Selection of Mission College President

Re “Mission College Gets Lesson in Local Politics,” July 26.

The Times describes how a supposedly routine search for a new Mission College president has degenerated into a politically charged brouhaha pitting the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees against four locally elected Democratic politicians. The basic disagreement centers on who bears responsibility, legally and functionally, for selecting the Mission president. And what are the qualifications for this top-level administrative position?

The board of trustees holds that, as in the past, the prime basic requirement would be a record of past satisfactory administrative experience. How else could you know that the applicant is fit for the job?

Now, however, a triumvirate of state politicians (state Sens. Richard Alarcon and Richard Polanco and Assemblyman Tony Cardenas), with an assist from newly elected City Councilman Alex Padilla, want to change the rules. They think they know better how to functionally administer an educational institution.

These politicians have objected to this board’s refusal to bow to their dictates and appoint Saeed Ali, an aide to Polanco, as board president. Does Ali have the necessary administrative experience to direct a multimillion-dollar public institution? Probably not, but who cares? [They] will be there to assist him in such decisions.

Fortunately our community colleges now have a board with the gumption to face down these self-serving politicians.

LOUIS ROBINS, Van Nuys

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During its 24-year history, Mission College has had five permanent presidents. All had a doctorate but not necessarily extensive administrative experience. I was the fourth. Based on this intimacy with the situation, there are two statements that I wish to correct and comment on alleged mismanagement.

As for the statement, “The board has never hired a president who had not first been a college vice president,” I wish to point out that one of my predecessors was not a vice president before being appointed CEO. Other exceptions in recent times have been appointments at East and Trade Tech in the nine-college district.

As for the statement about [Saeed] Ali’s “lack of administrative experiences,” I have worked closely with him while he administered a program for five years in which his student population was five times larger than the Mission student population. He has extensive and important experiences that require administrative skills.

For the record, despite what is stated in the article about a checkered past and mismanagement, Mission had a balanced budget for the five years that I served as CEO. It continues to be my personal feeling that Mission has great potential and seeks leadership to promote the learning paradigm through its outstanding faculty.

JACK FUJIMOTO, Los Angeles