>> Call to order the continued resumed meeting of the Pasadena City College Board of Trustees. Let's begin with a role call if we may please, Mrs. Thompson. >>Mr. Thomson. >> Present. >> Mr. Baum. >> Here. >> Mr. Martin. >> Here. >> Ms. Brown. >> Here. >> Dr. Fellow. >> Present. >> Dr. Mann. >> Present. >> Mr. Pack. >> Here. >> May I ask Mr. Martin to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please. >> Gladly. Put your hand over your heart and repeat with me. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [ Pause ] >> The only item we have on our agenda today as everyone I'm sure is quite well aware is the appointment of a trustee from Area 5, discussion with possible action. At our last meeting at the close of it we asked both Ms. Wah and Mr. Weber to be with us today and my proposal for procedure would be to ask both of you to address us for no more than 5 minutes with anything that you would like to have us be aware of and to listen to and consider, then we do have a couple of cards from members of the public and we'll hear them. Anybody else in the public who would like to address us, get a card or a sort of paper from Mary Thompson over here and fill that out and hand it to her and we'll listen to all of you as well and then we will deliberate. So, in terms of a way to decide who would be asked to address us first I was gonna have it pull out of a box. We don't have a box here so if I can use as discretionary as I can let's do it in alphabetical order. I think that means that Ms. Wah precedes Mr. Weber if I've got my alphabet correct. So you may begin if you wish please. We're reminding all--everybody that we have this marvelous machine over here and if it blinks yellow you're getting close to the 5 minutes. When it's red you're at the 5 minutes so please stop and have a seat at that point in time so thank you very much for being here. We really appreciate your presence and your willingness to serve in participation so thank you. >> Well, thank you so much once again for this opportunity to address you. My name is Linda Wah and I'm from Area 5. As I said in the past interview I have been a long time resident of the PCC district but I've been a tenure resident of area 5 which is a community that has undergone a lot of change both demographically but also in terms of their whole educational perspectives. So we have very, very strong educational foundations in those communities. And that is an interest to me. I was approached by NWPC so my nomination was actually solicited by a group that seeks qualified woman candidates and so when I looked at this vacancy I thought it was a great opportunity to be involved in a community issue that is of great importance to me, education. But as I said I'm also a parent of two PCC alumni so it's long been on my horizon of priorities. I am recently retired from the City of Los Angeles. I was an IT manager and I operated at a fairly high level. So I am very familiar with how the boards operate. I'm very familiar with the Brown Act issues that affect the board. I worked with the Department of Water and Powers Board which is an elected or an appointed commission and the Board of Public Works in the City of L.A. As a technology director my whole focus has been to bring innovation and solutions to bear for the benefit of the public, for the City of Los Angeles. And so I worked with a lot of the captains of industry. I worked with public, private enterprise to help the City of L.A. And as a retired person 3 years ago I've--well, I've always worked on boards for the last 30 years. I've always served on boards. I now have more time to serve on boards. And I'm very--I've really been very selective and I really want to work on boards where I think that my experience and my professional skills will contribute so I don't--well, I don't want to be just serve on board just for the sake of being involved in the community. I really want to make an impact on that community. I come from a very diverse background, I guess, a relatively diverse background. I was born here in Southern California, I'm Chinese-American but I studied at an international university. I grew up on the border of Mexico so I speak Spanish and I actually was a translator for the L.A. County Schools for many years helping them in their diagnostic team. I hope I've done some outreach to the communities when I decided to run for this position and I think that I can--I will fairly represent the Area 5 and their issues and their needs so thank you very much for your time on this. >> Good. Well, thank you very much. We will not engage any questions with you at this point so we will turn to Mr. Weber and let him make his comments and then we will go to the audience. Thank you, Linda. [ Pause ] >> Good afternoon. >> Welcome and again, same comments to you. We appreciate your willingness to serve in this important role and we recognize the commitment you'll be making and appreciate you being with us this afternoon and we will again be delighted to listen to what you have to say to us and take that into careful considerations. >> Thank you. To me this situation appears not to be a competition between me and Mrs. Wah but one of a competition among the personal positions of the board members and I recognize why that happens. You see that didn't come as a promise to me. I think the most important challenge facing the board today is the success of Dr. Mark Rocha. My experience in close relationship and the support of both Jack Scott and Jim Kossler puts me in a position to I believe bring a valuable perspective to the new president and to support him. The board is expected to face some new and unexpected challenges in the facilities and plant areas. And I think my experience puts me in good stead to help you in those areas. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. Again as I said we will not engage in questions but we'll go to the audience now and then after the audience has completed the comments we will deliberate further. One thing I wanna--well let me just first now ask Mary to clarify a couple of points. The first card I have is from Edward Martinez, PCC Academic Science. [ Pause ] >> Good afternoon board members. >> Good afternoon. >> First I wanted to thank you for inviting me to speak to you last Wednesday evening and I'm sorry that I was not prepared at that time to comment on the candidates but I have since consulted with the executive committee of the academic senate and so I have a statement that I will read to you. On behalf of the faculty of Pasadena City College the executive committee of the academic senate would like to express its position on the issue of the vacancy in the Area 5 trusteeship position. It is now clear that an impasse has been reached by the board members in selecting between candidates Warren Weber and Linda Wah, both of whom have our gratitude and admiration for volunteering to serve. The following three positions have the endorsement of the faculty. Number one, we wish to express our strong opposition to either calling for a special election in Area 5 or in permitting the situation to default to holding a special election as compelled by state law. We applaud the position taken by trustee John Martin who pointed out that the special election would cost the district the equivalent of 25 sections of English 1A. Like Trustee Martin we firmly advocate that our resources be used for education, not for politics. We applaud a position that clearly and forcefully puts education first. Number two, it is evident that this discussion is of a clinical nature. We have heard good arguments in favor of both candidates. Because this decision is indeed of a political nature and because no candidate is perfect some risk is inevitable therefore, the question from our perspective is which risk is more palatable. We agree that Mr. Weber could bring stability to the board but we believe that Ms. Wah brings the greater potential for forward movement for the college because of her familiarity with educational and governmental issues and most especially because of her familiarity with technical--excuse me, technological innovation. She is clearly in tuned with the citizenry of South Pasadena, San Marino and Temple City. We strongly advocate for her appointment to the board. And number three, in the event that a stale mate persists in choosing between these two candidates we advocate the board choose among the three other candidates who express an interest in serving. Thank you. >> The next I have is from Kris Pilon. >> Pilon. >> Pilon, I'm very sorry if I mispronounced your name. >> Hi. I'm Kris Pilon, I teach in the Division of Engineering Technology and I just found out about this issue yesterday at a faculty meeting. I e-mailed each one of you after speaking with a number of colleagues as many people as I could get a hold of yesterday evening. And our position is that the most important challenge facing the board is the continuing success of the students on this campus and in order to achieve that the faculty is looking for a lot of support from the board that it does not feel like it's been getting and I think we need to look forward. I think everyone appreciates Mr. Weber's experience and what he has done in the past but it's a new school. There are new students all the time. There are new challenges. We need to look for someone who is prepared to move everything forward, the college, the board, the mission, the programs, the funding, everything. So, that's the position of myself and many of my colleagues. