VOTE Tues., Nov 3. for Compton, Lynwood, Hacienda La Puente, Torrance School Boards

SEIU Local 99 members came together to meet and interview the candidates running for school board at Compton Unified, Lynwood Unified, Hacienda La Puente Unified and Torrance Unified in the November 3, 2015 election. After hearing from the candidates and reviewing their records, SEIU Local 99 members voted to endorse the following:

Compton Unified School District

Micah Ali has championed efforts to improve early education and after school programs and he firmly believes in creating more good jobs in the community. He has supported Local 99 members’ contracts and fought hard to minimize job cuts during the toughest days of the recession. Micah is currently President of the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees. He was elected to the Compton Board of Trustees in 2007. He also serves as Vice President of the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association, President of the Compton Creek Mosquito Abatement District Board of Trustees, member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Ballona Wetlands, and member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Environmental Justice Advisory Group. Micah received his Bachelor of Science Degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Charles Davis believes that good jobs are a key to academic success because they provide families with the economic stability that helps children focus on their education. He has voted in support of Local 99 members’ contract. Charles is a retired City Clerk and long serving Governing Board Member of the Compton College District. He served as Compton City Clerk from 1973 to 2003. He is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. Charles served as a board member for Compton’s Salvation Army and YMCA, and served as a California City Clerk’s Association officer.

Hacienda La Puente Unified School District

Gino Kwok has served on the Hacienda La Puente Unified School Board since 2011. He is proud that he helped the school district weather some of the toughest budget years with no layoffs or furlough days for employees. He has voted in support of contracts negotiated by SEIU Local 99 members. Gino graduated with honors from UC Riverside and earned a law degree from USC Law School where he graduated near the top of his class. He is currently an attorney and was a law clerk to the Honorable A. Andrew Hauk, Chief Judge of the United States District Court in Los Angeles. He is a member of the California Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Puente Valley ROP, and Kiwanis.

Martin Medrano supports the expansion of early education and after school programs. He also supports benefits for part time employees and increasing full time positions whenever possible. He holds a B.A. in political science from UC Berkeley, to which he successfully transferred from Mt. San Antonio College. He is a Field Deputy in the California Legislature where he works every day to help area schools communicate their needs and priorities to the State Legislature. In addition, he is a Director of College Bridge, an area nonprofit organization that assists students and counselors to navigate the college admissions process and prepare for higher education.

Torrance USD

Terry Ragins has helped the school district make it through some of the toughest years of budget cuts. She believes in moving forward by engaging students, parents and staff in spending decisions. Terry was elected to the School Board in November 2003. She graduated from Ohio State University in 1978, with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy. She subsequently received a Master’s of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Washington University. Terry served on 3 different School Site Councils. Her additional contributions include work in 3 PTA units. Terry was honored to be selected as recipient of PTA’s Honorary Service and Continuing Service Awards. She has been on the district-wide Board of Directors of the Torrance Council of PTAs as Corresponding Secretary, Parliamentarian and School Board Liaison.

Lynwood USD

Briseida Gonzalez, Maria Guadalupe Lopez and Gary Hardie currently serve on the Lynwood Unified School Board and have always understood the connection between quality schools and good jobs in our communities. They voted in favor of the most recent contract for Local 99 members. In fact, the School Board voted on the contract a week before they were scheduled to do so to ensure that Local 99 members received their retroactive pay and raise in their August paycheck.

Briseida Gonzalez is committed to helping schools continue to recover from recession cuts and believes retaining dedicated support staff is key to ensuring school quality. Briseida attended the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology. Briseida received her Masters of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Southern California with a concentration on Community Organization, Planning, and Administration. Currently, Briseida works as Resource Development Coordinator for a community based non-profit on Southeast Los Angeles and works as an early education trainer.

Maria Guadalupe Lopez is committed to protecting jobs and improving benefits and wages for all employees. She received her B.A. in Liberal Arts with a minor in Spanish from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2002. She has served on the Lynwood USD School Board since 2003. Currently she is a member of the American Association of School Administrators, California School Board Association, the Coalition for School Readiness, the Lions Club, and the National School Board Association.

Gary Hardie’s priorities include ensuring that students have access to all of the resources they need to succeed. He also believes an adequate living wage and access to healthcare should be a right for all District employees. Gary earned a degree in Sociology/Pre-Law, from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is currently a Site Coordinator for arc, a comprehensive afterschool program at several Los Angeles Unified School District high schools. He was appointed to the Lynwood Unified School District in January 2014 and currently serves on the School Board as the Vice President.