Rancho Santiago Community College District Board Candidates
TRUSTEE AREA 2
(one seat)
John R. Hanna
Age: 47
Occupation: Civil attorney
Background: Current trustee; former Santa Ana planning commissioner; former St. Joseph Ballet Company board member; former Buena Park Community Development Advisory Board member; former Orange County Democratic Party chairman
Issues: Provide plant locations and online classroom opportunities for an increasing student population; ensure affordable education; continue economic development programs
M. Kathryn Peralta
Age: 47
Occupation: Resource developer/mediator
Background: Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, San Francisco State University; board member, League of Women Voters; member, Mexican-American National Assn.
Issues: Reduce inequalities of education opportunities; adequate public and private funding for quality education; supports salaries and benefits that reflect principles of economic justice
TRUSTEE AREA 3
(two seats)
Vincent DeVargas
Age: 55
Occupation: Insurance operations
Background: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy, St. Mary’s College of California (Moraga); former Sacred Heart High School history and English teacher; Insurance Industry Education Advisory Board for San Diego Community College District; former Boy Scout leader; former president, St. Norbert School Parent Guild in Orange
Issues: Opposes tuition fee increases; supports campus diversity; foster growth of Santiago Canyon Campus in Orange
Lawrence R. Labrado
Age: 59
Occupation: Incumbent
Background: Bachelor’s degree in ethnic studies, Cal State Fullerton; CSUF director of university outreach
Issues: Prepare for increase in students; graduate as many as possible; prepare students for future in technical experience
J. Carolan Smyth III
Age: 47
Occupation: Food broker
Background: Master’s degree in health care management, Cal State Los Angeles; taught at various college and secondary levels; member, Bowers Museum; Second
Harvest food bank contributor; member, Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Issues: Direct funds into classroom; encourage student and community participation in education process; more private-public partnerships for employment purposes
William G. Vasquez
Age: 52
Occupation: Management consultant
Background: Master’s degree in public administration, Pepperdine University; former Bell Gardens city manager; former Pomona community development director; former Riverside redevelopment director; former Pasadena assistant city manager; United Way leadership councilman
Issues: Implement more technology education; increase transfer rates to four-year colleges; deliver cost-effective education programs
Phillip E. Yarbrough
Age: 37
Occupation: Mortgage broker
Background: Bachelor’s degree in finance and master’s in economics, Cal State Fullerton; current trustee; former economics professor at Rancho Santiago colleges
Issues: Opposes tax or tuition increases; opposes wasteful spending; prioritize spending for classrooms
Source: Individual candidates
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