Board of Trustees election underway
The successors to the three chairs up for grabs this semester will face vital issues pertaining to the college.
Roy Lenn
Posted on: 9/9/09 Section: News
Candidates running in this year's Board of Trustees election are citing budget challenges and the selection of a new school president as the major issues of concern for PCC.
"Colleges and universities are facing the most challenging times in their history as enrollment demands increase at record numbers and budgets decrease," said Dr. Anthony R. Fellow, a candidate for the Area 7 seat on the Board of Trustees.
As PCC struggles to cope with budget cuts from the state, the board must examine the courses and services that the college offers.
"This is one of the hardest years in memory for students to have a class," said Board Member Geoffrey L. Baum. He said that the most important issue for the board was making sure that students had access to classes.
Three of the seven seats for the Pasadena Area Community College District's Board of Trustees will be contested during this year's election on November 3.
A fourth seat, held by incumbent Hilary Bradbury-Huang of Area 5, will go unchallenged.
In Area 1, Baum is running for re-election against Steven Gibson, a former community organizer and current student of the college.
Board Member Dr. Consuelo Rey Castro of Area 3 is running against Berlinda Brown, a healthcare manager.
Area 7 is a three-way contest.
Board Member Beth Wells-Miller will defend her seat against Donna M. Wilson, a telecommunications supervisor, and Anthony Fellow, a chair and professor in the Department of Communications at Cal State Fullerton.
The other major issue of concern to candidates is the search for a school president.
PCC's previous president, Paulette Perfumo, resigned last month after two years in office.
Several of the candidates vying for a seat on the board are critical of the hiring process that resulted in Perfumo's appointment.
"Something went wrong in the search process, whether it was the search firm or the board not asking the right questions to the candidates," said Fellow.
Candidate Wilson feels that the board should take its time finding a replacement, and that in the meantime, acting president Lisa Sugimoto "is doing a fine job."
"I don't want to see a rush to judgment just to fill a spot," Wilson said.
According to Baum, a president could be appointed to serve for a year while a full search for a new president is conducted.
Another issue candidates stressed is PCC's connection to the community.
"I understand the challenges that students from this community have to go through to succeed in school," said Brown.
Gibson cited his years working with social justice group American Friends Service Committee as an example of how he can bring PCC and the community together.
He stressed that PCC is "an incredible resource for the community," and that the community needs to make use of the college's offerings.
"Colleges and universities are facing the most challenging times in their history as enrollment demands increase at record numbers and budgets decrease," said Dr. Anthony R. Fellow, a candidate for the Area 7 seat on the Board of Trustees.
As PCC struggles to cope with budget cuts from the state, the board must examine the courses and services that the college offers.
"This is one of the hardest years in memory for students to have a class," said Board Member Geoffrey L. Baum. He said that the most important issue for the board was making sure that students had access to classes.
Three of the seven seats for the Pasadena Area Community College District's Board of Trustees will be contested during this year's election on November 3.
A fourth seat, held by incumbent Hilary Bradbury-Huang of Area 5, will go unchallenged.
In Area 1, Baum is running for re-election against Steven Gibson, a former community organizer and current student of the college.
Board Member Dr. Consuelo Rey Castro of Area 3 is running against Berlinda Brown, a healthcare manager.
Area 7 is a three-way contest.
Board Member Beth Wells-Miller will defend her seat against Donna M. Wilson, a telecommunications supervisor, and Anthony Fellow, a chair and professor in the Department of Communications at Cal State Fullerton.
The other major issue of concern to candidates is the search for a school president.
PCC's previous president, Paulette Perfumo, resigned last month after two years in office.
Several of the candidates vying for a seat on the board are critical of the hiring process that resulted in Perfumo's appointment.
"Something went wrong in the search process, whether it was the search firm or the board not asking the right questions to the candidates," said Fellow.
Candidate Wilson feels that the board should take its time finding a replacement, and that in the meantime, acting president Lisa Sugimoto "is doing a fine job."
"I don't want to see a rush to judgment just to fill a spot," Wilson said.
According to Baum, a president could be appointed to serve for a year while a full search for a new president is conducted.
Another issue candidates stressed is PCC's connection to the community.
"I understand the challenges that students from this community have to go through to succeed in school," said Brown.
Gibson cited his years working with social justice group American Friends Service Committee as an example of how he can bring PCC and the community together.
He stressed that PCC is "an incredible resource for the community," and that the community needs to make use of the college's offerings.
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