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Three trustee seats are up for grabs on the Pasadena Area Community College District board, alongside a ballot measure that could authorize the district to issue up to $485 million in bonds to use toward repairs and building career development facilities.
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Wondering how we got here? Here's the backstory to this race:
What’s at stake in this race
The Altadena-Pasadena community is still reeling from the Eaton Fire, which killed 19 people and destroyed thousands of structures. Pasadena City College aims to be an important part of the recovery process: Earlier this year, the college broke ground on a new construction trades facility where students will be trained in rebuilding and construction postfire.
Trustees guide PCC’s direction. And if voters in the district green-light the issuance of $485 million in bonds this November, whoever is elected to the role of trustee will share oversight on how that money is used.
What do the trustees do?
- Adopt the annual budget of around $240 million, which decides where money is spent
- Approve district expenses
- Oversee the purchase of property
- Hire and fire the superintendent-president — that’s the district’s top executive, sort of like a CEO
- Approve faculty appointments and staff hires
- Set college policy
Even if you do not attend or work at a community college, this race could affect you. Trustees approve property expansions or projects that shape the local community.
Fast facts about this community college district
The Pasadena Area Community College District encompasses Foothill and San Gabriel Valley communities from La Cañada Flintridge to El Monte. The seats up for reelection are Districts 1, 3 and 5, which cover parts of Altadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Mount Wilson, Pasadena and South Pasadena — all areas directly or indirectly affected by the Eaton Fire. The incumbent in District 7 is running unopposed and will not appear on the ballot, according to L.A. County elections officials.
What’s on the agenda for next term
- Budget: The trustees manage a budget of around $240 million. They voted on that amount publicly with only a one-page explanation of how that money would be spent.
- Bond oversight: Pasadena-area voters last approved a bond measure in 2022. Measure PCC brought in $565 million that went toward facility upgrades and modernization. In this election, voters are being asked to green-light a $484 million bond measure to also use toward facility upgrades.
The candidates, District 1
Geoff Baum
Geoff Baum
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Courtesy of Geoff Baum
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Educator, nonprofit executive
Geoff Baum began his career teaching high school English and has since held leadership roles at USC and Claremont McKenna College. He has degrees from Claremont McKenna, USC and Fordham University.
“I have spent my professional career and public service work making education a ladder of opportunity,” he told LAist.
LAist asked: If elected, what are your top priorities? Here are Baum’s responses:
- Keeping education accessible and affordable. “That means looking beyond tuition to the full cost of attending college, including textbooks, transportation, housing and the time students lose when required courses are unavailable. I will work to expand zero-textbook-cost pathways, protect access to financial aid and basic-needs support, and make sure students can get the classes they need to complete a degree, certificate, or transfer on time. Accountability means setting clear goals, tracking student costs and course availability, and publicly reporting whether those efforts help more students stay enrolled and meet their goals.”
- Training the workforce. ”The rebuild after the Eaton Fire will take years, and it will take people. PCC broke ground on a construction trades facility in January 2026. A summer pilot reached nearly 80 high school students in welding, fabrication, electricity and building inspection. We need to expand that capacity and build placement agreements with contractors, hospitals and the building trades. “
- Accountability for taxpayer-funded bonds. “Voters approved $565 million for PCC facilities in 2022, and another bond proposal now stands before them. If taxpayers provide these resources, the board must ensure it spends every dollar as promised. I will insist on strong independent citizen oversight, regular audits and clear public reporting on project budgets, timelines, and results.”
Endorsements:
- Kathryn Barger, L.A. County supervisor
- Full list of endorsements here.
More voter resources:
Francis Pollara
Francis Pollara
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Courtesy of Francis Pollara
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Lavender and Honey Photography
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Businessman / city commissioner
Francis Pollara describes himself as a first-generation American, PCC alumnus, economic development executive and a former entrepreneur-in-residence with the city of Los Angeles.
“PCC has played an important role in my life, and I understand firsthand when a student is given an opportunity, and what it costs when they are underestimated,” he told LAist.
LAist asked: If elected, what are your top priorities? Here are Pollara’s responses:
- Protecting PCC’s long-term financial stability to continue investing in students. “I would strengthen fiscal oversight by closely reviewing finances, major contracts, capital projects and expenditures, while asking whether investments are producing measurable benefits for students. I would expect clear, accessible reporting to the public. Accountability means establishing measurable goals, regularly reviewing progress, and being willing to adjust course when investments or programs are not delivering the intended results.”
- Strengthening PCC’s connection to the workforce so students can move from education into good careers. “I would work to expand apprenticeships, career education, internships and employer partnerships, while strengthening pathways from PCC programs into in-demand careers. I would also look for opportunities to align curriculum with where the economy is headed, including emerging technologies.”
- Expanding pathways to opportunity. “I would strengthen transfer pathways, expand dual enrollment and zero-textbook-cost opportunities, and work to reduce barriers that can slow students down. I would also support stronger advising and partnerships with four-year institutions so students have a clear path forward.”
