STORY BY IVAN VILLA, STAFF WRITTER
PHOT BY GABI GARCIA, CONTRIBUTOR
North Orange County League of Women Voters hosted a Candidate Forum at Fullerton College, on Monday, Oct 21, 2024. Mark Lopez, running for trustee in District 5 was the only candidate who attended the forum.
Lopez’s opponent, Steve Slawson, was absent from the candidate forum. District 2 and District 7 Incumbents Ed Lopez, Ryan Bent, and their opponents Jack Daniel Fennell and Kyle Miller were absent from the Candidate Forum.
Mark Lopez, Governing Board Member, of Anaheim Elementary School District, Area 4 is running for District 5 alongside Steven Slawson, an Orange County business owner and parent. Lopez is running for the board to transform the power of education. Slawson Lopez’s opponent in the election is running to ensure the removal of politics from the classrooms and ensure a balanced budget for the community colleges.
The other candidates running are District 2 incumbent Ed Lopez and running mate Jack Daniel Fennell. Lopez is re-running for the upcoming election and wants voters to help him continue promoting student success and maintain high academic standards. Fennell, Ed Lopez’s running mate ensures that with your vote he will make our schools safer and promote a strong focus on higher education
Lastly, District 7 candidates are incumbent Ryan Bent and his running mate Kyle Miller an Education Policy Advisor. Bent is re-running for election and wants voters to help him continue to focus on student success, fiscal responsibility, and transparency with taxpayers. Miller, Bent’s running mate, aims to prioritize student success, ensure competitive pay for faculty and staff, and bring STEM and apprenticeship programs to local colleges.
During the forum, a variety of questions from the audience were asked. One of the questions asked about the recent budget shortfall that has led to cuts in student programs and services. Lopez said, “The budget is going to be one of the most important things because without money we can’t do other things that we’d like to do.” He mentioned Proposition 2 and explained that he will not rely on it solely to increase funding for student programs and services.
Another important topic that was brought to Lopez’s attention was what he deems the biggest issue community college campuses are facing today. He said budget and safety. For safety, he wants to ensure that the student body feels safe, and if that means increasing campus security and partnering with local law enforcement then he is willing to make those changes.
Remember to vote in the local and presidential elections on Nov. 5.
Editor-in-Chief, Emely De Haro contributed to this article.
