Some breaking news: filing has closed, and we do have an opponent. John Vodonick, a self-funding attorney from Nevada City, has launched his campaign to return Sierra College to the old ways of doing business.

Here’s what we know so far.

• First, we know that my opponent has publicly claimed that “there were no budget deficits at Sierra College” and that “the college isn’t even allowed to have budget deficits under state law.”

  This is a common statement from the folks who believe that there is no good taxpayer dollar left unspent – and many people say the same thing about the State of California’s budget! It’s simply false – any time you spend even $1 more than your revenues in a given year, you have a budget deficit. And if a candidate for the Board of Trustees actually thinks that interpretation is open for debate, I’m happy to say that Sierra College does offer remedial arithmetic courses!

  Sierra College had three straight deficits totaling $850,000 before I was elected. I led the charge to turn that around, and my colleagues joined me in passing a balanced budget and prudent reserve policy that has led to four balanced budgets in a row and has generated $2 million in surpluses. As a direct result, we have the chance to make it through this economic downturn, without slashing access to college education and opportunity.

• Second, we know that my opponent is making claims that I’ve “wasted taxpayer dollars” in supporting a change of leadership at Sierra College. It is true that we have a new President in Dr. Leo Chavez – a man of vision, integrity and ethics. I served on the search committee that found him, and it has been one of my finest votes as a trustee to appoint him as our fifth President.

  But again, all the people of this district have to do is look at the results. Sierra College is far better off than it was four years ago. We are preparing more students than ever before to thrive in any four year university in the world. We’re equipping more students than ever before with the skills they need to get a real world, high paying job. While other districts are slashing their budgets, we’re still increasing access to college, and access to opportunity – all because we’ve had the leadership in place to balance the budget and build $2 million in new surpluses since 2004.

• Finally, we know that my opponent is apparently wealthy enough to self-fund his campaign by a significant amount. Using his own money, he has already outspent us, spending at least $11,000 so far, and $6,000 of that has been to hire two professional political consultants. His only hope in winning this race is to outspend us so badly that we can’t respond to his distortions of our record.

  We don’t need to match my opponent dollar for dollar…we just need the resources to get our message out and ensure that people know the facts.

So if you can join the many friends and neighbors who have made an investment in their own future by donating to our campaign for a stronger Sierra College, you’d have my great appreciation! You can do so by clicking here.