VCCCD Members Hold Town Hall Q&A with Board Candidates

Three candidates for Area 2 field our questions

SEIU Local 99 members held a Town Hall Question and Answer Meeting on August 17, 2010, with candidates for the VCCCD Board of Trustees. We wanted to make sure that we let these candidates know we expect them to honor the work that we do to make our campuses run smoothly. Three candidates are running for the Area 2 seat being vacated by Cheryl Heitmann. All three attended this event and spoke about their priorities if elected to the Board.

Dianne McKay, an education consultant, spoke of her commitment to public education and ensuring excellence on our campuses and fighting the state’s budget cuts.

Dan Peate, a businessman, credited his success at Moorpark College in large part to the classified staff who gave him financial advice that helped him pay for school, guided his course selection to streamline his transfer to a university, and helped him develop his leadership qualities through student activities. He explained that he has always valued the input of classified staff as much as faculty.

Sylvia Sullivan, a custom home designer, promised to thoroughly research every campus, visiting the colleges and examining the courses and programs offered. She also suggested looking at grants and revenue-generating ideas to help fund the schools.

Both Dan Peate and Sylvia Sullivan sit on the Board of Moorpark College Foundation, which accepts and solicits gifts, donations, trusts, and bequests for college related use.

“I think we need someone in this seat who will do their homework and really get to know the work we do on our campuses,” said Lori Annala, a Supportive Services Assistant for disabled students at Ventura College and SEIU Local 99 Executive Board Member. “I’m going to vote for the person I believe will study the issues and not simply rely on what the Chancellor recommends.”

Also addressing us at the meeting were unopposed incumbent candidates Stephen Blum and Art Hernandez.