Napa Valley College board to choose provisional trustee
Napa Valley College's board of trustees is reviewing applications for a provisional trustee to replace board member Jeni Olsen.
Jeni Olsen
Jeni Olsen
Olsen left her 5th District seat in May after moving outside the trustee area's residency boundaries.
"I intended for this to be a long, multi-term commitment," Olsen told the board in announcing her resignation on May 21. "Serving as trustee of Napa Valley College has truly been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life."
Olsen's resignation triggered a 60-day window during which the NVC board could either call a special election or appoint a provisional trustee.
On June 11, trustees chose to make a temporary appointment rather than hold a special election.
"Because the November election for trustee Olsen's seat is coming up this November, it's within the window that allows the board to just say, 'Let's just make a provisional appointment, so that the seat is empty (the) least amount of time as possible,'" said Armando Robles, NVC's chief of staff in the president's office.
Robles said the appointment ensures the 5th District continues to have representation while avoiding an estimated $50,000 to $75,000 in special election costs.
He said the board is expected to select the provisional appointee on July 16. The appointee will be sworn in at the regularly scheduled Aug. 20 meeting.
Three eligible applicants are under review, according to Robles. The selected trustee will serve through Dec. 17, with the winner of the November election taking office in January.
The provisional appointment process is separate from the regular November election for Olsen's former trustee area, which is administered by Napa County.
"The public election process and this provisional process are entirely separate," Robles said.
The candidate elected in November will take office in January, replacing the provisional trustee. However, the provisional appointee is also eligible to run in the election.
"Someone appointed to fill the seat through December can also run in November, and if they win, they simply continue as the elected trustee starting in January," Robles said.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.