GOP Leader Appointed to College District Board

Thomas A. Fuentes, head of the Orange County Republican Party for the past 15 years, was appointed Wednesday to fill the vacant trustee seat on the South Orange County Community College District.

The board voted 4 to 0 to appoint Fuentes, with trustees David Lang and Marcia Milchiker abstaining. Student trustee Jason Wamhoff, who has an advisory vote, also supported the GOP chief.

Fuentes said he expects to run for election to the seat in November, which would be his first attempt at public office.

Asked if his appointment was the start of a career as a candidate, Fuentes replied, “Who knows? Two weeks ago today, I had no idea I’d be sitting here talking to you today as a new trustee.”

Fuentes, of Lake Forest, fills the seat Steven J. Frogue vacated last month after 7 1/2 years on the board. Frogue, who was accused of being an anti-Semite, had beat back two recall attempts.

The other two candidates to fill the vacancy were businessman William P. Wachal of Mission Viejo and Joe F. Greco of Portola Hills, an assistant professor of international finance at Cal State Fullerton.

Fuentes’ hard-line conservative tenure as head of the Republican Party has not been without controversy, and moderates within the party have challenged his leadership several times.

He said he would wait to see if George W. Bush wins Orange County before deciding whether to run again to head the county’s Republicans.

Fuentes said that as a board member, he would encourage more Internet and interactive television classes.