Pimentel for college board

I have known Ms. Perot for many years and have discussed her work at CSM and she has excellent first hand knowledge. If she is recommending Mr. Pimentel then it is with good reason. Definitely vote for him in Area 5.

Transparency - that is a buzzword in government. Who, except Donald Trump, would not advocate for transparency? 

Before the pandemic, the SMCCCD Board spent over a year discussing whether they should broadcast meetings, as done at many colleges as standard practice. Some Board members were concerned that it would result in "grandstanding" by fellow Board members; others were concerned about cost and logistics. 

Just before the pandemic closed in-person meetings, I read Mr. Pimentel's letter to the editor, "Video coverage for SMCCCD Board meetings." (March 2, 2020). I agreed with his conclusion, "Any administration that avoids disclosure and transparency is likely to be hiding something." For example, as a resident of the county, I had been trying to find out about the highly unusual circumstances leading to Mr. Galatolo's transition from Chancellor, to Chancellor Emeritus, and then Chancellor Emeritus on paid administrative leave, and finally Chancellor Emeritus on paid administrative leave being investigated by the DA, but to no avail. Galatolo never retired or resigned; the Board gave him a new contract with unheard of perks for a public institution, with pay of $1.2 million (of which he is paid $39K a month until March 2022).  The Board was mum to any and all of my queries. Doesn't the community, which pays this freight, deserve some answers? 

Soon thereafter, the Board began broadcasting meetings via Zoom given the Governor's State of Emergency. Why didn't they do it much earlier as Mr. Pimentel suggested. What were they hiding?

Read Mr. Pimentel's March 2 letter to the editor on transparency. He deserves your vote. SMCCCD belongs to the citizens of San Mateo County, not a small cadre of Trustees who are only accountable every few years to your vote.

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Michael B. Reiner, PhD, is a higher education consultant and educational researcher. Previously, he was a professor of psychology and college administrator at City University of New York (CUNY), Miami Dade College, the Riverside Community College District, and the San Mateo County Community College District. mreiner32205@gmail.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-b-reiner-phd-14057551/