Preview of 2010 Peralta Trustees Election

On Nov. 2, much of the East Bay’s attention will be turned towards the city of Oakland’s mayoral race.

However, another hot race that people want to keep their eyes on is the Peralta Board of Trustees, where three of the seven seats of will be up for reelection. With three incumbents running, just one trustee is running unopposed.

In what may become the most politicized race, two-term incumbent Linda Handy faces a challenge from Monica Tell in Area 3. Handy, who served as board president in 2006, defeated the embattled trustee Brenda Knight in 2002. At the time, she had major support from Peralta's labor unions.

"Despite diminished funding and other challenges, my absolute dedication to student success and our local community is producing results," Handy wrote in her candidate statement. "While Board President, I demanded quality service delivery, accountability and employee acknowledgement; fought for transparency and standardized reporting systems; pushed for an independent auditor, and instituted a Board civility policy."

She also cites work at getting local businesses contracts from Peralta's $390 million bond Measure A (2006) and Peralta's soon-to-be-built Student Health Clinic.

Tell, a former aide for former state Sen. Don Perata and current Public Relations Specialist and Community Liaison at PG&E, said the board needs "to be critically reviewed and dramatically improved."

"Earlier this year, the Alameda County Grand Jury criticized the Peralta College trustees and highlighted various concerns, including: inadequate management and oversight; wasteful spending; excessive travel and improper use of credit cards," writes Tell in her candidate statement. She pledges to "focus on fiscal responsibility, strict management accountability and improved educational services."

Area 3 includes the Fruitvale, Brookdale, and Fairfax districts in Oakland. Part of the Laurel is also included.

Running for his fourth term, incumbent Dr. William "Bill" Riley (Area 5) was first elected to the board in 1998. He's served as president twice, is currently the board's Vice-President and ran unopposed in 2002 and 2006.

"When I was first elected, Peralta received adequate state funding to support every student enrolling in our colleges. Today, we're challenged with serving 5,200 more students than the state pays for," Riley writes. "I pledge to continue monitoring District completion of Measure A's $390 million expenditures for college improvements, improving fiscal accountability, fighting for local business participation in capital projects, collaborating to secure our fair share of state funding and mot importantly, strengthening student support services."

William J. Mattox, a human resources consultant, is challenging Riley on a platform of reform.

"I am a candidate of reform," writes Mattox in his candidate’s statement. "I am determined to make sure this board is accountable to the community for fiscal responsibility, effective employee management, focus, vision, and purpose." Mattox cites his experience in Human Resources as sufficient for budget analysis and monitoring employee performance.

Area 5 includes Oakland's Rockridge District and the city of Piedmont.

Incumbent Abel Guillen (Area 7), the current board president, is running unopposed. His name will not appear on the ballot.

"We are on the frontlines of college access and career training in growing industries," Guillen writes in his candidate statement. Guillen was elected in 2006, defeating two-term incumbent Alona Clifton after getting major momentum from Peralta's labor unions.

"I have fought to hold Peralta's management more accountable through a series of financial reforms and cost-saving measures; and a national search for a new chancellor is under way to build upon these improvements," Guillen said.

Area 7 includes West Oakland, Temescal and parts of Oakland's Chinatown.

The Peralta Federation of Teachers – PFT – representing the district's faculty, endorsed Guillen in June. The PFT's Political Action Committee also voted to endorsed Riley on Sept. 2, but has not made a decision in the Handy-Tell battle. The Service Employees International Union Local 1021, the union representing classified staff, have yet to make endorsements for any contests.

The Peralta board was recently criticized in an Alameda County Grand Jury report for "questionable decision-making" and failing to provide leadership. The report was prompted by a series of articles by the Bay Area News Group (owner of the Oakland Tribune and Contra Costa Times). In January, the board opted not to renew the contract of then-Chancellor and former Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris.

The four-college district recently had its campuses' accreditation placed on probation due to financial irregularities, governance and technological issues.