What's New
 
Friday, November 03, 2006
Listen to Abel's Interview on KPFA
On Tuesday, October 24, 2006, Abel was interviewed by Nina Serrano on KPFA. You can listen to Abel's interview here (MP3 format).
The Oakland Tribune endorsed Abel, saying "Thanks to a measure voters approved in June, Peralta will be spending $390 million in bonds to fund capital improvements at Laney College, Merritt College, College of Alameda and Berkeley City College. When that happens, we want to be confident tough questions are asked. We believe [Abel] Guillen can ask those questions, and that he will bring a breath of fresh air to the board. We urge a yes vote for Guillen."
Monday, October 30, 2006
Bay Guardian Endorses Abel!
The San Francisco Bay Guardian just announced its endorsement of Abel for Peralta Board. Here's what they have to say:Challenger Abel Guillen has extensive knowledge of public school financing and a proven commitment to consensus building and government accountability. In the last six years Guillen, who was raised in a working-class community and was the first in his family to go to college, has raised $2.2 billion in bond money to construct and repair facilities in school districts and at community colleges. Incumbent Alona Clifton has been accused of not being responsive to teachers' concerns about the board's spending priorities and openness.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Local Ministers Endorse Abel
Here is a picture of Abel and Pastor Michael McBride, minister at The Way Christian Center in Berkeley, and Rev. Dr. Elston "Ricky" Perry, minister at Church of the Good Shepherd in Oakland. Pastor McBride has endorsed Abel's candidacy from very early on in this campaign, having known Abel for years. Abel went to high school with Pastor McBride's brother and attends the pastor's church on Sundays. Rev. Perry recently endorsed Abel after they discussed Abel's views on workforce development.
Both Pastor McBride and Rev. Perry are deeply committed to educational issues and the youth of the East Bay. They believe in Abel's vision for a Peralta College system that does a better job of serving our students by creating programs that give our young people the skills to get good-paying jobs within our community.
Right here in the East Bay, we have companies who need highly trained employees, such as Pixar, Bayer, Clorox, Kaiser and Chiron. Abel wants to ensure that our Peralta Colleges partner with these corporations and develop special study programs for our students so that they can acquire the skills necessary to get these high-paying jobs.
The Peralta Community College District is in a unique position to serve the many and diverse needs of the East Bay, both the businesses who provide job opportunities and the students who will gain the ability to become valuable contributing members of our community.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Abel Endorsed by Green Party AND Chamber of Commerce
When have you ever seen a combination like this? Last month Abel, who is a Democrat, received the endorsement of the Alameda County Green Party. Then, last week, he received an endorsement from OakPAC: The Metropolitan Oakland Chamber of Commerce.
So what do these two organizations have in common? More than you might think. They both share a vision for Oakland and the Peralta Community College District that promises all of our young people access to high-quality, affordable education. They both understand the power of education to transform individual lives and to enhance the community by providing skilled, well-trained workers who are able to contribute to the productivity of our City.
Additionally, they both know that the only way for the Peralta Community College District to meet that goal is through thoughtful and effective planning by a board that manages its finances wisely and listens carefully to the needs of the community.
Abel Guillen's background in public school finance, taken together with his experience reaching out to community members, uniquely qualifies him for this position. And that's something even the Green Party and the Chamber of Commerce can agree upon.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Text of Green Party Endorsement
"We endorse Abel Guillen for Peralta Board Area 7. Guillen works as a school finance advisor. Over the past six years he has helped California community colleges and public school districts raise $2.2 billion He states that his work has 'transformed schools that were literally crumbling into campuses the entire community can be proud of.' Guillen's questionnaire answers were comprehensive, emphasizing his commitment to education relevant to students' needs, involving stakeholders in planning and budgeting, and accountability to the community.
"Guillen grew up in a working class neighborhood. He is the first person in his family to go to college. He earned a Masters in Public Policy at UC Berkeley. Recently Guillen received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bay Area Youth Fund for Education.
