COUNTYWIDE : Hirschberg to Lead College Trustees

Timothy Hirschberg, a trustee and former vice president of the Ventura County Community College District, has been elected president by the district’s Board of Trustees for 1991.

Hirschberg, 32, was elected to the board in 1987 to represent Camarillo, Santa Paula and Ojai. An attorney, Hirschberg is a former Ventura College student.

Hirschberg has been the board’s most outspoken critic of fellow trustee James T. (Tom) Ely. A district audit found that Ely and his wife had misappropriated more than $16,000 in district funds through expense accounts. In October, the trustees called for Ely’s resignation and voted to bill him for the expenses.

Ely, who was not present when Hirschberg was elected Tuesday, has missed the last four monthly meetings. He is recovering from back surgery, district officials said.

Hirschberg replaces outgoing board President Gregory Kampf, who was honored at the meeting. Kampf was chosen to represent the district on the County Committee on School Board Organization, a countywide group.

Trustee Pete Tafoya was elected board vice president. Tafoya, an engineer, was elected to the board in 1989 to represent the Oxnard and Port Hueneme areas.