Long Beach Community College District

Enrollment: About 30,000.

Areas served: Enrollment is open, but it primarily serves Long Beach, Lakewood and Signal Hill.

On the ballot: Four candidates for three seats. The election is April 14.

INCUMBENTS

C. Thomas Dean

Age: Would not disclose.

Profession: Retired Cal State Long Beach administrator.

Remarks: “Since I’ve been in administration for 30 years, I’ve handled budgets. I have experience. I was dean of the School of Applied Arts and Sciences at Cal State Long Beach, a school with 200 faculty members.” Since joining the Long Beach City College board in 1979, “I’ve brought fiscal responsibility to the district.” He said he was instrumental in developing the college’s rehabilitation program for stroke victims, for which he has led fund-raising efforts. He also has served as a member of the board of directors of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach.

Trudy Polsky

Age: Would not disclose.

Profession: Attorney.

Remarks: Polsky, a board member since 1979, said she was directly involved in refurbishing the college’s stadium, which includes a world-class, all-weather track. “We have brought the community into the college by bringing in advisory boards. . . . There are no big issues because the school is well-run. The big issue on the state level . . . is funding. We are in a very healthy condition as far as community colleges go. Our faculty is paid above the median, and we intend on keeping programs” despite the tight budget.

Judith O. Powell

Age: 50

Profession: Teacher, Wilson High School in Long Beach.

Remarks: “Students are being turned away from Cal State Long Beach, and they are turning to us for an education. . . . The students most hurt by budget cuts are ethnic and minority groups, so we are working on serving them better. We are also a source for retraining and getting them back to work in this current recession.” A board member since 1988, she lists among her accomplishments efforts to create an open, available board and to have board elections by district.

CHALLENGER

E. Gerrie Schipske

Age: 42

Profession: Nurse and nursing instructor at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance.

Remarks: “The biggest issue is the one the incumbents haven’t faced: the cancellation of classes. They were going to cancel summer school until the public demanded it back. . . . We have a growing minority community that needs to be addressed. Our vocational training program is great, but we need to look at a variety of other vocations to offer.” She said the board should bring in staff, faculty and students to help make decisions. “The biggest issue is figuring out how the college can compete for funds, and looking at aggressive ways to get revenue.”