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Marguerite Cooper. [ Pause ] >> Thank you for letting me speak to you because I'm the guilty party who've recruited Linda Wah to run for this. I don't think that it was anything that was--that she had been thinking about over the breakfast table. I'm with the National Women's Political Caucus. I'm with the national board, the state board and in the local board and what we do is we look for well-qualified women to serve at all levels of government so when we heard about this vacancy we thought about all the women that we knew and I personally have worked with Linda in various community organizations and community activities and political activities and she not only--I mean her resume will blow you away, you know it because you've seen, not only in terms of what she's done professionally but what she's done as a volunteer at the community level. I mean that's really something. But the experience that I have with Linda as a person is that she is a really remarkable leader and she's also a very remarkable team player and I think that you will enjoy working with her whether in this position or any other in the future, thank you. >> The next I have is from Meredith McKenzie. >> Good afternoon. Thank you so much for letting me address you this afternoon. I'm a Pasadena resident and I'm also adjunct professional at Cal Poly Pomona. And I'm speaking to you both as a person who has worked with your students a lot and also as an academic although not at this institution. I'm speaking in support of Linda Wah for the following reasons. I think that the greatest challenge that we're facing in public education of the state and I face it myself at a different campus is how we're gonna move forward in the age of new technology in preparing young people for the reality of what the world is like today. And with all due respect to all of us sitting here including myself, I am a dinosaur compared to how young people have and must be equipped to work in the work world. And the focus I think for all of us is on how we are gonna best address our students. More importantly and maybe equally as importantly is the fact that when we reach times in our lives in making decisions and I have sat on many governing boards. I'm the past president of Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce as well as other institutions that there are times where when two candidates are equally qualified and a split happens that we have to put our personal feelings aside and really go to what I call the higher standard. And I think the higher standard first of all is what's best for the students and I think the second part of the higher standard is which person reflects best the character--the characteristics, the demographics of the community to be served. And I think in this case that Linda Wah is the choice because first of all when you look at District 5 I believe that not only professionally but in terms of the demographic composition of the community these days that she more than aptly represents the direction of those neighborhoods and what the needs are in the neighborhoods and I think that that's an important role for a trustee. But just as importantly that when you look at the demographics of this campus and when you look at the fact that the majority of the faculty and the majority of the students here are female or women that I think it also dictates that there must be better parity at the board level so that all needs are taken into account as we go through these very challenged and difficult times. Finally, I believe her professional work is interfacing with the business community and the private sector is vital. As you move forward to a time where business as usual in the academic community is no longer gonna be able to happen and we all know that. We're facing it everyday and I believe over the next 3 to 5 years the challenges will be even greater. Thank you so much and again, I speak in support of Linda Wah. >> Thank you very much. If there are no other cards to be received I would ask Mary Dowell to give us a couple of pieces of legal advice that she has investigated and learned I think since our last gathering. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Thomson, members of board, Dr. Rocha. The first bit of research that I did was prompted by a question that Trustee Baum put to me on Wednesday night and I'm indebted to Ms. Thompson who provided me with the copy of the letter that came to the college from the County Office of Education once it was clear that there was a vacancy on the board here providing the board with notice of the deadline by which it needed to make the decision to appoint successor trustee. And the deadline that the County Office of Education did establish was September 22nd which as we've discussed on Wednesday night is next Wednesday. But Trustee Baum's question about whether that was a correct data or not caused me to go back and count the days on the calendar too. And I believe that trustee Baum's point was well taken. I believe that the 60th day following the effective date of Dr. Bradbury Huang's resignation is Monday September 20th. Ms. Thompson has checked with the County Office of Education, County Office of Education stands by its calculation of September 22nd and advices that if anybody has problem they should call the County Office of Education. But I counted it three times and Trustee Baum's math and his point that there are 31 days in July and August I believe is right and so I want to alert the board that I believe your deadline is Monday and therefore this is not a decision that you have a lot of time left to make. So that was point number 1. The second matter that I undertook to check and I had to do some research to satisfy myself if this was correct, I believe the county office is correct in saying that if the board cannot or chooses not to make an appointment and it becomes necessary for the county superintendent to call a special election that election will not occur until March 2011. And I'm not sure that that was necessary clear to the members of the board. There are specific provisions in both the education code and in the elections code relating to when elections occur. And the board's own bylaws establish that its elections occur on a particular schedule in odd numbered years and establish the rhythm if you will for elections of trustees. And so for an election, under the Education Code a special election to select a successor trustee must occur on the next regularly scheduled election date that is at least 130 days from the date that the election is called. If the election is called on Tuesday, September 21st as I believe that it would have to be then it will not be able to be consolidated with the November general election because that is too soon so it will have to wait until the primary election in March 2011. Are there any questions from any members of the board? >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. >> Appreciate the important information. So now we are back to deliberating if there's no one else in the audience that wishes to address this and-- >> Mr. Thomson I really hate to ask this but as some of you know I'm recovering from a very serious illness and I would like about 3-minute break 'cause I would like to have the poll deliberation. Could we just