Candidate for
Trustee; San Diego Community College District; Trustee Area A

My political philosophy is predicated by the thought and writings of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. Madison created the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He believed in separation of powers and created a comprehensive set of checks and balances among the 3 parts of our government.

Jefferson instrumented republicanism in the United States. Republicanism is the idea of governing a society or state as a republic, where the head of state is a representative of the people who hold popular sovereignty, rather than being subjects of the head of state.

In general, "republicanism" implies the absence of a monarchy; a form of government whose leaders are determined by heredity, rather than elected by the people.

A monarchy does not condone disagreement. Once the monarchy makes a judgment, it expects everyone to agree. If the Board were run like a monarchy, only one voice would prevail among all, regardless of the choices preferred by the people who elected their Trustees.

A monarchy also hands out favors to certain people, and exercises its inherent right to ignore others. Another less popular term for monarchy is dictatorship.

While all Trustees are elected, nevertheless, the current Board acts as one voice, much like a monarchy would. It also appears to favor one group of students over another. By observation, this division seems to take place along ideological and agenda-driven lines.

The Board gravitates to help the Familiar, while ignoring those they don't know well. That might be common human behavior, but all students, of any ethnic background or country of origin, should receive equal treatment and their rights receive equal respect from the Board.

An effective Board of Trustees cannot share a single mind-set - other points of view and knowledge and interest must be present. Healthy debate creates an informed consensus.

There must be checks-and-balance procedures, which would be present if a different mind-set were introduced into the mix. We need a voice that represents other ideas and choices among those Elected. A different voice would not necessarily mean "Dissension"; it could mean Fairness.

A specific area where a change would be useful to more students is in the area of the "Underrepresented" students and the Military/Veteran students.

Generally, members of the Board seem to be advocates for the "Underrepresented" students. However, few, if any, appear to advocate for or even understand the students who currently serve in our military or those who have served and are now civilians. This, in spite of the fact that San Diego has one of the largest Active Duty Military and Veteran population in the United States.

For all students to receive fair and equal treatment, as in a republic, advocates for all students need to be present on the Board.

This is why I'm running for a Seat of the Board of Trustees. My particular point of view and that of those who voted for me in the Primary appear to not be represented on the current Board of Trustees.

My election would remedy this apparent inequality. With my election to the Board, ALL students would receive fiscal and social equity. This should be the 1st duty of a Community College - to serve ALL the Community equally.