pressdemocrat.com/2026/10/30/election-2026-sylvia-lemus-monterey-group-accused-priest/
ROHNERT PARK-COTATI, CA — Cotati Mayor Sylvia Lemus' past involvement with two Monterey County organizations has become an issue in her campaign for Sonoma County supervisor, after public records continued listing her as an officer years after she says she left.
The controversy has drawn attention from a political action committee supporting her opponent, Joanna Paun, and prompted questions about Lemus' relationship with the organizations and their longtime member Carl Faria who was "credibly accused" of sexual misconduct with a minor.
The Press Democrat reported that Lemus served as secretary for the Most Honorable Order of Christian Knights of the Rose and its affiliated Honorable Order of Knights of Saint Michael the Archangel. She joined in 2014 after her husband, Ron Quintana, introduced her to the group.
Lemus has said she stopped participating around 2019, primarily because of work and civic commitments. But California Secretary of State filings from 2023 and 2025 continued to identify her as secretary. The 2025 filing listed Faria as the organization's agent, and its website also continued to list Lemus as secretary, with Faria identified as vice president.
Asked by Patch why her name remained on public filings after her departure, Lemus said she did not know why the organization continued listing her and said it had done so without her knowledge. She said she discovered the discrepancy only when The Press Democrat contacted her.
Lemus said she had not taken steps to have her name removed because the election was her top priority, but planned to address the matter after Election Day.
The Press Democrat also reported that photographs dating from 2015 onward showed Lemus and Faria at organizational events and in group pictures, including images posted in December 2023. Lemus said she did not remember attending events after 2019 and suggested the photographs posted in 2023 were older.
The controversy has also raised questions about Lemus' knowledge of Faria and allegations detailed in a Diocese of Monterey report.
The diocese identified Faria in a January 2019 report that described alleged incidents between 1968 and 1971, and between 1973 and 1976.
The allegations were made in 2002. Faria retired that year, and the diocese withdrew his authorization to perform priestly duties that year, according to The Press Democrat.
Lemus told The Press Democrat she first learned of the report when a reporter contacted her. She said she did not know all the details and had not read the report because she was busy campaigning.
In a written response to Patch, Lemus said she had met Faria in passing once or possibly twice, and had no interactions with him beyond the organization.
She did not address whether she had since reviewed the diocese report or whether she believed Faria should continue holding leadership positions in organizations supporting law enforcement, military personnel, and first responders.
The Petaluma Voice reported that the organization describes itself as a charitable, interdenominational Christian knighthood focused on law enforcement, public safety, and common defense.
The organization says members offers scholarships for law enforcement students, equipment for first responders, and school safety and active-shooter symposiums.
Lemus told the Petaluma Voice she joined to support her husband, who previously worked in law enforcement.
She said the group met only a few times a year and that she did not know Faria well. She also said she had already left by the time the allegations emerged in 2019, although she could not pinpoint the date.
The union's political action committee, SEIU Local 1021 PAC, has criticized Lemus' association with the organization in campaign mailers. One mailer stated: "Before you vote for supervisor, look at the company Sylvia Lemus keeps."
Ryan Williams, the union's political lead, told the Petaluma Voice that the union's research found continuing ties to the organization and that Lemus signed documents as recently as June 2025.
Williams disputed Lemus' suggestion that the union's criticism was tied to a proposed 13% raise for its members, saying no financial proposals had been passed.
Lemus told the Petaluma Voice the union was trying to "buy the race" because it wanted a 13% raise. She said she had heard that figure but was unsure of its accuracy, and later provided figures from prior negotiations totaling 13.5% for county employees.
Political analyst Brian Sobel told the Petaluma Voice that it was "a stretch to suggest" Lemus condoned Faria's behavior or should be held responsible for it. He said an association with the organization does not establish that Lemus knew about or supported the allegations.
Dan McNevin, a childhood sexual abuse survivor and former board member of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, criticized the continued presence of credibly accused clergy in influential positions. He described Faria's leadership role as a conflict of interest.
The Diocese of Monterey declined further comment beyond its public report, according to The Press Democrat. Faria did not respond to the requests for comment before publication.
Asked by Patch what voters should know about her relationship with the organizations and whether her handling of the matter demonstrated the transparency and accountability she would bring to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Lemus said she had been "completely transparent" during the campaign.
She reiterated that her involvement lasted from 2014 to 2019 and said she had no reason to hide anything. She described her husband as being involved in the organization's work to help young people pursue careers as first responders.
"I saw the good in it and help raise funds for scholarships and training," Lemus said.
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