District seeking trustees

Nine candidates run for three remaining seats

Michaia

In addition to voting for ballot measures, city mayor and local legislators, registered Los Angeles voters will be electing candidates to fill seats in the college district’s board of trustees during the March 5 primary elections.

Eight hopefuls--including a former Pierce College president-are vying for one of three open positions within the LA Community College District Board of Trustees, which is responsible for governance, policies in educational programs and establishment of students fees.

Here is a list of candidates, as well as additional information for the elections:

Seat 2:

John Burke. Burke is a college accounting professor who, if elected, wants to develop a relationship between the district, other colleges and universities, LA Unified School District schools and potential employers; examine financial spending; revise the state funding formula to comply with class completion rates; and improve the district’s quality of education.

Mike Eng. A college professor and former city official, Eng’s priorities as a candidate concern improved oversight on bond projects, better availability of classes and better shared governance. His endorsers include Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the LA Times and Rep. Julia Brownley of the 26th congressional district.

Seat 4:

Jozef Thomas Essavi. Essavi, the LA county commissioner and former neighborhood council member, prioritizes improving transfer and graduation rates of district colleges, adding to students’ resources through more teachers and classes, and providing more vocational job training. He is endorsed by the LA Times and LACCD Trustee Tina Park, one of the board’s vice presidents. Website: http://jozef4college.com

Ernest Henry Moreno. A retired college president, Moreno’s top priorities are to complete bond-funded building projects as soon as possible, make higher education more accessible-through cost-conscious policies--to students and create new structures to aid in the district’s efficiency.

Margie Recana *write-in. An education consultant for the Global Online University, Recana used to be a board member and LA community organizer, according to her Linkdin profile. She is also active when it comes to the environment, having been a proponent of a clean energy measure 25 years ago, according to an Asian Journal article.

Seat 6:

Michael Aldapa. Aldapa--a former administrator for vocational colleges, community organizer, and member of the LA law enforcement--wants to focus on the “basics” to result in lower tuition rates and increased class availability. Additionally, he wants to improve the educational experience for veteran students and students with disabilities. He says that he wants to strike a balance between academics and job training in community colleges.

Tom Oliver. Oliver, a former Pierce College and LA Mission College administrator, aims to instigate a plan to ease the district’s financial issues through “a strong community-based foundation” and grants, provide students with resources necessary to get to where they want to in the future, and focus on job training for the workforce. Website: http://electtomoliver.com

Nancy Pearlman. An incumbent trustee and second vice president for the board, Pearlman has previously been a community college instructor, according to her profile on the LACCD website. Her goals are create more ecological campuses, follow through with monetary responsibility and work on student success. Website: http://nancypearlman.net

David Vela. Vela, who is currently a school board member, aims to better access to classes, encourage a modern learning environment for students and scrutinizing the district’s annual budget to prevent unnecessary spending. Website: http:// electdavidvela.com

Student elections underway

Associated Students Organization (ASO) will have elections this semester. Students can submit applications for the following positions: president, club council president, vice president, and treasure. The deadline to submit your application is March 18. A candidates’ forum will be on April 15 in the Great Hall from 2-4 p.m. For more information visit pierceaso.webs.com.

Club Rush postponed Club Rush has been rescheduled to March 11-14.due to “administrative issues,” according to the ASO.

2/05 -- Warned & Advised Re: School Disturbance -- Somebody attempted to take a golf cart off campus. The incident took place on the intersection of Mason Avenue and Olympic Drive.

2/07 -- Student Incident -- A student was reportedly receiving threatening text messages from another student.

2/08 -- Student Incident -- Next to Village 8213, a group of students started a protest over the lack of English classes.

2/11 -- Safety Issue -- At around 7:50 p.m. by Auto Tech, LAPD officers on an emergency call (Not sure what to describe it as, because it was written as Code 3) came on campus, looking for two possibly armed African-American males.

2/12 -- Burglary -- An unknown suspect stole a wallet from the female locker room in the South Gym between 2 and 3 p.m.

2/12 -- Burglary -- A wallet was stolen after somebody burglarized a locker in the South Gym between 1:30 and 2:15 p.m.

2/13 -- Petty Theft -- Somebody stole a cellphone from the counter at the Freudian Sip at around 12:30 p.m.

2/13 -- Traffic Incident/Property Damage -- A multiple-car collision that took place at 4:40 p.m. on the intersection of El Rancho Road and De Soto Avenue damaged the vinyl fence along De Soto Avenue.

Reward

For nice young gentleman who helped me find my car in the Pierce parking lot F-8 area, Feb. 8, 2013

Caller identify, color of my car (possibly make) and color and make of your car in order for correct identification.

Contact: Bill (818) 346-8550

If no answer-leave message