break 3 minutes? >> Sure, certainly. >> Sorry. [ Short Break ] >> Okay, we're back in session and I will turn to the board for any discussion or vote whichever people may think is the next focus we have to take here. Geoff? Mr. Baum? >> I just want to make a quick statement. First off I wanna thank Marguerite Cooper for her efforts to recruit good candidates. We are very pleased to have this level of attention and engagement in PCC and we don't always have a level of involvement in our board elections. And often people are running without either no candidates or one candidate and so it's so important to keep people engaged and find good people like Ms. Wah to be willing to go through a process. It's already gotten attention in the newspaper and places like that so thank you so much and I appreciate that. When I'm looking at this and we have such a good pool of candidates to review the one thing that my constituent, the member of the faculty, Professor Pilon mentioned is the focus on the students and the students should be first. And for me what's most important to support students is to make sure there's a strong institution. We--Dr. Rocha keeps pointing out we're approaching our 90th anniversary of establishment as an organization serving this community at PCC so 90 years. There's something about that has allowed this institution to thrive for 90 years and I would argue it is strong leadership that has contributed that legacy by excellence. Wednesday night we saw three great former presidents of PCC. We had Dr. Scott, Jim Kossler, Lisa Sugimoto. And my job then as a trustee to make sure that that institution will continue to thrive for the next 90 years and continue to serve students is to make sure our current leader has all the tools he needs to succeed. That we are marshaling all the resources and all the support of the community and providing him the support and the guidance that he will need to succeed because if he doesn't succeed, none of us succeed. We all know in recent memory what happens when we don't have a successful president. We as a trustee, my primary responsibility is to make sure our CEO succeeds. And so as I look at the candidates I'm looking and will cast my vote based on who is going to be among the current pool, who is most able to make sure Dr. Rocha will be a successful president and that's what will govern the vote that I make. >> Other comments or--Dr. Mann? >> Yes. I wanna make a couple of comments. I support what Mr. Baum said that the best way to serve the students is to have the strongest possible college. And last Wednesday when we were here I had a conversation with Dr. Scott and he reminded me as I've heard him say many times before. Dr. Scott was recruited by a head hunter to come to this college. He had been a college--a president in a college where there was a chancellor and he was ready to move up. After he came here and was interviewed and was just trying to decide whether or not he wanted to accept the offer and he has said this publically, I don't think, I'm not telling stories out of school. He talked with John Casey who was then the president of the college, a very successful college president at the end of his career, and asked him if they had a good board. And John Casey assured him that there was a good board and Dr. Scott said if he had not said we had a good board I would not have come because I was going to wait and go to a college and be a president where there was a good board. >> And he said I think the reason why we were able to do as much as we did to you know, develop the first master plan in the state for the community colleges to do the 100 dollar--100,000 million dollar first step of renovating the campus, all those things he said happened because I had a very strong board. Now, that is one of the reasons why I am going to vote for Mr. Weber. Mr. Weber is a very experienced, very qualified, very competent board member. The other reason has to do with the story that was in the paper today which I hope you all saw by Larry Wilson, and I had until today when the story appeared, I had received two or three e-mail and they all have been from faculty on the campus and they all supported Ms. Wah. And because I don't think anyone else but the faculty was aware that this was going on although we post it, not a whole lot of the people at least in my district spend a lot of time reading the college's website unless they're trying to find a class or a member of their family. And the people who have contacted me from my district were my constituents to whom I answer said to a person why if you have a chance to have an experienced person as Mr. Wilson indicate in his column, why wouldn't you go with that? Why would you, no matter how well qualified someone else is, why would you want to appoint someone who would have a fast learning curve. And I listened very carefully. I talked with him for this a little further and I guess what I'm trying to say, this is a very, very, very difficult thing for me. I am not only a member of the NWPC, when I first ran with this board I was recruited by the NWPC as was Mrs. Mealey. They've given me money anytime I run for anything. They've been extremely supportive. I've nothing but the greatest respect and administration for Ms. Wah but I actually think for the next 14 months what we need is someone who can support our president. And I forgot I've got a third point. It's not gonna be very long and that I'm going to make it. I don't think that--you know, the board does not usually wanna go around saying well, the college is facing a really serious problem. But I wanna talk a minute about accreditation. As all of you know we are--or some of you know, the [inaudible] of college should know when we--there are self study for the first time we received a warning. Now we had several months to prepare a report which would show that their deficiency identified by the Accreditation Commission visiting the site team had been corrected. But the report that we prepared and the visit did not satisfy the site team. Now we have 18 months from the time this warning was issued to completely address all of these issues or we have to go on probation. One of the things that's going on in the state is that the many, many community colleges feel like the Accreditation Commission is coming very much too strongly on the colleges. But the reason for this and I've been assured by people who are in Washington D.C. and heard these hearings was the Department of Education called the head of our Accreditation Association and read her the right act because in California deficiencies were identified and they were not made to be corrected within 18 months. In other words, a college would not go on probation. That did not happen to us but it was happening all over the state. And the word simply was that you know, the Department of Education is not gonna take this anymore. You need to get in there. You need to correct these deficiencies in 18 months. So in order to do this we not only need a president who can write a report which I know Dr. Rocha who writes very well as a former English professor can but we need a president who can implement all the things that the team identified. The 5 or 6 or what it was, 7, so when they come back in the spring they can see that we've actually done this. This is the most important thing in my view facing the college, our accreditation to serve the students, we have to be accredited and that to me is the most important thing. I think that with those circumstances such as this where the college is potentially facing, going on to probation with accreditation that we need an experienced person who can support the president and we need a person that Dr. Rocha does not have to spend 13 seconds on orienting. And anyone, no matter how well qualified they are, no matter how smart they are when they come into a completely new situation, particularly something as complicated and complex as a community college, does require some time if they're going to be effective. So those are three reasons why I'm gonna vote for Mr. Weber. >> May I say something? >> Ms. Brown. >> Sure. >> Okay, a couple of things. Just to piggyback in Dr. Jeanette Mann, accreditation. Well, I think, I know that three of the greatest challenges that our school have for this year was one, getting a president which we have; two, getting off of probation; and three our budget. Those are our three biggest tasks. Now