2 The Clackamas Print
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
New candidate
enters race for
board seat
By Brian Baldwin
News Editor
Will there be change in power or will
Clackamas keep a long-time representa­
tive? Voters will decide in May to elect
either student Mario Smith or keep Chuck
Clemans as the community’s representative
from Oregon City.
Smith announced her candidacy for the
Board of Education at the March 9 meet­
ing. She is running against Clemans for the
Zone 4 seat of Oregon City. Papers have
been filed with the county elections office,
and now the race is on to see who will fill
the position for the next four years.
The Clackamas Community College
Board of Education votes on school busi­
ness such as tuition increases, approving
next year’s budget and adopting policy for
the college to follow.
“We establish policy as a board; we
operate as a board, not individual mem­
bers,” said Clemans. “The individual mem­
bers really don't have as much authority or
power than someone off the street. The only
way we can do anything is with an affirma­
tive vote with the majority of the board. We
do a lot to collect information, both for­
mally and informally, and then the outcome
of that happens at our board meetings.”
According to Clemans, the board con­
ducts all business publically with the excep­
tion of executive sessions. Executive ses­
sions typically are for limited topics that the
board cannot discuss in open session, such
as labor negotiations or topics surrounding
a student’s medical files.
Mario Smith is a political science student
at CCC and plans to soon be at Portland
State University. Smith says she is running
to try and end corruption and unethical
behavior that she sees in the current board
as well as end certain events that are hap­
pening in the background of the college.
“The Board of Education currently does
not represent in an ethical manner,” Smith
said. “(An example is) their refusal to
answer public queries during the period of
time in which they were given. They refuse
to give us direct answers at the time. Fiscal
responsibility: it's completely irresponsible
for them to ask for another bond when it's
completely unnecessary for us to need it.”
On Smith’s campaign platform, she men­
tions that she will seek to make Clackamas
a student-centered institution. She hopes to
make the college tuition-free.
Michael Bonn Clackamai
“The mission of the college promises Chuck Clemans is a long-time member on the college’s Board of Educatio
the lowest possible tuition. We're not giv­ He is running for his third term against Mario Smith.
ing that right now. We can run this college
tuition-free; it’s a complete reality that we
Clemans feels that while he may nol
could do this by cutting bloated salaries,” any different than me being involved in the
said Smith. “And that right there gives us community, going to the board of education the personal view of the everyday
all the money we would need to make this meetings and meeting with students and himself, he understands the opcratio^Bii
the college.
Mi
a tuition free college. There wouldn't even organizing this campaign,” she said.
“It’s probably a matter of differeiMio
Smith admits that she isn’t acquainted
need to be student fees.”
Smith believes that this idea will be very with every department but that will come don’t know it from the perspective df 1
unpopular as the teachers’ union receives to her through experience on the board. ting in classes in this institution the 1
She also said that she has several experts a student might. I’m sure I have a gl
higher dues from bigger salaries.
“The higher the salary the more dues advising her on subjects such as how to depth of understanding of this coll
they make, so obviously it’s benefitting make CCC a tuition-free college and that operations but I don't have that pal
them but not the students or the community she will absorb as much information as she lar perspective of sitting day after dfl
classes,” said Clemans.
I
that supports the students and college,” said can from them.
So would that mean that he know sei
“You can't have change by electing the
Smith.
Another way that Smith is going to try same people over and over again,” she problem or need that the college has? ■
“Not necessarily; I learn stuff al A
to cut bloated salaries is to stop allowing said. “This will be (Clemans’) third term,
professors and administrators to double dip. and he's run things in the old school. You time,” he said. “I’m sure that there arena s
“After they have retired and are collect­ can't have change if people have the same out there that haven't been directed ■ V
ing (Public Employees Retirement System) mindset. If you want status quo, you'll elect but I think the big needs, the broad pri
benefits they come back to work at a sub­ Chuck Clemans. If you want change, you're stroke needs, I have a pretty good fell i
And I pride myself in the degree that fl
stantially lowered amount that they’re mak­ going to elect me.”
According to Smith, she is still trying to been able to represent the college It I
ing. But if they are already collecting PERS
■
benefits they don't need to come back and get in contact with Clemans to see if he is legislature.”
One major issue that has been )ta
take a job from someone who really needs willing to participate in a debate to show the
up during the monthly board meet^B
differences between their campaigns.
that job,” said Smith.
Clemans is a former superintendant of community members trying to initial i] 01
Smith feels that she is more than quali­
fied to represent students on the Board of the Oregon City School District and has public dialogue and debate with the U SI
■ It
Education and still be a full-time student served on Clackamas’ Board of Education Clemans disagrees with that.
“We conduct our meetings in tha 1
for the past ten years. His involvement at
herself.
“I’m doing it already, and I’m a straight Clackamas started in the 80s when he was lie, but they are not town hall meetil
‘A’ student. I don’t see how the require­ contacted by the president of CCC. After he the public. There is a big distinction tih
ments of being a board member will be retired from Oregon City, he was recruited We’re there to conduct business of tn
by then-college president John Kaiser for lege. Now the public comments si
the school’s foundation. He came onto the is actually an optional item. I think]
board in 2001 to fill a vacancy and has been are a good idea but by no means are]
reelected for the past eight years. Now he is required. My view of what the publiJq
running for his third term against one of the ments portion of the meeting is fond
get information that we otherwise wl
students he is representing at this college.
I
“I think it’s great! I’m going to beat her, receive,” said Clemans.
“Whether or not someone is a >uid|
but I think she’s going to get some good
experience out of this. Maybe it’ll help get is not a factor; it's qualifications. Di
some of the issues out there. Running unop­ have the qualifications to do it irresn
posed ... is a luxury so having an opponent of what their background is or what tl
outside of being a board member?” I
is fine with me,” said Clemans.
(a
Voting dates to remembel
April 26,2011 - Deadline for voter registration.
April 29,2011 - Local and in-state ballots mailed.
Nathan Sturgess Clackamas Print
Mario Smith (left), a new candidate running against Clemans, visits with
Jenna Schrack, an ASG presidential hopeful. Smith is also a student at CCC.
n Staff
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Clackamas Print
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