Endorsements:
- U.S. Rep. Judy Chu
- L.A. County Democratic Party
- Pasadena City College Faculty Association
- Full list of endorsements here.
More voter resources:
The candidates, District 3
Steve Gibson
Incumbent
Steve Gibson did not respond to LAist's request to fill out our candidate survey before our publication deadline.
Here's his candidate website.
David Coher
David Coher
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Courtesy of David Coher
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City boardmember / businessman
David Coher describes himself as a Pasadena resident, professional mediator, community leader, husband and father. He says affordable access and scholarships had the biggest impact on his college education.
“I began at Long Beach City College, which gave me an affordable way to start and build the foundation to transfer to a four-year university,” Coher told LAist. “From there, scholarships opened doors that otherwise might have been out of reach.”
LAist asked: If elected, what are your top priorities? Here are Coher’s responses:
- Ensuring that PCC remains an affordable, accessible pathway to student success. “That means focusing resources on what helps students enroll, persist, complete a degree or certificate, transfer, or enter a good career, while keeping costs manageable. I will support strong academic and career-education programs, reduce barriers to enrollment and completion, and insist on responsible stewardship of taxpayer and student dollars.”
- Responsible fiscal stewardship. “I will bring the same focus on budgets, contracts, risk and accountability that I developed during more than 20 years as an attorney and business leader. I will scrutinize spending, ask whether programs and facilities are delivering results and push for long-term financial planning rather than short-term fixes.”
- Preparing students for good jobs and a rapidly changing economy. “PCC should offer strong pathways both for students transferring to four-year universities and for those pursuing careers through technical and workforce education. I will support partnerships with employers, labor and community organizations so programs reflect real workforce needs, while expanding opportunities in fields such as the skilled trades, healthcare, technology and public safety.”
Endorsements:
- Full list of endorsements here.
More voter resources:
The candidates, District 5
Kristine E. Kwong
Incumbent
Kristine Kwong did not respond to LAist's request to fill out our candidate survey before our publication deadline.
Here is her campaign website.
Jennifer Thompson
Jennifer Thompson
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Courtesy of Jennifer Thompson
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Media marketing executive
Jennifer Thompson describes her and her family as longtime residents of South Pasadena, where they volunteer at their schools, in their parish and “throughout their San Gabriel community.” Thompson is a UC Berkeley graduate who says she spent more than 30 years in media building trusted relationships, solving problems and “helping businesses and organizations connect with the communities they serve.”
“My career taught me the importance of listening, asking questions, collaborating with others, and making informed decisions,” Thompson told LAist.
LAist asked: If elected, what are your top priorities? Here are Thompson’s responses:
- Keep students first. “My first responsibility is to better understand enrollment to understand what students need, what influences their decisions, and how PCC can continue to meet students where they are and remain a strong, relevant institution for the community it serves.”
- Improving infrastructure. “I will ensure taxpayer money is being utilized as intended and strategize on the best way to communicate to our community, whether through a quarterly newsletter update on our progress, or other method to keep our taxpayers apprised and invested in our progress.”
- Good stewardship. “As a trustee, I would take seriously my responsibility to make sure public resources are used wisely and transparently. I would also work to protect and strengthen the college's ability to compete for grants, partnerships, and private support.”
Endorsements:
- LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger
More voter resources:
No election in District 7
Alton Wang
Alton Wang
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Courtesy of Alton Wang
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Incumbent
Alton Wang is running unopposed, and his District 7 seat will not appear on the ballot. Wang has served one term on the board of trustees, including nearly two years as board president. He says he wants to “continue to build on the opportunities that have been afforded to me and my family to ensure that these opportunities are accessible to all students.”
LAist asked: What are your top priorities?
- Continue improving access and opportunity for students. “Whether ensuring that [students] have access to the courses they need to transfer or complete their degrees or to have the support systems and assistance necessary to guide their journeys, I will continue to make progress on this journey by investing in these areas, supporting programs that advance this work, and listen to student needs above all else.”
- Address the aftermath of the Eaton Fire. “During my time as board president, we marshaled resources through our distribution center, providing free meals to residents, providing grants to small businesses, and making space for a disaster recovery center. We are continuing this work by creating new construction trades programs to help train the workforce that will be necessary to rebuild Altadena, by investing in organizations on the ground that are supporting the community, by adding capacity with our paid student leadership program, and much more.”
- Investing in our college facilities to be prepared for the next century. “This looks like modernizing existing buildings, constructing new buildings to help us grow and better deliver student services, and investing in sustainability efforts to decarbonize our campus. I also helped to champion our investment in the eastern part of our District as we begin to construct a new campus in Rosemead, to better serve currently under-served communities to reach their educational goals.”
Endorsements:
- U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, State Sen. Sasha Renee Perez
- Full list of endorsements here.
More voter resources:
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