let me talk a little bit about accreditation. I served, where I worked at the county hospital I was in charge of accreditation for mammography for the last 10 years. I understand the process very well. I also understand that selecting Mr. Weber or selecting Ms. Wah is not gonna change the process. We have in place a very competent president which is very familiar with accreditation. So the accreditation issue is really not a void issue. The only part of accreditation issue that becomes our part is to ensure that all the I's are dotted and the T's are done. That's it. So that being said, our president, Superintendent Rocha, is well experienced with accreditation and we will do what--the process staff has worked for the last 6 months. They have their processes in order. He has been through this more than once so that's handled. I don't believe that it is in the best interest for us to select Mr. Weber not because Mr. Weber is a bad person. He's an excellent person. I understand that when he was defeated by Hillary Huang he came to her inauguration. He's a good man, he's special. It's not that I have anything about--against Mr. Weaver and really I haven't read too much about him because the resume that he presented was not--did not give me a lot of information. I know more about Ms. Huang right now than I do about him. All I know is what my colleagues have told me. So, that been said we need a strong leader? Absolutely! The board, the role of the board is for policy. The policy is what our goal is. We help formulate and implement policies. We do not do procedures and this is something where we're getting a leader over the line. How? I keep asking myself all day yesterday. How one new trustee can impact the whole process? We have a strong board. We have a strong dedicated board. So the issue here at hand is just two points of view. Should we keep business as usual or should we bring innovation? That's really what the issue is because we have definitely found out that they're both well-qualified. So this is the reason why I believe it's time. It would be so beautiful. It's my dream which probably will come through that we practice what we preach. We have and I think it was clearly said by the lady over there that the demographic of the school, the challenges that face the school, we need to go forward and this is the reason why I think in choosing Ms. Ann--Linda Wah would be the right choice for the school. Thank you. >> Other comments. >> [Inaudible] First of all, President Rocha is an outstanding writer and we read his application, I'm still impressed with that. Secondly, I think Mr. Weber is an outstanding person. If he comes on this board I look forward to serving with him but what drives me? I'm no liberal, I'm very conservative, moderate but I'm very dedicated to diversity I'm very dedicated to women rising in the workforce. >> And if you look at my background as an editor, as an administrator of the university, I have promoted more women, hired more women and more women of color when I can do that. And second thing is diversity is very important. We are supposed to reflect the Pasadena community, look at this board. It doesn't do that. And that's what drives me also. And I think Ms. Wah is very--I've never met you in my life, we only sat alone once but I know I'm impressed with that. I learned more about you today about technology. I think you could be a great force here. But I think these are both great candidates but right now I think Ms. Wah, and in the emails I've received say she would present a new vision and a new direction for PCC. Thank you. >> Anyone else, Mr. Pack? >> So first again, like it wasn't clear from yesterday's discussion. I think the whole board was very impressive, both of the candidates so on and so forth. I don't wanna spend a lot of time there. Just frame my remarks in that regard. I think I'm really glad that Ms. Brown brought up the point of the comparison on resumes because I think that also carries over to the idea of the interview. When I took yesterday the two candidates to the Associated Students Executive Board and show them the resumes, we talked a little bit about the interview process and so on. I think that Mr. Weber's experience is tremendous, it's incredible. There is a lot of history there and so on. I do think though that I don't feel like I know him any better after reading his resume than if I saw him in passing on the street except that he served on the board for a very long time. I think when you look at the two resumes there is a tremendous amount of effort and energy that Ms. Wah put into her resume to help us get to know her better. I think that also carried across really well in her interview. And so I'm a little bit troubled by the idea of a reliance on experience and board members who have served for a long time advocating for a candidate as opposed to a resume and an interview that speaks for itself. I think that a lot of the discussion on the candidates hasn't really brought that up but I just wanted to bring that point forward. I think that Ms. Wah's energy and enthusiasm is obvious from both her resume and her interview. The other thing that I wanted to say too is that if I'm not mistaken on this discussion of accreditation, there is only one candidate out of all of them that mentioned accreditation even briefly in their interviews. And if I'm not mistaken that was Ms. Wah when we were asked what the challenges that the college would face where I would have to listen to the audio cast again but again, like on accreditation, as far as I know she was the only one that was even cognizant of that based on the interview and the resume which again is all I have to go off of. The other thing that I was gonna say is on this discussion I'd like the strongest possible college. I think that I agree that we have to do that. But I suppose I have a different perspective coming from the student background. I think that building the strongest possible college of course is going to involve a candidate that supports our president. I don't see that one candidate is necessarily more qualified to support the president whatever that may manifest itself as in the other. I think that building the strongest possible college necessarily does include diverse opinions and perspectives on innovation. And for me most importantly as a student, a thorough understanding of what students need. And Ms. Wah again from all of the candidates I think demonstrated the most thorough understanding of what students from her district needed. She cited specific statistics about what high school students needed who are coming to PCC, transfer rates and so on that I didn't hear from any other candidate in any of the interviews. And I think that her understanding and obvious interest in the needs of students in her area compels me, obligates me to advocate for her because she really hands down I think represented the students of her area the best, not to mention her tremendous involvement with the community there. So again, I think having had time to reflect on this whole discussion. I still do believe that for the strongest possible college, for the best interest of the students that Linda Wah is our best candidate. >> Other comments? >> I had one thing that I forgot, I'm sorry. And we're talking about building or supporting our president. Well, we've heard the voice of the senate. We've heard the voice of the students and we've heard quite a massive voice. The success of any CEO as quiet as it's kept is the people that he's working with. If we have a student body, a faculty body that is unhappy, I'm not sure if God came down he would succeed because they will give him living hell. [ Laughter ] [ Inaudible Remark ] >> Probably they'd give the board hell in that instance, not the president. [ Laughter ] >> Both. [ Laughter ] >> That's a point of fact that actually happened once. [ Laughter ] [ Inaudible Remark ] >> Two years ago, however. >> Okay, a little while ago, yeah. [ Inaudible Remark ] >> Other comments or recommend-- >> I don't wanna speak too much, take up too much time but one of the things I did want to say was when I referred to the people who were contacting me after seeing the story in the paper. I just wanted to reiterate a point that Mr. Weber made. He was the only one who made this and to me that is because of his experience. But this is a public college, this is not a private university. Trustees are elected, publically