200-word official ballot statement

By Andy Rytikoff

As a business owner, I know how to manage budgets and business operations, and as a student I have first-hand knowledge of the issues facing our colleges.

As a business owner, I know how to manage budgets and business operations, and as a student I have first-hand knowledge of the issues facing our colleges.

The current economic crisis has created the need for knowledgeable, experienced leaders that are personally involved in the daily life of the colleges they govern, working to help restore our economy by training our future workforce.

Having been a student at ARC, I have personally seen how the financial crisis affects campus life. I've seen the need for the Trustees to be more involved and aware of the issues affecting students. I have observed how lack of Board involvement leads to unwise class cuts, hurting our teachers and students ultimately hindering our economic recovery.

I've also seen how bad choices by the Board in 2009 led to students filing a federal lawsuit against the district simply because they wanted to have votes the administration voided counted in their student elections.

As a trustee, I pledge to be involved in the life of the community colleges I serve. If we fail to provide the best educational training to our students and support our teachers, we fail our community and our future.