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November, 2002, Volume 13, Issue 2 - Candidates Forum and the November Election |
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By Ken Mason
California School Employees Association (Chapter 36) and the Faculty Association held a Candidates Forum on September 12 for the Board of Trustees election before a well attended, inquisitive audience of classified staff, faculty and community guests. The candidates received prepared questions along with their invitations, and additional questions were invited from the audience. Incumbent Carole Currey, (current president of the CCCL, an organization of District Administrators and Trustees) informed us that she would not be able to attend. She has a teaching assignment at Cerritos College and that evening was the first meeting of her class. Regrettably, we were unable to get the questions to her in time for a written response.
Incumbents Herb Roney, Nancy Cattell-Luckenbach, and Dorothy Ehrhart-Morrison defended their tenure as Board members, adding that they were always willing to listen to the concerns of classified staff and the faculty. Respect for administrators, faculty and classified was a recurring theme throughout the evening. The incumbents generally felt it improper to enter into a dialogue with SMC staff in public forums, such as Board meetings, but would listen to individual concerns in private settings. A mantra of praised for faculty and classified staff then followed, seconded by an even higher praise for the college’s great reputation in the community and its transfer rate. Several references were made to the passage of the bond, construction of the new library and the purchase of a new structure to relieve congestion on the campus, and the many student services. Just how the state budget crisis and District’s response would affect the college’s continued success was not made entirely clear. This was an issue that surfaced later during the question and answer period. Most questions from the audience begged for ideas and suggestions to resolve current morale problems and other concerns of faculty and classified staff, and as well as how incumbent Board members intend to maintain SMC’s high performance in the face of the budget crisis.
Of the three incumbents only Dorothy Ehrhart-Morrison was endorsed by SMRR (Santa Monicans for Renters Rights), the Santa Monica Democratic Club and the Committee to Support the Living Wage, a coalition of area labor unions.
Challengers seeking a place on the Board of Trustees are Nancy Greenstein and Bill Winslow. Greenstein was very articulate, addressing many of the issues and advancing novel approaches to problem solving. This former teacher, administrator and activist spoke directly to the concerns of faculty and staff about change. As a resident living near the campus, she was well aware of the traffic and parking problems SMC poses for the surrounding neighborhood. Nancy made it clear that she intended to bridge the differences between employees and the administration. She felt the college could be much more visible in the community and the city at large by addressing real community concerns. Most of those in the audience connected to her immediately, and if elected she will clearly be a fresh and exciting addition to the Board. Greenstein, a long time veteran of SMRR, characterized herself as a “bridge builder.” Her aim is to get the administration to come around, change course and create a middle ground to settle longstanding disputes with its faculty and staff, and with the community and city.
Bill Winslow was thoughtful and reflective that evening. His easy going style and frankness was far from the rehearsed monologue one typically hears from candidates seeking public office. It took a little while for some to adjust to his candor. Winslow was the only speaker to arouse applause that evening with his environmental arguments, disputing claims by more than one of the incumbent that constructing “green buildings” would be too expensive. In the long run it would be cost effective, he argued, much like the difference between investing in a GM vehicle designed to break down after four to five years as opposed to a Toyota designed to last ten or twenty.
He wants change, and this he believes can be accomplished by following the bottom line on budgets. He is also an experience fundraiser, a factor that was not loss on the assembled. Surely, during this period of budget cuts, we could use a little of that.
Greenstein has been endorsed by SMRR, and both Greenstein and Winslow have been endorsed by the Santa Monica Democratic Club, the Malibu Democratic Club, Santa Monica Committee to Protect the Living Wage, Westside County Federation of Labor, the Sierra Club and numerous other groups. Winslow failed to submit his papers in time for the SMRR endorsements, although he was permitted to address the SMRR convention. Those that I talked too thought he was genuinely personable, honest and sincere.
Since the Candidates Forum, the FA and CSEA voted to endorse Greenstein and Winslow for the Board of Trustees. Santa Monica College Faculty Association Political Action Committee and CSEA also voted to contribute to the Greenstein and Winslow campaign.
Remember election day is Tuesday, November 5. If you are interested in helping with a campaign give me a call at 310-434-4504 or call the Nancy Greenstein campaign at 310-458-0378, or send an email to: ngreenstein4smc.hotmail. For the Bill Winslow campaign call 818-907-8908, or send an email to:
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