elected officials. This is not the CSU or the UC. We're not appointed by the governor. Our constituents are the people who live in this district who elect us, not the students, not the faculty, not the staff, not the governor, not the board of governors, it's the people in the district. So when the people in my district started calling me and saying what's going on, I listened to that. All the emails that I received only one person is from the faculty, only one person actually lives in the district. So I think there are some times and I agree if you have the faculty and the students do not like the president. That's one thing but I don't think we're talking about the president. We're talking about the board here. And I think sometimes people think that the board's constituents are the people at the college but that's not who our constituents are and that's not who we serve. That's why when the story appeared in the paper today and when people started calling me, I listened very, very carefully to what they were telling me. >> Mr. Martin. >> I'm not gonna comment. I figured if you and I both don't comment, there will be a little suspense when we do the vote. [ Laughter ] [ Inaudible Remark ] >> I just wanna say one thing. I already stated a position earlier too. I wanna just address the issue of diversity. One of the things I'm most proud about this college is that this college is emblematic of diversity. Diversity is woven into the fabric of this institution from Jackie Robinson on. And we as a board including current and former board members have actually cultivated and fostered the community that encourages, supports and celebrates diversity from our academic offerings, from the funding we make available for student extracurricular and co-curricular programs to the way we interact with the community. And so that is the aspect of diversity that I am proud of continuing to promote. Do we--one of the other things I was most proud of is that in our selection process for our new president we went through a very rigorous process and not once did somebody say, "Pick this individual because he or she represents a certain aspect of diversity." It was because he was the best candidate above and beyond all the other candidates we were considering. That's the type of also the success of a community that has diversity at its core. And so I think it's great to recognize and celebrate and encourage diversity but when it comes to the decisions that we're making, that is not the primary reason I think should be made for a selection. >> I have a question to Mr. Pack. Did the Associated Students take--as a body take a position? >> If you would like us to read the position I've just got an email to me from Jamie. The Associated Students are actually meeting right now to discuss the student service fund but they did also pass a resolution on this probably just about 5 minutes ago. >> So what is it? >> What did they say? >> Do you want me to bring Jamie in? She is literally next door. She can read it or I can read it. >> Just read it, you have it. >> Just read it. >> It probably comes down to a name. >> Probably, probably. [ Laughter ] >> You read the resolution. >> Let me make sure I can--I'm used to a Blackberry. I'm still getting used to the iPhone email system. I do know that the Associated Students took a position. We talked about it on the 3-minute break. They were still just trying to tweak the wording so that we would be able to-- >> Why don't you get Jamie and maybe [simultaneous talking]. [ Laughter ] >> This is not a good endorsement for the iPhone. [ Laughter ] >> We'll wait 2 minutes while you do that if she is right next door. [ Pause ] >> Okay. We're back in session here. Ms. Hammond representing the Associated Students. >> I thank you. Please forgive me. I'm out of breath 'cause I just run downstairs to go get this printed. But we just took a stand on this issue and what we voted on was this, excuse me. It is the recommendation of the Associated Students of Pasadena City College to endorse Linda Wah as the board of trustee's representative from District 5. The students believe that Linda would bring a fresh perspective to the PCC community. Her resume reflects her involvement in community, excuse me, and a more thorough perspective--wait--resume reflects her involvement in community and a more thorough understanding of the needs of students. Her obligation is much more conscientious and respectful of the process and presents a well-rounded individual. She has board experience and sensitivity to current and timely issues which affect both students and the community at large. Furthermore, the addition of Linda to the board of trustees would provide a broader diversity of perspectives that will strengthen the ability of the board to fairly represent, yeah, fairly represent the expansive array of students who attend this institution. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Sorry to put you through so much effort. >> Teach him how to use his iPhone. [ Laughter ] >> That may be a bigger challenge that she's up to. [ Laughter ] >> Okay. Anything else, any other comments before we take a vote here? I'm not gonna violate Mr. Martin's hope but I do wanna say just one thing that I think I would disagree a little bit with Dr. Mann only in the sense that I think while we represent the constituents of our geographic districts or areas that elect us, I do think we represent the entire college as well and I think it's our obligation in making this decision as in all of our decisions to keep the best interest of the college clearly in our minds 'cause I'm sure we do. And so I just wanted to express that, that point of view of myself. Anything else? We should get a ballot and see where we are. >> I'm sorry but as an English professor I can't let this one go. I don't think we represent the college. I think we serve the college. We represent our constituents. >> We may represent them or we may serve them. The fact of the matter is it is our obligation to the college to do the best in this decision as in every decision we make so, Mr. Pack is there anything else? >> I was just--an earlier comment that I was gonna make on that notice that I understand coming from each district and my position on the board obviously is to represent the students which I would point out. The student population transcends all districts. We have students from each district hence their existence. And so I think it is our job in this instance as a board while we of course have to represent the interest of our district again to represent the college as well or serve or whatever word we choose. >> Mr. Baum. >> And then I just will say getting all the feedback is very helpful. It's helpful to hear from the faculties, it's helpful to hear from the students. But then the board itself must make the decision. If we were to have followed what the students asked us to do in May or what the faculty asked us to do in May, we wouldn't have the president that we have today. And so sometimes the board makes a decision based on what it thinks is the best for the institution. [ Inaudible Remark ] >> Yes. >> Yeah, if I may comment on that really quickly. My understanding is that and perhaps Ed Martinez can enlighten us, but I don't think the academic senate ever took a stance on that issue. I believe that perhaps the faculty association, some of them, may have endorsed a position on that issue. But I think an endorsement of the academic senate is very different than a few faculty members being very loud, one. And then also I completely understand this perspective on what the students were asking for. I would just say that the student board has at least attempted to have a very thorough dialogue on this. We're presented with the resumes and information on the interview process. And also--I'll just stop there actually. >> Okay. Let's get the ballots and see where this goes. [ Inaudible Discussions ] [ Noise ] >> I'm ready. [ Inaudible Discussions ] [ Noise ] >> Okay, and I can't quite get to 3, yeah. >> Mr. Martin, are you ready? >> I'm ready. >> Dr. Fellow, Linda Wah. Mr. Pack, Linda Wah. Mr. Thomson, Linda Wah. Ms. Brown, Linda Wah. Dr. Mann, Warren Weber. Mr. Martin, Warren Weber. And Mr. Baum, Warren Weber. Things have not changed. [ Noise ] >> Okay, yeah. >> Aren't you gonna let the clerk report? >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Advisory vote from Linda Wah and 3 votes for