College District Trustee Won’t Seek Reelection

Chris Loumakis, a longtime board member of the North Orange County Community College District and adversary of the faculty union, has announced he will not seek reelection when his third term of office expires in November.

“Three successful election campaigns and 13 years on the board should be plenty for any citizen politician,” he said in a statement.

Loumakis, known for his conservative views as a trustee, had been urged repeatedly to resign in years past by the district’s United Faculty union.

Last September, former United Faculty President Bob Simpson called Loumakis “untrustworthy” and presented the board with a resolution calling for his resignation. Then, in April, the union reaffirmed its opposition to the 43-year-old trustee.

“During my tenure, I have participated in many successes and have even endured occasional vilification from detractors,” Loumakis said. But, “through it all, I have always maintained my intellectual honesty, integrity and independence. I am proud of my service on the Board of Trustees and hope that my contributions will greatly outweigh my shortcomings.”

Loumakis currently represents Trustee Area 4, which encompasses parts of Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra and Whittier.

In his statement, he said he hopes the election will replace some current board members with people who “will be wiser and more prudent stewards of taxpayer interests.”

He also said that he was the only trustee who voted against borrowing money to invest in the failed Orange County pool that resulted in bankruptcy in 1994.

Besides Loumakis’ seat, four other seats will be contested in the November election. Those positions currently are held by Cynthia Coad, Leonard L. Lahtinen, Molly McClanahan and Nancy M. Rice. No one has announced plans to run for election or reelection yet.