Faculty Group Backs Challengers in College Race

By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

June 4 -- Snubbing the remaining incumbent in the race for three College Board seats, a local faculty and teachers’ group announced Thursday it would throw its weight behind two newcomers in November and table a third endorsement.

M. Doug Willis, a rent board member, and Susan Aminoff, a benefits negotiator for LA Community Colleges, beat out three other contenders, including board incumbent Margaret Quinones, who was recently appointed to the powerful California Community Colleges Board of Governors.

The two other incumbents, Annette Shamey and Graham Pope, recently announced they would not seek reelection.

The endorsements come in the wake of a power struggle between college employees and the board, which cut eight vocational programs last year in anticipation of budget shortfalls. The battle culminated in a vote of no-confidence for college President Dr. Piedad F. Robertson and the board.

Quinones’ support of cutting the vocational programs may have been a primary reason why the group -- Santa Monica’s Education Team -- failed to endorse her, said Kelly Hayes-Raitt, the group’s spokesperson.

Formed last month, the team is comprised of the Santa Monica College Faculty Association and the Santa Monica-Malibu Teachers Association.

“Quinones unapologetically voted to cut the programs,” said Hayes-Raitt. “The litmus test here was really who will vote to reinstate the vocational programs.”

Five contenders -- including Bayside District Board member Rob Rader and retired SMC faculty member Charlie Donaldson -- were given questionnaires and interviewed by the group, Hayes-Raitt said. Quinones was the only contender who backed the cuts.

“The endorsements were not meant so much as a slight against the other candidates, but more an issue that Aminoff and Willis were really outstanding,” Hayes-Raitt said.

The group backed only two candidates, she said, because “there’s no reason to make an additional endorsement if the candidates are not really worthy of it.”

Aminoff’s endorsement came as no surprise, since she was recruited by faculty members to run. A self-described progressive, Aminoff will now turn her attention to the race ahead.

“I’ll be meeting with (Willis) soon to see where our areas of commonality are and then intend to run on a joint platform,” said Aminoff, who hopes to bring her mediation skills to the table.

“Two items I find extremely important are the restoration of programs and mediating some of the differences between faculty and administration,” she said. “They may seem polarized on certain points but I’m holding out hope for unity in the future.”

Aminoff, who is also a college professor, said the faculty endorsement would not affect her neutrality in any future mediation.

“I will be seeking the endorsements of other groups and broaden my support, so I don’t think there will be a problem,” she said.