Linda Wah and 3 votes for Warren Weber. >> I guess one thing I would certainly wanna emphasize is that we were told by counsel today that if we don't make a decision, the election will take place in March of next year. That means we will be here for 6 months without a representative of Area 5 on the board. I don't think that's a good situation. The second of course is that we will spend 300,000 dollars, give or take of it, for the election. The third thing is that then whoever wins that election March of next year will get to join the privilege of turning right around and running for reelection. So I think this log jam is not a good position for us to be in. So somehow it would be my hope that we would reach some compromise. One thing I guess we might give some thought to would be to just unofficially find out from each board member who would be his or her second choice. I don't know whether that would have any meaningful input or whatever else. But somehow I really feel very, very strong we have to get pass this. And also that's--I would I guess pause at that particular moment. >> If I can just comment really quickly, I think I would welcome that approach because it's different than what we've been doing. And if I'm not mistaken, someone defined insanity as doing the same thing over and expecting a different result. So I think that in the interest of perhaps moving forward, I'm finding a compromise or something that I would welcome that. >> I think that's a good idea and we don't have to ballot. I think we could just--I think it would be okay for us just going around and saying our second choice. >> However you wish to do it, it would not have any binding effect. It just would be information that we would have-- [ Inaudible Remark ] [ Laughter ] >> There's no problem our-- >> It wouldn't hurt to pick a color and call it unofficial. And again, would afford everybody the opportunity to simultaneously without-- >> Let's do that [inaudible]. >> It's unofficial just--and--so we're all voting for number 2, right? >> Number 2. >> Yeah. I mean it's just this information we may as well get out because I really, as I said, feel very, very strongly that we have to come to a decision and this would be I think the height of absurdity and negligence if we don't. [ Inaudible Remarks ] >> So my question, this is a poll not a vote. >> Yes, right, exactly. >> And are you--are all five candidates still on the ballot or only three candidates on the ballot? >> What? [ Inaudible Remark ] >> I'm not sure, three. But-- >> Are we considering all five candidates, are we considering just three candidates? >> We consider all five candidates. >> All five. >> We interviewed all five. >> Right. But I'm just saying the three that haven't. >> I think we should consider the five [simultaneous talking]. >> All five would be included as part of this. [ Inaudible Discussions ] >> Yeah, so they're all five, looking at all of them. [ Noise ] [ Inaudible Remark ] >> Okay. So I need clarification, okay. So what we're doing is exactly what? >> It's just the information, call it unofficial poll or whatever else that if for some reason our first choice is not gonna fly, who would be our second choice. It may be information that's totally useless to us or it may be something that's brilliant and we'll say, "aha." [ Noise ] [ Inaudible Discussions ] >> [Inaudible] write these down. This is gonna mess me up. >> Then you're gonna have to go slowly this time. [ Laughter ] [ Noise ] [ Inaudible Discussions ] >> Okay. Mr. Pack has indicated that he's actually taking a step further and said number 1, Linda Wah, number 2, Adam Murray, number 3, Melinda Hsia. >> We're only looking at number 2. >> It's okay. >> Dr. Fellow has said number 2 would be Warren Weber. Mr. Thomson has said number 2 would be Benjamin Figueroa. Ms. Brown has said number 2 would be Benjamin Figueroa. Dr. Mann has said number 2 would be Linda Wah. Mr. Martin has said number 2 would be Benjamin Figueroa and Mr. Baum has said number 2 would be Benjamin Figueroa. >> Okay. So in the number 2 votes, there would be 4 for Ben Figueroa, an advisory vote for Adam Murray, 1 for Linda Wah, 1 for Warren Weber. >> What? >> Warren Weaver. >> I don't know where that leaves us but it's more information. [ Laughter ] >> That we can now give some thought to but I guess, let me say the following. Again, I have to and want to begin by expressing a very profound appreciation to all 5 candidates particularly to Mr. Weber and to Ms. Wah for their willingness to do this and enduring this type of experience. I'm sure is not what either of you envisioned especially for a Friday afternoon in beautiful Southern California. But we have an obligation as a board to come together and make a decision here. And it means somewhere along the line somebody is gonna have to give somehow because I think it will be the height of absurdity and irresponsibility if we force the school to pay that kind of money for election, sit here for 6 months without somebody representing Area 5. And elects--have someone elected, turn right around and get to run for reelection. I don't think that's responsibility and I don't think we wanna be seen as doing that. We will quite rightly get blasted by the campus constituencies, by the public at large and I don't wanna be a part of that. Having said that, I do find it instructive at least to recognize that we are in a position where we have heard the voice of the students, we've heard the voice of the academic senate, we've heard the voice of others on the faculty and on campus. And I understand that that's not the constituency that we represent in the sense of our electorate. But I do think that constituency needs to be listened to and listened to very carefully and given a good deal of weight. And so it would be my hope that we can step back, take a deep breath, reflect on this and move past where we are right now. And come to a decision on a candidate or a person rather to represent Area 5 on this board. It is now 3:20 almost in the afternoon on a Friday or 3:15 and I would hope that we could go 1 more ballot and find 4 votes to get behind a person and move forward. It would still be my personal recommendation that we go with Ms. Wah because of the reasons I've given. I just think that's what the campus is telling us. We need to do our best to have this campus pulled together and work in unity and I think the way to do that and get ourselves unified with them is to go in that direction, so. >> Mister-- >> Dr. Mann. >> Mr. Thomson, I'm very sorry but I'm going to have to ask for--could we have like a 5-minute break this time? >> Sure, yes. >> And then we can all maybe cogitate maybe 10 minutes, or 5 or 10 minutes to think about what-- >> Okay. Alright. >> I do wanna just mention one point. I was in a situation like this many years ago on a city council and that I've voted to go to election and I do regret that because the person who we were gonna appoint or the majority wanted to--I should say it was equal--did win that election and he and I became the best of friends. I was not for him but we work very good together so I'm really not for the election. >> We'll take a 5-minute break and regroup. >> Yeah. >> May I ask the board members to-- >> Get what? >> Can you just return to their seats please? [ Inaudible Discussions ] >> I shouldn't say no one can control you but I will get down on my knees-- [ Laughter ] >> He's a very close friend. >> They're neighbors actually [inaudible]. >> Yeah. >> Who? >> In San Marino. Linda and Warren. >> Okay. We prepared to have another attempt to have those to see if we-- >> Yup, let's do it again. >> Yes. >> Sure. >> Let's try to vote then. >> That's proof we're insane, Mr. Pack. [ Laughter ] >> I have faith that we will. [ Laughter ] >> I'd be an optimist, Nolan. [ Inaudible Discussions ] [ Laughter ] >> This is ballot number 7. [ Noise ] [ Inaudible Discussions ] [ Noise ] >> Okay, here we are. Mr. Thomson, Linda Wah. Dr. Fellow, Linda Wah. Mr. Pack, Linda Wah. Mr. Martin, Warren Weber. Dr. Mann, Warren Weber. Ms. Brown, Linda Wah. And Mr. Baum, Warren Weber. >> Advisory vote for Linda Wah and 3 votes for Linda Wah, and 3 votes for Warren Weber. >> Alright, what is the pleasure of the board? >> Just a very brief one this time. >> Okay. We'll recess for this time no more than 5 minutes because it's gonna Friday evening soon. >> Okay, we're back in session here and is there anything further to be said