Rancho Santiago Community College District Board Candidates

TRUSTEE AREA 2

(one seat)

John R. Hanna

Age: 47

Occupation: Civil attorney

Background: Current trustee; former Santa Ana planning commissioner; former St. Joseph Ballet Company board member; former Buena Park Community Development Advisory Board member; former Orange County Democratic Party chairman

Issues: Provide plant locations and online classroom opportunities for an increasing student population; ensure affordable education; continue economic development programs

M. Kathryn Peralta

Age: 47

Occupation: Resource developer/mediator

Background: Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, San Francisco State University; board member, League of Women Voters; member, Mexican-American National Assn.

Issues: Reduce inequalities of education opportunities; adequate public and private funding for quality education; supports salaries and benefits that reflect principles of economic justice

TRUSTEE AREA 3

(two seats)

Vincent DeVargas

Age: 55

Occupation: Insurance operations

Background: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy, St. Mary’s College of California (Moraga); former Sacred Heart High School history and English teacher; Insurance Industry Education Advisory Board for San Diego Community College District; former Boy Scout leader; former president, St. Norbert School Parent Guild in Orange

Issues: Opposes tuition fee increases; supports campus diversity; foster growth of Santiago Canyon Campus in Orange

Lawrence R. Labrado

Age: 59

Occupation: Incumbent

Background: Bachelor’s degree in ethnic studies, Cal State Fullerton; CSUF director of university outreach

Issues: Prepare for increase in students; graduate as many as possible; prepare students for future in technical experience

J. Carolan Smyth III

Age: 47

Occupation: Food broker

Background: Master’s degree in health care management, Cal State Los Angeles; taught at various college and secondary levels; member, Bowers Museum; Second

Harvest food bank contributor; member, Alliance for the Mentally Ill

Issues: Direct funds into classroom; encourage student and community participation in education process; more private-public partnerships for employment purposes

William G. Vasquez

Age: 52

Occupation: Management consultant

Background: Master’s degree in public administration, Pepperdine University; former Bell Gardens city manager; former Pomona community development director; former Riverside redevelopment director; former Pasadena assistant city manager; United Way leadership councilman

Issues: Implement more technology education; increase transfer rates to four-year colleges; deliver cost-effective education programs

Phillip E. Yarbrough

Age: 37

Occupation: Mortgage broker

Background: Bachelor’s degree in finance and master’s in economics, Cal State Fullerton; current trustee; former economics professor at Rancho Santiago colleges

Issues: Opposes tax or tuition increases; opposes wasteful spending; prioritize spending for classrooms

Source: Individual candidates