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Three incumbents of Pasadena Area Community Colleges Board of Trustees face competition in the November elections.

Incumbents Jeanette W. Mann (Area 2), John H. Martin (Area 6), and William E. Thomson Jr. (Area 4) are opposed by Brian M. Fuller, Chris Cofer, and M.A.C. “Maestro” Enriquez-Marquez, respectively.

PCC continues to struggle with state budget cuts, and though the Board attempts to keep cuts away from classes, many students feel the effects of budget cuts and overcrowding.

“The biggest issue in this election is maintaining the momentum to continue to offer a maximum number of classes,” Mann said. “[This] state is in a financial crisis and it can have disastrous effects on a college.”

Thomson, who currently serves as Board president, also cited the impact of state budget cuts on PCC. “This state is a horrible economic mess … in the future we are going to be forced to depend less on state money,” he said.

According to Maestro’s letter to the PCC president, Board, and various local dignitaries, which includes maps drawn over in marker and what appears to be crayon, another big issue is redistricting and segregation in Pasadena Unified by economics, ethnicity, language and ‘race’,” said Maestro. “Again the maps were created by officialdom.”

The Board currently serves only community colleges in the Pasadena area, and does not have any ruling over Pasadena Unified School District.

Cofer, Mann, and Thomson all cited the importance of placing a priority on serving in-district residents. PCC currently accepts students from all over Los Angeles County and California, as well as out-of-state and international students.

Cofer also expressed concern over “42,000 part-time community college faculty and 18,000 full time faculty,” in the state.

“The State Legislature has identified highly questionable practices at community colleges throughout the state. I hope to work constructively with others at PCC to constructively address this problem,” Cofer said in an e-mail.

Martin, who currently serves as the Clerk, wants to push for more classes.

“I tell everyone that my top three agenda items are 1 – More Classes. 2 – More Classes. 3 – More Classes,” Martin said.

As well as more classes, Martin stated that he is passionate about PCC, and is not interested in any other political office.

Thomson, who is running in a different area than Martin, is a former Pasadena mayor and city councilman.

The trustees are elected for four-year terms, and the elections are staggered so that not all seats are up for election in the same year.

This will be PCC President Mark Rocha’s first set of board elections as president, and thus far he has chosen not to endorse any of the candidates.

“I appreciate the support of each trustee for student learning and success,” said Rocha in an e-mail.

Elections will be held on Nov. 8, and are open to all district residents. To register to vote, visit www.rockthevote.org.

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