L.A. COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

This year, there are four incumbents running for re-election to the LA Community College District’s Board of Trustees. For those who do not know, the LACCD has become an international leader in incorporating green building standards into new construction. With projects funded by three large construction bonds, that has translated into a wholesale transformation of the district’s building stock toward greater sustainability. The district has taken a holistic approach, integrating into its curriculum both environmental science and green jobs vocational training that link directly with the district’s construction programs and also partner with local institutions like the LA Department of Water and Power.

The Sierra Club strongly endorses all four incumbents -- Angela Reddock, Kelly Candaele, Nancy Pearlman, and Miguel Santiago -- for their visionary leadership in promoting sustainability. As in the past, conservatives have organized a well-funded slate to win control of the board. In the last election, one of these candidates almost won, so we expect even more money to pour in this time; it could be another close election. Each seat is a separate at-large race, so there are four separate offices to elect.

Angela Reddock for LACCD Seat No. 2

Angela J. Reddock was appointed to the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees on April 11, 2007 to fill the seat vacated by Trustee Michael Waxman, who resigned from the elected office. Ms. Reddock’s term will expire on June 30, 2009. The Sierra Club has endorsed Reddock.

Reddock has a Bachelor’s Degree from Amherst College in Massachusetts, where she graduated cum laude. During her years at Amherst, she earned the Kellogg Prize in public speaking. Upon returning to the West Coast, she completed a one-year fellowship in public policy and public affairs with the Coro Foundation in Los Angeles. Thereafter, she earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she served as an editor of the National Black Law Journal and as a member of the Women’s Law Journal. While at UCLA, she externed for the Honorable Terry J. Hatter, Jr. of the United States District Court, Central District of California.

Ms. Reddock is heavily involved in civic affairs at the state and local levels, currently serving as a Commissioner on both the Los Angeles County Local Government Services Commission and the Los Angeles City Transportation Commission. She also serves as Co-Chair for the City of Los Angeles 11th District Empowerment Congress Transportation Committee and as a Hearing Officer for the County of Los Angeles Civil Service Commission. She has been a legal commentator for KCAL/KCBS News.

Kelly G. Candaele was first elected to the Board in June of 1997. He was re-elected in 2001 and again for another 4-year term in 2005. The Sierra Club has previously endorsed Kelly Candaele.

For eight years, Mr. Candaele taught classes in history, politics, economics and collective bargaining in the Labor Center at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. He has a particular interest in the areas of job training, career ladders and business labor partnerships. During his tenure at the Labor Federation, he was appointed by Mayor Tom Bradley to “Workforce Los Angeles,” a school-to-work organization established to help non-college bound youths prepare for emerging job opportunities. He was also a member of the City’s Strategic Planning Committee. Candaele’s strong labor background and trade expertise make him a good environmental candidate since the Club deals with emerging green jobs training and green jobs creation.

Nancy Pearlman for LACC Seat No. 6

Nancy Pearlman was elected to the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees in 2001. She chairs the Infrastructure Committee, which is charged with reviewing all construction projects under Propositions A and AA, passed by the voters in 2001 and 2003. The Sierra Club has previously endorsed Pearlman.

Ms. Pearlman is a journalist, environmentalist, college instructor, anthropologist, editor, and outdoorswoman who has made safeguarding the earth’s ecosystems both a vocation and an avocation. For thirty-seven years, she has given her time and energy to the environmental cause. She was selected by the United Nations Environment Program as a Global 500 Laureate and has received many other honors.

Since the 1970s when Nancy coordinated the first Earth Day in Southern California, she has worked with hundreds of conservation organizations, serving as administrator, founder, member of advisory councils, participant, and member of boards of directors. She founded the Ecology Center of Southern California in 1972 and Project Ecotourism in 1993, Earth Cultures in 2004, and Nancy Pearlman, the Eco-Traveler in 2007.

Miguel Santiago for LACCD Seat No. 7

Miguel Santiago was appointed unanimously by the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District to fill the seat left vacant by Warren T. Furutani, who resigned after his election to the California State Assembly.

Mr. Santiago is employed as a Special Assistant of External Affairs for the Office of the Board of Equalization, where he is the community and labor liaison for Chair Judy Chu PhD. Previous to this position, he served as Field Coordinator for the Office of Assemblymember Cindy Montañez.

Born in 1973 in the San Fernando Valley to immigrant parents, Mr. Santiago attended public school and community college before transferring to the University of California, Los Angeles where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.

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