits in the works.
Her background has been local for some time. She moved from Los Angeles to the Central Valley at the age of 10, graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and philosophy, and eventually took a law degree from U.C. Hastings in San Francisco. After graduation and spending time in East Berlin, she returned to Kern County to become a public defender.
Then from 2010 to the present she has taught criminal justice and general education at Bakersfield College and other local institutions. For four years she also worked for the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
Her most recent employment has been work on climate issues with Coperican Consulting. As a climate and democracy consultant she taught climate education and civic engagement workshops for community involvement and collaborated with other groups in leading toxic tours. These groups include The Last Chance Alliance and the Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment, Sierra Club and Earthjustice. She has also served as a board member for the California Environmental Voters - Valley Voters PAC.
“Lori was the obvious choice among the applicants for this position,” said Gordon Nipp, Vice-chair of the Executive Committee. “She is already a respected member in the progressive community, and her law background makes her well suited to deal with our many lawsuits.”
When the new director takes office on March 10, she will begin the task of fundraising and meeting with public officials to address our Chapter’s concerns. In this capacity she will be focusing on fossil fuel extraction and its impacts on the community, according to Stephen Montgomery, Chapter Chair. She will also be dealing with water and air quality issues. Other issues concern endangered species impacted by uncontrolled development.