Administrator Runs for College Board
A Moorpark College vice president on Wednesday announced her plans to challenge Ventura County Community College District Trustee Bob Gonzales for his seat on the district board.
Ruth Hemming, Moorpark College’s top budget official, is the first candidate to challenge an incumbent this election year.
Gonzales, who is also chief of the Santa Paula Police Department, has said he would seek a second term on the five-member board.
If elected in November, Hemming, 61, said among her top priorities would be to increase the number of full-time faculty at the county’s three community colleges and increase pay and benefits of part-time instructors.
To avoid any conflict of interest, the Ojai resident said she would retire from her administrative position at Moorpark College if she wins the 3rd District seat representing Camarillo, Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru.
She has worked in the community college district for 36 years as an administrator and instructor. She served as interim president at Oxnard College in 1997.
Hemming has been endorsed by the local faculty union and the Tri-County Labor Council.
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