League of Women Voters of California
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2003 Election
	Michael G. "Mike" Bradford Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Foothill-De Anza Community College District

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Altos/Mtn. View Area and asked of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. Given the fact that budgetary restraints will continue, what programs do you support and what programs would you cut and why? Please be specific.

This is the rough ranking I foresee for day/night student curricula if services had to be prioritized; i.e., rationed due to budget. [The lower the number, the less likely I would want it cut.]

1) English language instruction including ESL 2) Nursing certification 3) Dental assisting certification 4) Information technology instruction/certification 5) Adding a new Spanish language AA program* 6) Sports training and team participation (honoring title IX) 7) Trade certifications and law enforcement courses 8) Liberal Arts courses 9) Pure sciences

• There is no all Spanish AA degree program currently, thus we are fifteen years behind the curve in this area.

2. What do you see as the role of the Board in labor negotiations?

Prior boards bargained in bad faith with SEIU #715. This led to unnecessary problems up to and including the layoff of classified employees (June 2003) when other options were not even considered. This has left a very bad taste in the mouths of the employees upon whom we depend for all the services required on every campus. The new board must be much more forthright in its labor negotiations. Classified employees are not just excess expenses. I cannot support any additional layoffs of classified employees and will not vote for that drastic measure.

If future layoffs are required, it will be done in the ranks of management representing the highest paid employees. I strongly support a fair study of existing management positions to determine which managers are expendable if layoffs again become necessary.

3. What suggestions/ideas do you have for increasing alumni and community support for the colleges?

Currently, no high level executives (Phd. holders) teach courses. I want the highest level degree holders to be actively teaching. This will improve the academic standing of FHDA. This is also necessary because ALL part time instructors were laid off. Beyond that, I would like to be able to attract private donations to FHDA. That is much more difficult if the high level executives appear not to be involved directly in education. Major universities operate this way and I believe it is high time for FHDA to do so as well. Please remember that 45,000 students are registered at FHDA this Fall with 5,000 turned away! That number exceeds The University of Texas at Austin's count of 37,000 full time undergrads registered. We have a great local treasure that must be advanced.

The NASA/AIMS project and intership program is very important. Some child from this immediate area will walk on Mars in the next thirty years. The program is very aggressive. Two big probes are headed for Mars right now. We have to be involved in this. From the NASA/AIMS project will come jobs and more for years to come. Foothill/De Anza is very fortunate to be the first on the line with these two agencies. Let's keep it that way and even expand!