The college has supported and defended the hiring of a sex offender who has tutored minors through the college's "Upward Bound" program for local high school students, and is now in a position of authority over staff. This is absolutely unacceptable and my highest priority would be creating a policy outlining the college's commitment to keeping students safe and protecting them from sexual predators.

We also need to review D.E.I. policies created by the current board and focus instead on MERIT based decisions so we ensure that we're giving our students the best we can offer, not just the most diverse.

I have owned and operated 3 small businesses which has taught me a lot about setting (and achieving) realistic goals and finding the most efficient way to utilize limited resources. Small business owners can’t just “raise taxes” to solve problems… they have to identify actual solutions by thinking outside the box while still working within their means.

I was also a semi-professional distance runner. My races were incredibly demanding — 30 to 60 mile footraces in the mountains. These journeys taught me how to plan for the worst while remaining positive and focused on a goal. I learned about staying the course even when things get tough, but also knowing when you need to stop and reevaluate where the current path will lead you.

I would focus more heavily on the trades and CTE programs because we have a greater need for those skills in Southwestern Oregon. There are others on the Board that will focus on the traditional 4-year college pathway so I hope to help bring balance to the conversation.

I am running for the SWOCC board of education because I want to continue moving the college forward to meet the educational and job training needs of students in our district, and by connecting with business partners in our communities who need educated, trained, certified employees to fill their employment specifications.

FOCUS: 1. Keeping Southwestern as a nationally recognized top college in the US by prioritizing student success, meeting students where they are and helping them plan to meet their goals as quickly as possible. 2. Keeping up with new advances in technology in all our programs. 3. Finding innovative ways to secure future funding and reduce reliance on tax dollars.

I've owned, operated and worked in numerous businesses over the years in varied industries, including sanitation services, forestry, accounting, restaurant management, and much more. My 25 years on the college board have given the profound understanding of the institution, as I have grown adept at setting policy, supporting the institution and protecting the fiduciary integrity of the college.

I understand how the college's relationships in the community help to shape programming and have an innovative streak when it comes to supporting the development of programs that will be game-changers for our students both now and into the future.

Community colleges are unique institutions in that they assist so many different kinds of students. Those can be students pursuing a four-year degree, associate degree, vocational or technical education, proficiency in the English language, a GED or simply to gain a new skill or pursue a passion such as art, ballroom dancing or some other community education opportunity. I would work to support both so that the college truly is a place where any student can begin their journey or reach their ultimate goal. This diversity of programming and students we serve is fundamental to the core of what a community college should be to its community. I'm proud to help our own college help our students achieve those goals.