by either the candidates or any of us? >> I'll just say one thing. Whichever candidate prevails, either the two here or one of the others, I do look forward to working together as a board in making decisions in the best interest of the district and whoever ultimately prevails, if we can make a decision, I will hope that we can then reach a unanimous acclamation for that individual. So, I just wanna say that this came up on Wednesday night. Oh, the board's divided, we're showing some challenge but what it means is that there's people with passionate perspectives. It's philosophical perspectives. Now, I don't believe there's interpersonal issues at play and that's, I wanna make sure that whoever joins us on the board I will look forward to working with in a very constructive way. >> I just wanna reiterate before we do this one more time that I feel so strongly that we have to get pass the impasse. We have to reach a decision for all the reasons I've iterated and I will not go back and restate those. We are embarrassing ourselves if we cannot come to a decision and so it would be my hope that we would do this one more time and reach a resolution and so Mary, if you have more ballots, why don't you-- >> If I can just say-- [ Inaudible Remark ] >> Just one comment really quickly. I know we like both candidates, both of them wonderful and I would just point out that Weber is already serving on multiple boards in the college and so we have his support, we're very grateful for that and that perhaps we can have the best of both worlds by appointing Ms. Wah because then we will have both of them tied into the college community which would be wonderful, best of both worlds. >> That's an excellent-- >> Yes. >> Nolan has demonstrated many times why he's the championship forensic student. >> Yeah. [ Laughter ] >> Excellent, student trustee. We have always had excellent student trustees. [ Inaudible Remark ] [ Applause ] >> We could just count his vote. >> So let's do it. >> He also demonstrates his ability to speak which is very nice too, so. [ Laughter ] >> We've been so fortunate atthis college. For the years I've been on the board of trustees the student trustees we've had had been absolutely outstanding. I think back to Sean O'Connor, John Campo, Brian Abadia and now Nolan. So we're so fortunate to have such outstanding students serving on this board of trustees. Anything else to be said before we try one more time on this? Is this all? [ Pause ] [ Inaudible Discussions ] >> Ms. Brown, Linda Wah. Dr. Mann, Warren Weber. Mr. Martin, Warren Weber. Mr. Baum, Warren Weber. Mr. Thomson, Linda Wah. Dr. Fellow, Linda Wah. And Mr. Pack, Linda Wah. >> The advisory vote for Linda Wah, 3 votes for Linda Wah, and 3 votes Warren Weber. [ Pause ] >> What is the pleasure of this board? Do you wanna try it again? Is anybody prepared to-- >> I have a question and I guess this is for the legal counsel of the board and whoever else feels inclined to answer. Is it in appropriate for us to ask a question to either of the candidates at this point? I just have one. >> That's--I don't think that's a legal question, I think that's a question with Mr. Thomson. >> Let's get legal counsel first then. [ Pause ] >> Okay. Is there any objection to-- >> No, I just wanna make it clear that this was a procedural thing that should be addressed to Mr. Thomson. >> Okay, Mr. Pack. >> And so, I suppose my question is one of the comments on that Mr. Weber offered and one of the reasons that it seems some board members prefer him is that he's the least likely to run when Area 5 actually does an election and his answer which I thought was a little unclear for me is that I will not run so long as there's another candidate that I can support. So, in that regard, I wonder does that mean in a situation that there's not a candidate that he can support and if that is his feeling why now? >> Okay, Warren do you--can you--okay. [ Inaudible Remark ] >> Whey don't you go say it in the microphone? [ Inaudible Remarks ] [ Pause ] >> I will answer the question directly. I will not run for the permanent position and-- >> What if your drafted? [ Laughter ] >> I haven't seen any evidence of that happening. [ Laughter ] >> That was a portion of my question. I suppose the bigger question that I have is, you know, if that was the rationale, does that mean that there are no candidates that he is comfortable with at this time? >> Do you want him to answer that? >> Do you want him to answer that question? >> There are no candidates at all at this time. >> That's the problem, there's no candidates. >> Well the candidates for appointment. [ Inaudible Remark ] >> Let's--one at a time please. >> Okay, alright. That probably is a question that's over the line here I would think. So, you have--did you have a question for Ms. Wah? So you get one for each candidate. >> Did I say that? I don't know. I don't think I did. >> Alright, okay. >> Well, I have a question for Ms. Wah. Ms. Wah, I noticed in the resolution from the faculty, they referred to your educational and your professional qualifications and in looking at your resume, I didn't see any educational qualifications except that you have a degree and you worked with the alumni association with Cal State L.A., did I miss something? Because this is influential on what am I--you know, my thinking. >> No, you're correct. I think, don't mind if I maybe clarify that. I think what you're asking is have I worked with community colleges before, is that what you're-- >> No, no, I'm just saying that in the faculty statement, they said your educational and professional background and maybe I--so I thought maybe I had missed something so maybe I should ask Mr. Martinez what exactly they were referring to. >> We were simply referring to her general experience with governmental agencies and educational institutions including the alumni association and such, so it was a very general statement, not a specific-- >> It was a general statement about her being in the alumni. >> Yes. >> I wanted to clarify that. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Other questions or anything? Other comments? >> If we want we could ask both candidates a question. >> Sure, okay. >> I just wanna do something that's-- >> Why don't we get both of them to come up to the podium together? >> I just--something that's obviously important to me is I wanna hear more about how you think. If there is a recommendation or a positive position taken by the administration that is not shared by any of the campus groups - students, faculty, staff or others, what would your approach be to dealing with such a situation? >> I believe that the board has an obligation to support the recommendations made by--the position taken by the entire board to support the college. So, while you may have a faction of constituents of the college or the administration that has a different opinion, the board is still obligated to support, I think the majority vote or the opinion that was taken then for the entire--for the benefit of the entire college and that being said, I think what's important in my experience is when you go back and explain to administrators then why you then took that position, why it differed from there, I think you have to have a transparency in your process. I think this college is known for excellence in communication, you won four awards for you communication awards and I think that there is no reason not to share in that process so that it's clearly understood why those positions were taken. I think when you get misunderstandings and it seems like it's--actions were taken without understanding throughout the groups, I think it's because there has not been transparency in the process. >> I'm thinking more in terms of the board is often the court of last resort. If the administration has a position in a recommendation that's come to the board and then there is other groups on campus that may disagree that something the president thinks in the best interest of the college, how would you approach that situation? >> The board, the president is the operational manager of the college and so if the president makes a recommendation, the board has adopted that recommendation, then it is the duty of all the trustees to support that, did I understand the question? >> That was more along the lines of what I was looking for. I mean, just trying to understand how you would approach evaluating your--how to respond at a