Serving as your CAPE President has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
When I first stepped into this role, I could never have imagined the challenges we would face together, or the strength, courage, and unity CAPE members would show in meeting them head-on. Through recessions, crises, wildfires, Y2K, a global pandemic, and now some of the toughest negotiations in decades, you have inspired me every day with your resilience and commitment to one another.
As you probably already know, I chose not to run in this year’s CAPE Board election. It’s time to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders. I am proud to announce that your new CAPE President is Lisa Andres, who has stood beside me as Vice President and who I know will continue to lead with vision, integrity, and unwavering dedication to our members. Lisa is ready to carry this fight forward, and I have every confidence in her leadership.
While my time as President comes to an end, my work at CAPE does not. I remain committed to our mission and will continue to serve and support you as part of this incredible union. Titles may change, but my dedication to our members, our coworkers, and our shared future does not.
This transition comes at a pivotal moment. We are still deep in the trenches of bargaining, confronting a County determined to balance its challenges on the backs of its workers. The path ahead is uncertain, but if there is one lesson I have learned in my years with CAPE, it is this: uncertainty is no match for solidarity.
Our strength has never been in one person. It has always been in all of us. When we look out for each other, when we stand shoulder to shoulder, when we refuse to be divided or defeated, we are unstoppable. That is how we’ve won before, and that is how we will win again.
As I step aside, my request to every CAPE member is simple: stay engaged. Take care of each other. Keep fighting not just to protect what we have, but to build something greater for the generations who will come after us. Our unity is the bedrock of our progress, and our future depends on it.
Thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve you, to fight alongside you, and to be a part of this extraordinary union. It has been the honor of a lifetime.
In solidarity, always,
Carlos Clayton, P.E.
President (2011–2025)
California Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)
