Cuesta College to Fill Vacancy on Board of Trustees

The San Luis Obispo County Community College District Board of Trustees has a vacancy due to the results of the November 2 election. Dr. Sam Blakeslee, a Board member since 1998, has been elected to serve as Assemblyman for the 33rd State Assembly District and has announced his resignation from the Board effective December 5, 2004.

The San Luis Obispo County Community College District (SLOCCCD) can fill the position by either a special election or an appointment. According to the San Luis Obispo County Clerk Recorder’s Office, the cost of a special election is projected at approximately $325,000. This cost and budget constraints make it fiscally prudent for the Board to make an appointment to fill the vacancy until the next regularly scheduled election for the Board in November 2006.

Educational Code Sections 5090-5095 specify requirements for filling a vacancy on the SLOCCCD Board. According to the code, candidates must be residents of the trustee district that they will represent. Blakeslee represented District Area 3 of the San Luis Obispo County Community College District. Applicants for Blakeslee’s position must reside in this District Area 3, which includes much of the City of San Luis Obispo, Avila Beach and parts of Pismo Beach and Grover Beach.

The person appointed to the position should hold the office only until the next regularly scheduled election for members of the Board, at which time the appointee may choose to run for the seat. A provisional appointment confers all powers and duties of a governing board member upon the appointee immediately following his or her appointment. In addition, the code states that the provisional appointment must be made by a public vote of the Board members at a public meeting. Applications will be accepted December 9, 2004 through January 18, 2005. Evaluation of the applicants by the current SLOCCCD Board will occur January 19 and 20, and candidates will be individually interviewed at a special Board meeting on January 25. The special Board meeting will be open to the public.

The current SLOCCCD Board will vote to select the new Board member, who will be given the oath of office by Superintendent/President Marie E. Rosenwasser. It is expected the new Trustee will be seated at the regularly scheduled Board meeting on February 2, 2005.

For more information about the Board vacancy, contact Rosenwasser’s office at ext. 3118.