Five candidates are running for two open seats on the Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees this November. 

On Wednesday, candidates discussed the college’s finances, modernizing facilities and building community relationships during an election forum on campus. 

The two competitive races this election are to represent Area 5 and Area 7, for which representatives Ellen Stoddard and Marsha Croninger decided not to run for new terms. 

The Area 5 candidates are E. Howard Green and Dominique Luján. The Area 7 candidates are Heather McGinnis, Andrea Varon and Oscar Zavala.

Candidates for Area 5

Green, a retired systems analyst, is a longtime student at SBCC. He and his wife moved to Santa Barbara 20 years ago, and he began taking classes 15 years ago to fill his time after her death.

He said he has a valuable perspective for the board, and his business background makes him comfortable with the financial duties of the role.

“When I learned that the current incumbent was not going to run again, that was the trigger,” Green said. “I said, ‘Hey, maybe I can help make a difference’ — with the rest of the board, of course.”

During the forum, Green said he was concerned that faculty pay has not increased enough and that the campus needs to improve the conditions of parking and classroom facilities. 

“We say in Santa Barbara you don’t need air conditioning,” he said. “I think the last few weeks have demonstrated that that isn’t totally true.”

Changes in technology and the job market mean the college needs to anticipate how to help students transition into the workforce, he said. 

Green said he supports classes that help people in the community learn new skills, such as doing their taxes. 

He also highlighted the Intersegmental Cross-Enrollment program, which lets SBCC students take classes at UC Santa Barbara for the same tuition they pay at SBCC.

The other Area 5 candidate is Luján, a full-time returning student who previously worked as a talent scout and event coordinator and now wants to become a therapist.

He also works with the Santa Barbara Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse to support people in recovery.

He said both careers have taught him to problem-solve, work with people from different backgrounds, and support people through tough times.

He said his goal is to expand workforce training opportunities, fund the school of extended learning, create new programs that allow students to earn bachelor’s degrees, and work with the college to expand housing opportunities.

As trustee, Luján said he would advocate for budget decisions based on reliable data and push for faculty pay increases, as Green did. 

He added that the college’s faculty have not received a raise in three years despite rising inflation.

“A truly balanced budget is one that makes sure that its employees are appropriately compensated,” he said.

In regard to facilities and modernization, Luján said students need “safe, accessible, well-maintained spaces and classrooms that prepare them for today’s careers.”

Luján also said he would strengthen relationships with local employers, labor organizations, nonprofit organizations and four-year universities, including UCSB. He said that would help SBCC identify workforce needs and expand internships, hands-on learning and workforce pathways.

Area 7 Race

The candidates in the Area 7 race are McGinnis, Varon and Zavala.

McGinnis was born and raised in Santa Barbara and attended local schools. 

She previously worked as a financial adviser at Morgan Stanley in San Francisco and then at Northwestern Mutual in Honolulu, before becoming a nurse.

McGinnis highlighted her family’s roots in the area and its reputation for giving back to the community, including her grandfather, Robert McGinnis, one of the founders of Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital.

“Both my parents have grown up seeing them serve, and having the opportunity to go to Sacramento,” she said. “One of my biggest takeaways, in which I’ve shared with friends and coworkers, is that no matter what side or what party you belong to, it is important for everyone to get involved and to have a voice.”

McGinnis said her experience as a financial adviser shapes her view of the college’s finances. She said the board needs to ensure that students are taken care of while being transparent with taxpayers to show the college is using the funds responsibly.

On modernizing the school, McGinnis said it comes down to the budget. She also said that when she hears about campus issues, she wonders why the upgrades weren’t already budgeted.

However, she said that during her time canvassing, she has heard less about infrastructure or comfort and more about opportunity. Students have told her that they struggle to get into classes they need, which extends their time at the college.

“The feedback that I’ve heard from canvassing is transparency and budget,” she said. “It’s not about the comforts of the rooms, but it’s about the accessibility of the classes.”

McGinnis also said she wants to help inform the community about the value of SBCC as a resource and a way for students to save money.

Varon is a former educator and sister of Stoddard, the current Area 7 trustee.

During her 43-year career, Varon served as a teacher and school administrator. She also holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education.

Varon highlighted her family’s career in education, including her mother and three sisters. She added that watching Stoddard serve on the board has given her a front-row seat to the collaboration and hard work required.

“This mission matters deeply to me,” Varon said. “I’m running for the Board of Trustees because I believe my decades of experience in education, combined with my commitment to public education, can help SBCC continue to thrive.”

Varon called the budget the most important policy document the Board of Trustees passes every year. She called it a “moral document” that tells students, employees and the community what the college prioritizes and where it’s willing to invest.

Moving forward, she called for more than a balanced budget; she called for a sustainable one. Varon said the board needs to consider that SBCC is in one of the state’s most expensive areas and the toll that the cost of living takes on students, faculty and staff.

She also acknowledged criticism of executive pay raises while faculty and staff continue to seek better pay. She finished by calling for a budget that is transparent and understandable to the community.

Varon added that as trustee, she would strengthen the college’s relationships by working with local businesses and leaders to identify opportunities for new programs and training.

Zavala is a retired SBCC academic counselor.

He credits his family’s love and support with helping him get through school and earn a master’s degree. He says only 3% of Latinos achieved that at the time.

He said he has seen firsthand the importance of education and the doors it opens.

In addition to his career at SBCC, Zavala served as chair of the counseling department at the college and previously worked as a recruiter at UCSB. 

“When I say that I believe in education, that statement comes from my core,” Zavala said. “I identify with students and their struggles and hardships to make a better life for themselves and their families through education.”

Regarding the budget, Zavala said SBCC needs to find a way to turn more part-time students into full-time students to help enrollment and funding. He highlighted the high cost of living and the fact that students are working more to make ends meet.

On facilities and modernization, Zavala said he would like to align with the sustainability and climate action plans outlined by the president’s office, which promote gas emission reductions, renewable energy and green buildings.

“I love the idea of safety,” Zavala said. “A place that’s welcoming and designed for students to learn. So, when I think about a vision for campus facilities and campus modernization, the college is already moving in that direction, and I want to be part of that vision.”

He also highlighted his experience of building relationships, which he called one of his strengths. Zavala said that in his 40 years of living in the Mesa, he has worked closely with the Santa Barbara Mesa Neighborhood Association, Public Works and city officials.