Psychologist Seeks College District Seat

A Thousand Oaks psychologist on Wednesday announced his intention to run for a seat on the board of the Ventura County Community College District.

Donald W. Kingdon, 41, kicked off his campaign at a small ceremony Wednesday morning at Moorpark College.

Kingdon, a private practice psychologist who also serves as chief of the Child and Adolescent Services unit of the Ventura County Mental Health Department, is seeking the Area 2 seat held by Gregory Cole, who has said he will not seek reelection.

“The community colleges offer a tremendous opportunity for partnerships between business, schools and the community in Ventura County,” Kingdon said. “As the largest provider of public, post-secondary education in the county, the community colleges must serve the changing needs of our students.”

The district is facing a $3-million budget shortfall that administrators said may force severe class cuts and the layoffs of dozens of part-time teachers.

Kingdon said the colleges must “remain focused on a clearly defined mission of providing opportunity for educational advancement to a broad range of students” because of the shortfall.

He is the second Thousand Oaks resident to announce a campaign to seek election to the college district’s governing board.

Last Week, Thousand Oaks orthodontist Norman Nagel said he also would run for Cole’s trustee position.

The official candidate filing period opens July 18.