Readers React: Democracy and L.A.’s community colleges

To the editor: The Times refers to the single Los Angeles Community College District board member election next year as an “electoral gift” for incumbents. The gift will actually go to district students. (“Runoff runaround at the L.A. Community College District,” Editorial, July 9)

In eliminating a runoff election, the district will save at least $2 million in general fund expenses that can be spent on education. In a district finally recovering from the devastating recession that resulted in the cutting of 32% of our class sections over four years, this additional revenue is vital.

The Times calls the bill that allowed the district to eliminate a runoff “peculiarly anti-democratic.”

Actually, the 2015 election will be more democratic because more voters will have a say in choosing members of the district’s board of trustees. The numbers in non-mayoral L.A. city elections bear this out. In 2011, the voter turnout was 12.97% in the primary and just 6.45% in the general election. It was much the same in 2007.

Finally, The Times advocates the reform of the at-large election system for the governing board. With the largest community college district in the country, the board feels it is imperative to have its members united in pursuing policies and goals that benefit all of this vast and diverse landscape rather than being divided by territorial interests.

Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles

The writer is chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District.

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