Candidate for
Board Member; Hartnell Community College District; Trustee Area 1

Great nations are built from the ground up

I grew up in a blue collar family in the mid-west. My father was a welder, my mother held various jobs from factory worker to retail before injuring her back on the job. I delivered papers, worked in cornfields, mowed lawns, and shoveled snow off sidewalks to earn money starting at a young age. I spent 6 years in the Marine Corps and participated in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. After the Marines I worked my way from bank teller and Wal-Mart chashier to electronics technician at Dole, to Utilites Maintenance Manager at Fresh Express. I took classes at Hartnell College which I used to get into the University of Phoenix and completed my Bachelor of Science Degree in Business/Management. I believe in hard work and I believe in education. I am apalled at the state of our public education system and fear for our children's future, and our nation's future as well. Our children will define the world as they grow. They are the future of our nation and cutting funding for education is like shooting yourself in the foot. Our nation needs to do more to promote education and programs that build a skilled work force. Not everyone wants a college degree but they love working with their hands and need training. If we don't do more to give people marketable skills then we're saying it's okay for them to just ride the system for free. If we're not giving our children the skills they need to be successful then we're turning our backs on our future. Tax cuts that put money in your pocket today will not and cannot fund the future. Trickle-down economics is a falacy, the only way tax cuts will increase spending and jobs is if they go to the people who do the spending and drive demand. The average guy will spend the money to improve his lifestyle if you give it to him. The rich guy will stick it in the bank because to him it's extra. When it comes to the college I'm all about community. It is funded by local contributions, taxes, and programs and taught by local teachers, serves local residents and businesses, and when it comes to awarding contracts to new buildings and construction it should go to local people. Just like the workers are the backbone of America, the teachers are the backbone of the school and they need to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.