Hollister
– It’s getting down to the wire for candidates in the Gavilan
College Board of Trustees race, which – with five candidates vying
for only two Hollister seats – has become one of the most
competitive on the ballot this year.
Hollister – It’s getting down to the wire for candidates in the Gavilan College Board of Trustees race, which – with five candidates vying for only two Hollister seats – has become one of the most competitive on the ballot this year.
“It’s definitely been a challenging campaign,” candidate Dee Brown said.
The Gavilan College Board is structured so that trustees represent all of the communities the college serves – primarily San Benito and South Santa Clara counties. This year both Hollister trustees – longtime board member Elvira Robinson and Kent Child, who was appointed to the board last year – are up for re-election.
“We both have a lot of history with the college,” Child said.
Three challengers have stepped up to compete for seats on the board as well; current Hollister School District Trustee Dee Brown, local mother Angie De La Cruz and Reba Jones, a retired educator, for a total of five contestants. All of the challengers have said that the future of a San Benito County Gavilan campus was a factor in their decision to run this year.
“I don’t think this many people have ever run at once,” Robinson said. “But I think it’s because there’s a lot of interest in the college right now, and that’s a good thing.”
To make matters more interesting, it isn’t just Hollister or San Benito County voters who will be voting in the race. Though the seats represent Hollister, voters from throughout the district are free to vote on who they think should join the board, so candidates have had to campaign and seek endorsements in both San Benito and Santa Clara Counties.
“I think we’re all exhausted at this point,” Brown said.
Deb Smith of Gilroy and Laura Perry of Morgan Hill are running unopposed to keep their seats.
Perry, 55, has been on the board for 14 years, ever since she graduated with a law degree from Santa Clara University. “I grew up on the East Coast, and I guess the Kennedys had an influence on me,” she said. “Also, Santa Clara puts a big emphasis on public service, doing volunteer work, serving on public boards, running for public office.”
Smith, 52, also an incumbent, has been a Gilroy resident for 19 years. She was appointed to fill the term of former Trustee Champion, who passed away. This is her third term.
“I am very passionate about Gavilan; it is a very exciting time with all of our bond measure activities,” she said. “We’ll be building a campus in Coyote Valley and one in San Benito County to better serve our full district. We are also updating our Gilroy campus. I am also excited about our Active Adult Program and look forward to offering more exciting opportunities for lifelong learners as well as meeting the educational needs of our diverse communities.”
While Child is one of the incumbents in this race, this is still his first time campaigning for the office. Child says his extensive work with Gavilan – as a student, teacher and administrator as well as trustee – make him uniquely qualified to continue leading the college in the future.
“I’ve literally been in the trenches at all these different levels (with Gavilan),” he said. “I think I have a breadth of experience that I want to use on the board.”
Child has said that his priorities, if re-elected, include ensuring the district’s continued financial stability and broadening options for senior citizens looking for personal enrichment, particularly as the baby boomer generation prepares to retire.
Jones, who has taught college-level science at universities throughout the nation, also is relying on her experience working in the higher-education field to win the election. She also is interested in helping bring Gavilan to San Benito County and focusing on the financial stability of the school.
“I’ve traveled over most parts of the world,” she said. “I think that I’ve gained some experience that will be useful to this community.”
Brown, who mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the position of San Benito County Superintendent of Schools, announced over the summer that she would not seek another term with HSD, setting her sights instead on Gavilan.
“I’m just looking for a way to be involved on another level,” she said. “And I’m looking forward to working on a Hollister campus. It’s always fun to be involved at the beginning of these things.”
Brown herself has taught at the college level and her son is a Gavilan graduate, as well. During the course of the past few weeks she says she has been very busy seeking endorsements and getting the word out in Hollister, Gilroy and Morgan Hill.
“I really want to do this the right way,” she said. “So I’ve been out there talking to a lot of people and other candidates. It’s been interesting. But I have no idea what will happen on election day.”
De La Cruz, who is married to San Benito County Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz, said she is eager to become involved with Gavilan, though she was surprised at how many other candidates chose to enter the race.
“I have a son who will hopefully be going when he graduates,” she said. “I’m just your average mom looking to make a difference.”
De La Cruz said she was also particularly interested in helping a local Gavilan campus get off on the right foot.
“I think it could be really good for this community,” she said.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or ds****@fr***********.com. Staff Writer Marilyn Dubil contributed to this story.
