Candidate for
Board Member; Monterey Peninsula Community College District; 4 Year Term

Diversity and Fair Representation - Monterey Peninsula College is an institution of higher learning. It is the doorway to the many hopes and dreams of so many who would not otherwise be blessed. I believe that there should be fair and equal representation of all of the communities which feed into this venue. The Board of Trustees which sets policy and governs should be reflective of the community in which it serves.

District representation may be but one of the few valid solutions to this problem. At large elections have resulted in a Board with no representative from Marina and Seaside, communities with needs that are distinct from those of the more affluent communities which MPC serves. While minority groups have complained about this lack or representation, there have been very few candidates representing ethnic constituencies who have stepped forward to run. When I see a need, rather than just complain, I seek to do something about it. As as African American and long-time resident of Seaside, I will bring an important perspective to the Board of Trustees.

Outreach to the Youth - MPC needs to build better bridges to the local high schools and the young people in its area of service. The lost of a high school's accreditation impacts us all. Closer relationships with our community high schools could help forecast problems before they become unmanagable. Now and for years to come, the vast majority of our youngest residents will reside in the communities of Seaside and Marina. As a member of those communities I am better prepared to help build those bridges.

Police & Fire Fighting Academies - MPC has embarked on an important effort to build these programs and to build a new campus on the former Fort Ord. With my professional experience as a Captain in the Seaside Fire Department since 1989 and my strong environmental leadership on the Monterey Peninsula Water District, I am the candidate best prepared to ensure that these new academies become state of the art facilities and reflect the very best practices of environmental sustainability.

I am running against three incumbents in an at-large election, defeating incumbents is a daunting challenge. I will be running a grassroots campaign and will need your support and vote. Together we can build a better Monterey Peninsula Community College!