As you prepare to head to the ballot box or drop off your mail-in ballot, here’s everything you need to know about the races shaping Orange County’s four community college districts.
What is a community college trustee?
California’s community college boards of trustees are responsible for governing individual community college districts within the system. They have authority only when meeting as a board, and no single trustee has more authority than another. The board, as a whole, is the legal governing unit, and individual trustees have no authority to direct college staff.
Trustee boards in California are nonpartisan offices, meaning the candidates’ party affiliation is not listed on the ballot, and political parties generally don’t provide campaign re
What do these trustees do?
Board duties include setting policies, overseeing budgets and ensuring that the colleges fulfill their educational mission. They are not typically involved in day-to-day operations of colleges.
Notably, trustee boards have the authority to make final hiring decisions based upon careful review of candidates recommended by a screening committee. The board may reject candidates, order further review by the screening committee or reopen the position where necessary.
Who is running?
Orange County has four community college districts, each of which has one to three trustee contests on the general election ballot.
Here’s what each of the candidates said in a questionnaire from our editors and reporters.
Coast Community College District
- Austin J. Edsell
- Joe Kalmick
- Ashton Kauwe
- James Cameron
- Kim Carr
- Conrad Mazeika
- Xerxez Megino Calilung
- Elizabeth “Liz” Dorn Parker
North Orange County Community College District
- Barbara Dunsheath
- Rama R. Maline
- Larry Andre
- Paul Gonzales
- Chloe Serrano
Rancho Santiago Community College District
- John R. Hanna
- Steve Rocco
- Beatriz Mendoza
- Daisy Tong
