Abel Guillen for Peralta Community College Trustee • Press Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, August 17, 2006

CONTACT: Matt Lockshin
(510) 985-0061
matt@abelforperalta.com

Peralta Teachers and Staff
Back Challenger Abel Guillen

Oakland, CA (August 17, 2006) – This week, two of the most influential unions in the race for the Peralta Community College Board Area Seven Trustee seat decided to support newcomer Abel Guillen over incumbent Alona Clifton.

On Monday, the Peralta Federation of Teachers PAC, the union representing the faculty of the Peralta Colleges – Laney, Merritt, Alameda, and Berkeley City College (formerly Vista) – voted overwhelmingly to endorse challenger Guillen over incumbent Clifton. This endorsement is a tremendous boost for Guillen, who continues to receive significant support from members of the educational community.

“Abel is smart and progressive,” said Helene Maxwell, Secretary to the Peralta Federation of Teachers PAC. “Abel has a clear vision of how the Peralta Colleges can better serve students and our community. His energy and creative approach to solving problems are inspiring. We need change in Peralta. We are confident that, if elected, Abel will use his considerable skill and experience to help steer Peralta in a more positive direction.”

Also on Monday, the Peralta Chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 790, representing the classified staff of the Peralta Colleges, voted to recommend endorsement of Guillen to the entire Local. The Peralta Chapter is one part of SEIU Local 790, which represents 33,000 service workers in Northern California.

“I am very honored to have the support of the faculty and the staff,” said Guillen. “They work day in and day out to ensure that Peralta fulfills its educational mission, and they know better than anyone the challenges facing the district. They have chosen to support me because they know that I am passionate about making the District more relevant to students, fair to teachers and staff, and accountable and transparent to the whole community.”

Guillen is running for a seat in Area Seven, which includes the Temescal neighborhood and most of Oakland between 580 and the Estuary, from West Oakland to 11th Ave.

Abel Guillen announces that he has raised almost $30,000 in the first half of 2006.

Oakland, CA – Abel Guillen, a candidate for the Peralta Community College Board of Trustees, announced today that he has raised over $29,850 in the first six months of the year. This strong showing is unusual for a first-time candidate such as Guillen running in a small, local race like the Peralta Board of Trustees.

Guillen attributed his fundraising success to his demonstrated commitment to education and to the need for change on the Board.

“I have fought for over a decade to expand educational opportunities. I have helped students across the state, and now I would like to do the same here at home.”

Indeed, twenty-five percent of Guillen’s donations came from people involved in the educational community.

“The Peralta Community College District has a lot of untapped potential. The transfer rate to four-year colleges and universities is declining sharply, enrollment is well below what it should be, and financial decisions are made without the accountability and transparency that the community deserves. There is a need for change,” said Guillen.

Guillen is running for a seat in Area Seven, which includes the Temescal neighborhood and most of Oakland between 580 and the Estuary, from West Oakland to 11th Ave. The seat is currently held by Alona Clifton, who has not yet pulled papers for her candidacy but who is expected to run.

Abel Guillen earned a BA in Sociology and a Master’s in Public Policy from UC Berkeley. He has fought to increase educational opportunities and improve public education for over a decade. For the last six years he has worked as an educational finance advisor for California’s public schools and community colleges, during which time he has raised over $2.2 billion for facility construction and modernization.