I am starting this post at 3:00 a.m. to bring you the news: Southwestern College now has a new Governing Board!
Just a few moments ago, 100% of the ballots were reported, and both Norma Hernandez and Tim Nader defeated their incumbent opponents, Yolanda Salcido and Jorge Dominguez.
Norma captured almost 54% of the vote, over Yolanda's 46% bought-and-paid-for-by-those-damned-contractors votes.
And in his field of four, Tim left the rest in the dust, with a 9-point margin of victory over his closest competitor, Jaime Mercado. It must be noted that Jorge Dominguez earned a little more than 13% of the vote, coming in fourth of four, behind Bud McLeroy.
Unfortunately, in the Jesseca-Terri race, incumbent Terri Valladolid eked out a 2-point win over Jesseca Saenz-Gonzalez. Terri won with only 1600 votes more than Jesseca, of more than 60,000 votes cast.
This may not have been victory for Jesseca today, but it was a fantastic showing for a first-time politico. In one fell swoop, she earned more votes than Ms. Salcido did, and single-handedly kicked the legs out from under the vaunted Valladolid "dynasty."
With pro-student incumbent Nick Aguilar, we now have majority of the Governing Board. I would strongly suggest that a few members of the administration start updating their resumes, stat.
Can I get a great big, "thank you!" to our candidates for the brutally hard campaigns they fought?
And I want to say "thank you!" to everyone who stood with the students, the faculty, and the community by voting for Norma, Tim, and Jesseca.
The November board meeting is coming up on us fast. I suggest we all get together then and watch the spectacle that is sure to come. It's a changing of the guard, and it's about time.
Thank you, and thank heavens!
ReplyDeleteI'm near the bottom of my box of Kleenex. We said that morale would change overnight, last night. Can't wait to get to work today!!!
ReplyDeletethis is the first day of the rest of my working life! thank you all who worked so hard on this. So glad to have you Norma and Tim, wish Jessica were joining you! Still, its a wonderful day indeed. Charlie H.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet it is!
ReplyDeleteMy heart is racing with excitement. Thank you all who worked to make this change.
ReplyDeleteNA NA NA NA............... NA NA NA NA....................HEY HEY HEY...........................GOOOOOOOOOOD BYE!
ReplyDeleteNick you were a driving force behind this and bless you to the end of time.
Let us pause and have a moment of BLISSFUL silence for our nearly departed:
1. Yolanda RATcido
2. Jorge Canttouchus
3. CHOP CHOP ANOTHER ONE BITES
4. NA NA ALIOTO
5. TRUTHBENDER KISSMAHAS
6. YET TO BE DETERMINED
I feel optimistic for the first time in a VERY LONG TIME. Let's move the focus back to accreditation and EDUCATION for our students!!!
ReplyDeleteHallelujah!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks you too, Nick, for all your hard work (campaigning, blogging, attending Board meetings). You worked as hard as anyone on the campaign trail. Muchas Gracias!!!!
ReplyDeleteIn the words of Bob Dylan: The Times They are A-Changin'."
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all of us who care about SWC! First order of GB business - double check all those construction contracts to make sure they are on the up and up and they indeed were the best proposals - not just generating the greatest political donation. 2nd order of business - when we find out they were not the best deal for SWC fire Nick Alioto. Maybe HR should show up with campus police at his house to do it.
ReplyDeleteThe new Governing Board members will not be sworn in until the December 8 meeting. It will be quite interesting to see what surprises are in store on the November agenda, and what the current board plans to do to 'reward' Chop and Alioop for their support and who knows what else.
ReplyDeleteI'll be at the November GB meeting, camera in hand, hoping to catch Yoli throwing something at someone.
ReplyDeleteI think we should all show up and have our say. It'll be great to be able to say, "Bet you wish you'd listened to what we said earlier. But I'm sure you're going to listen now."
Plus, it'll be interesting to see how many laws they try to break that night.
This was a grassroots effort that won two seats with a fraction of the money, but with the power of truth and integrity behind it.
ReplyDeleteThe next Governing Board Meeting is Wed., Nov. 10 at 7pm come voice your opinion during Oral Comments in room 214.
Yes, How sweet it is!!!!!however we must not sit back and lay dormant, there is still work to be done in preparation for 2012. The other unfriendly board member has to go too.
ReplyDeleteI also hope that the two labor unions from SWC get their KAKA together and start working in unison to better the entire college.
Now is the time to demand transparency for all the money spent by the administration, order an audit of all expenses and let the proverbial .... hit the fan.
Take the Foundation back from the moguls and restore it to its primary mission. No more money laundering!
ReplyDeleteAbout the unions: it's clear that with SCEA and CSEA working together, they are very powerful. And with everyone on the same page - at least for the moment - they have a chance to get some good work done.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the Foundation goes, I agree entirely. The new board needs to reassess the oversight of that organization. I genuinely expect that a forensic accountant would find LOTS and LOTS of money unaccounted for. Nothing that Alioto is in charge of should be left alone.
wow...I thought I wouldn't live to see this day. CONGRATS SWC!!
ReplyDelete