"One of the crucial issues for Peralta Trustees is careful stewardship of district lands. For many years Peralta Community College property, especially Laney College land, has caught the eye of local developers. The on-going controversies about development of Oakland Unified School District property and the Oak-to-Ninth waterfront are related to Peralta land use issues because the various parcels are nearby.
"In 2004, the incumbent, Alona Clifton, was a driving force behind a Peralta Board vote for an exclusive negotiating agreement with a local developer to develop land at Laney College. The vote was taken by a lame duck board -- this was the last meeting for four of the incumbents. No notice was given to the public. Guillen has spoken strongly in opposition to that action. His position is that any decisions about land development, either in Oakland Unified or Peralta, should be made through an open, transparent process that involves the community. (The developer eventually withdrew the proposal because of the controversy.)
"In Ms. Clifton's first term, she was part of a Board majority that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on expensive international travel for themselves; approved multi-million dollar contracts with inadequate process; paid the previous Chancellor, Ronald Temple, the highest salary of and community college Chancellor in the nation ($250,000 per year); and gave him lifetime health benefits when he was fired after working there for only 4 years. All this occurred while basic instructional and student service needs went unmet. (San Francisco Chronicle April 16, 2001)
"In 2005-06, Clifton violated campaign finance laws by failing to file disclosure reports with the Alameda County Registrar's Office. Reports are due every six months so that voters know who is giving money to whom; she missed deadlines in December 2005 and July 2006, but only after a citizens' watchdog group launched a complaint with the FFPC. (Berkeley Daily Planet, August 29, 2006.)
"This past June, voters approved $390 million in bond money. The community needs to know they can trust the trustees whose job it is to direct how public funds are spent. The Peralta Board needs more openness and transparency in their process. Candidates for election must follow the law and disclose their contributions.
"In addition, Clifton also failed to return our questionnaire. Vote for change in the Peralta Board. Vote for Abel Guillen.
"Guillen is endorsed by SEIU Local 790; the Peralta Federation of Teachers PAC; Oakland City Councilmember Nancy Nadel; Oakland School Board members David Kakishiba, Noel Gallo, Chris Dobbins, Berkeley School Board President John Selawsky; Alameda County Board of Education members Jacki Fox Ruby and Felix Elizalde; the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club; East Bay Young Democrats; and others."
Friday, October 06, 2006
Peralta Teachers and Staff Back Abel
In August two of the most influential unions in the race for the Peralta Community College Board Area decided to support Abel over incumbent Alona Clifton.
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."
The Peralta Chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 790, representing the classified staff of the Peralta Colleges, also 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."
Friday, September 29, 2006
Abel Wins Key Endorsements
In early September, Peralta Community College Board Trustees Nicky Gonzalez Yuen, Cy Gulassa and Bill Withrow announced their endorsement of Abel Guillen for the Area 7 Board of Trustees race. Members Gonzales Yuen and Gulassa released the following statement:
"...[T]here comes a time when a candidate appears who has such outstanding qualities, we feel compelled to endorse that person, confident that their leadership will greatly enhance the mission of our colleges and the success of our staff and students.
"Abel Guillen is such a person. He has distinguished himself as scholar, community organizer, civic leader, and a financial planner and advisor who has raised billions in bonds for California CC's and schools. He brings with this set of skills a commitment to diversity and a strong history of community activism, especially on behalf of under-represented and under-served students. As the first member of his family to attend college, he knows the value of education and the importance of showing the young in the community how to access the colleges. This strong history of public service, financial expertise and first-hand experience with community colleges more than qualifies him for the Peralta Colleges Board — a board charged with providing quality programs for nearly 30,000 students and overseeing an annual budget of $100 million together with $390 million in new bond money the voters recently approved."
At the same time, the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, which is one of the largest and most active Democratic clubs in the East Bay, held their endorsement meeting. The club voted overwhelmingly, 106-12, to endorse Abel's candidacy.
Additionally, Abel won the endorsement of the East Bay Young Democrats, garnering 80% of the votes cast.
Our campaign has tremendous momentum; we're getting more supporters each day. We're hitting the streets; we're talking to voters; so come out and join us. We need your support!
|
