Your guide to L.A. Community College District Board of Trustees candidates

Name: Mark Dutton

Age: 58

Occupation: Producer, writer, teacher, musician

Experience: Making every effort to do what I say I’m going to do, openly communicating with the public and prioritizing education over special interests

Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees candidate Mark Dutton

(Courtesy of Mark Dutton)

Priorities: Student success; living wage for teachers; transparency, clarity and oversight of measures/propositions

Bond measure: No on Measure LA until the public is assured oversight of their tax dollar spending, transparency of what they are building and why it is necessary at a time when we should be focused on declining enrollment and low graduation success rates

Enrollment losses: End toxic politics on campuses, focus on education through accredited courses, provide a living wage for all teachers/instructors

Basic needs: Help facilitate student graduation with an education that will allow them a career that pays a living wage; provide options for temporary low-cost housing; when making policy and spending money, follow data and credible research, not special interests

Online classes: The option should remain available, but nothing beats learning and sharing ideas together on an energized campus.

Website: Facebook page, Marc Dutton for LACCD

Name: Kelsey Iino

Age: 42

Occupation: Community college faculty member, counselor at El Camino College

Experience: California community college graduate; worked for over 15 years as a counselor in various areas; president of my faculty union, AFT 1388, and have served as a delegate to the L.A. Federation of Labor for over six years; appointed to the LACCD board in April 2022

Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees candidate Kelsey Iino

(Amy Williams)

Priorities: Addressing the basic needs of students (food, housing, transportation, school tech and supplies, and tuition); addressing current funding formula, preparing for fiscal cliff; making sure we are aware of why students are succeeding and provide targeted services and resources to help them be more successful

Bond measure: I support the bond. Our current funding mechanism doesn’t support much room for campus improvements. We need to make sure our students have access to resources and spaces.

Enrollment losses: Make the matriculation process from application to first day of class easier to navigate for all students; go into the communities to raise awareness about our free tuition and the affordability of LACCD; ask the stakeholders what their experiences are, what we are doing well and where we need to improve

Basic needs: Food pantry and food distribution programs; emergency housing funds; transportation vouchers/passes

Online classes: Virtual and in-person options should be based off student need. We have to make sure students have the proper access to electronic devices

Website: https://www.kelseyiino.com/

Name: Nancy Pearlman

Age: 74

Occupation: Anthropology instructor, television and radio documentarian with weekly shows, human rights activist, ethnic dance performer, college educator, nonprofit director, sustainability and ecotourism consultant

Experience: Trustee emeritus with the Los Angeles Community College District having served four terms, sixteen years. Also elected for one term to the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee. Served on over 100 boards of directors and advisory councils for environmental, women’s rights, humanitarian, arts/dance and other nonprofits.

Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees candidate Nancy Pearlman

(Courtesy of Nancy Pearlman)

Priorities: Increase sustainability efforts; equality for the over 70% of part-time faculty; create programs for more student success, workforce development, and increased enrollment

Bond measure: Until there is a board with individuals such as myself that are not beholden to special interests, I cannot support the current bond measure. The LACCD has not shown why they need more money or where it will be spent.

Enrollment losses: Better publicity regarding the excellent offerings. Reaching out to the local high schools to promote the benefits of going to their community college.

Basic needs: More services need to be made available in all areas of student needs. For example, have parking lots open at night where homeless students can park, shower in facilities, etc.; more health center services; more counseling; more food banks; free textbooks

Online classes: I encourage in-classroom instruction. Some online instruction makes sense but the majority of courses should be in the classroom.

Website: www.nancypearlman.net