recommendation when there is multiple points of view being presented to a trustee which happens every board meeting. >> Sure. Could I just add a little bit? >> Sure. >> I think Trustee Baum there is two parts I think, one is supporting the recommendation but the other is also being able to hear what the issues are that come from the various factions. So, I think as long as the board and on recommendations of the president have made a decision in good faith and have considered all of the issues that come before them and those factions had been heard then I think it's a fair process. >> Thank you. >> Do you want Warren to answer too? >> I would give--want to give Mr. Weber the same opportunity to respond to the question. >> I think, I think the members of the board that have served with me can attest to the fact that once a vote has made, we stand by the vote. I have never taken exception to vote by the board of trustees. >> And how do you approach it when the administration makes recommendation for the board to adopt a policy or make a decision but there are other different groups on campus that may have a different direction that they would like the institution to take? >> I make up my mind based on the best interest of my constituents and I vote that way and I don't care who makes the recommendations or who opposes it. The decision is what's the best interest of the institution and my constituents and that's the way I vote and if I lose the vote, I lose the vote but I don't make an issue of it beyond that point. >> Any other questions for the candidates? Thank you again. Any other comments or questions? Should we try one more go with this and see what happens? >> How about we take another recess for 3 minutes? >> Let's take a recess. >> Okay. Three minutes. [ Pause ] >> May I ask the board of trustees to come back in the session please? [ Inaudible Discussions ] >> Okay, what is the pleasure of the group? >> I think Mr. Weber has his hand up. >> Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see Warren. Why don't you come up in the podium? >> After a great deal of consideration and I feel my decision is invest in [inaudible] with the institution, I will withdraw. >> I'm reluctant to say thank you but I appreciate the consideration you've given to this. I know it's a very difficult decision, a very difficult opposition. We are, as I said in the very beginning so fortunate to have people who care about this college and are willing to serve us, so. Dr. Mann, you had your hand up. >> I had a hand up and I think this is the very testimony of why we should elect Mr. Weber. The college has always come first in his life. He's committed his life for this college. It's only right that a person with this kind of integrity and experience, who is willing in this situation to once again put the college above himself is just a testimony of the character of this individual, his love for PCC, his love for students and to me that's the kind of person we want on the board. I think that's the strongest testimony I've heard for why he should be the trustee for the next so many months and then let the Area 5 residents at that point in an open election that he's already declared he won't run, choose their candidate. >> Anything else? Mr. Pack. >> I'll say, again, very impressive both candidates. I'd like to thank Mr. Weber for his introspection, consideration of this and I will say also his maturity in dealing with this issue. I also think that, you know, he has history of doing what's best for the college. As such, I think we should respect the decision that he just made because he determined that was in the best interest of the college and I think that he--I would, I felt awkward applauding but I think that he really deserves our thanks for helping us resolve this issue and for being very considerate of the future of PCC. >> Geoff. >> Well, first, I hate him to put him on the spot but I think this is obviously emblematic of the type of leadership and the type of integrity that Warren Weber has distinguished himself for more than 30 years in support of this institution and I do want to hold that up as an example to whomever is selected to join this board that that's the type of leadership and the sacrificing vision and approach that we're looking for in the next trustee to join this board so I was--and I do want--we didn't ask but Warren have a recommended candidate among the others that he wanted to-- >> Don't ask for that. >> I'm not gonna do that. >> I don't think we wanna do that. >> But at the same time, now it's and I hope if Ms. Wah prevails that we all recognize what type of example is set by Mr. Weber, if we chose to respect his decision to withdraw his candidacy. >> Dr. Mann? >> Yes. I think Mr. Martin and Mr. Baum have said very well how I feel about Mr. Weber and the integrity that he has shown in putting the, again putting the best interest of the colleagues in front of his own interest and I personally want to thank him for what he just did. It means a tremendous amount to all of us. >> Anything else? Ready for one more ballot? Hopefully, that will be the last. >> I would recommend that we just do a voice vote. >> We don't have to. >> We can do-- >> Can we do just a voice vote? >> Is there somebody who'd like to nominate-- >> I'll make a motion to nominate Linda Wah. >> Is there a second? >> I second. >> Okay, any further discussion? >> I would-- >> Sure. >> I said discussion [inaudible]. >> Sorry. >> I know he did. >> Okay. >> This is the task between notes. I wanted an opportunity to vote one more time for Warren Weber. I was hoping we would do it on a ballot. >> Well. >> The motion can be withdrawn. >> I withdraw. >> And a second and agree with that, we'll do ballot. Can you pass the ballots please? [ Pause ] >> Mr. Baum, Warren Weber. Dr. Fellow, Linda Wah. Mr. Pack, Linda Wah. Mr. Thomson, Linda Wah. Dr. Mann, Linda Wah. Ms. Brown, Linda Wah. And Mr. Martin, Warren Weber. >> Advisory vote for Linda Wah, 4 votes for Linda Wah and 2 votes for Warren Weber. Let me-- >> Mr. Martin. >> I would like to move that we consider unanimous consent for Linda Wah. >> Second. >> Any discussion on the advisory vote? >> Aye. >> All in favor say aye. >> Aye. >> Anybody opposed? Motion carries unanimously. >> In bringing this meeting to conclusion, I wanna reiterate my profound appreciation to Mr. Weber, to Ms. Wah, and to everyone who is here most particularly to the board members. We have obviously taken this matter in a very transparent matter or transparent way and dealt with it quite seriously and we have reached a result. Not an easy one but we got there and it is my profound belief and urging that we leave this room united, move forward to the benefit of Pasadena City College devoted to supporting Dr. Rocha to making this--to continue to be the finest community college not only in California but in the United States. So, thanks to all of you for your good hard work and for a very, very difficult decision. Thank you all, so. >> We wanna extend our congratulations to our new colleague. >> Absolutely. >> Linda Wah. [ Applause ] >> Would you like to speak to us? >> Thank you trustees for your vote. I know it was a really hard decision. Warren is a wonderful candidate. I know he has done a lot for the school and he has done a lot in my community. I hope to--for those of you who don't know me yet, I hope to gain your confidence and your trust and I think the people who know me know that I'm very loyal, I'm very conscientious in terms of--I know what proprietary standards are, I'm very conscious of the chain of command and you know, I'll do a good job. I promise you. I will dedicate everything I--all my skills and what I know to helping this board and to contributing positively to it. So thank you very much for your vote. >> Thank you very much. We will look forward to your squaring in at our next meeting which I think is October the 6th. Mr. Pack. >> I also thought it seemed appropriate you know, because we such a long discussion between two wonderful candidates to extend our deep thanks and also perhaps our applause to Mr. Weber. [ Applause ] >> His service has been so exemplarily and is one of the many reasons that this is such a wonderful college. That coupled with the people who work here and the reputation that all has which result from always hard efforts and great works. We are adjourned. ==== Transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies ====