Santa Ana : College Board Elects Maddox President

In a split vote, Charles W. (Pete) Maddox has been named president of the governing board of Rancho Santiago College District.

The board voted 4 to 3 this week to name Maddox to the post. Trustees Brian E. Conley, Michael Ortell, Enriqueta L. Ramos and Maddox voted for his election. Trustees Carol Enos, Shirley Ralston and Tom Saenz opposed it.

Earlier, Ralston nominated Saenz to fill the position, but that motion failed on a 4-3 vote.

Conley, who has served as president for the last two years, nominated Maddox. “No one is more committed to Rancho,” Conley said.

Maddox, a graduate of the district, has served on the board since 1990.

“As a reformer and ethicist, Pete Maddox has been the conscience of the board. We welcome the chance to work with him as president,” said Lee Mallory, spokesman for the district’s faculty association, after the election Monday.

At the meeting, the board unanimously elected Ramos as vice president but rejected Ralston’s nomination of Saenz as clerk of the council on a 4-3 vote.

Ramos nominated Ortell, who was elected.

The board president presides at all meetings and represents the district at official functions. The vice president takes over when the president is absent, and the clerk oversees the maintenance of board records. All the terms are for one year.