Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Rio Hondo Community College District; Trustee Area 4

GARY MENDEZ - GETTING THINGS DONE!

Gary Mendez has served twelve years, three consecutive terms, on the Rio Hondo Community College District Board of Trustees. First elected in November 1999 and re-elected in 2003 and 2007. Trustee Mendez represents Area 4 which includes; Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier, North Norwalk, and Los Nietos. Gary represents Los Nietos (unincorporated Whittier Area) where his family settled and has lived for over 100 years.

Gary's history at Rio Hondo Community College runs deep where he started as a student and student leader. He served on the Rio Hondo College Debate Team and as an active Student Trustee on the Rio Hondo Community College District Board of Trustees boldly advocating for students on issues. He was subsequently elected by statewide student leaders as the First Elected State Student Trustee on the California Community College Trustee Board (CCCT) and the First Elected Policy Director for the California Student Association of Community Colleges (CalSACC) where he honed his skills in the halls of the State Capitol in Sacramento advocating for community colleges. He was often testifying before legislative committees in Sacramento on community college issues.

After earning his Associate of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from Rio Hondo, Gary worked as a paralegal and law clerk for a legal corporation and for the Los Angeles County Chicano's Employees Association. He later returned to Rio Hondo in the evening to earn his Associates Degree in Political Science to prepare for transfer. While preparing to transfer, Gary worked in the Media & Governmental Relations Department of the Southern California Association of Governments under his mentor Fernando Del Rio.

Gary transferred to California State University Sacramento (Sac State) majoring in Government. While earning his degree at Sac State, Gary served as Legislative Assistant for the Office of the Chief Clerk of the State Assembly on the Assembly floor managing amendments.

Gary's public service experience is deep and broad serving as a Field Deputy to two Members of the California State Assembly, as a Special Assistant to a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and as a Specialist for the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Gary enjoys teaching Karate to youth and families which he has done since 1984. As part of his Karate teachings, he teaches Child Safety, Anti-abduction, and self defense seminars to area children. He has made it a life passion-mission to protect children, educate parents on child safety and knowing where convicted child predators reside in our community.

Once elected in 1999 to the Rio Hondo Community College District Board of Trustees, Gary had a strong sense of purpose, vision, and list of priorities to work on to achieve.

Gary's Accomplishments at Rio Hondo College includes:

• Balanced Budget: every year for twelve years, Gary has Balanced the Budget, Maintained a Healthy Responsible Reserve, and Controlled Spending making Rio Hondo one of the most "Fiscally Sound" colleges in California.

• GO RIO!, Gary authored and advocate for this successful student public transportation program that has increased access to Rio Hondo, decreased the cost of attending college, reduced auto emissions, decreased on the demand for on-campus parking, and reduced street congestion.

• Veterans' Services Program: Gary authored "Priority Registration" and advocated for the Veteran's Services Center which has ranked Rio Hondo as one of the most "Military Friendly Colleges" in the U.S. by Military.com.

• Measure A Facilities Bond: Gary had the vision over 12 years ago to Modernize Rio Hondo College to make room for it's over 24,000 students. While others said NO, Gary said Yes. Since then, Rio Hondo College has built new modern buildings and renovated buildings creating a new campus for students.

• South Whittier Education Center (SWEC): It was Gary's promise to bring Rio Hondo College down from the hill into the community to increase access to residents. He created the South Whittier Education Center which is open and offering general education courses.

• Campus Safety: delivered on promise to install Emergency Light Towers throughout campus making it safer.

• Environmental Technology Program saved from elimination and called for Environmental Symposium which has sky rocketed the program and being one of the most innovative and demanding programs in California.