Pasadena City College Board of Trustees: Who’s Running In The March 5 Primary Election And Why It Matters

These Pasadena voter guides for the March 5 primary election were created in partnership with The Courier, an independent publication produced and run by Pasadena City College students.

What does the board of trustees do?

The community college’s trustees set the vision, mission, and goals for their district. The seven-member elected board of trustees:

• Makes sure community members’ needs are reflected in district priorities. For instance, if a trustee hears that prospective students are having trouble figuring out how to register for classes, they can bring that concern to the rest of the board and chancellor.
• Is accountable for how money gets spent and for making the necessary shifts and changes that help students succeed. The district has a $218 million budget for 2023-24.
• Hires and fires the district’s top executive, the superintendent-president. The current superintendent-president, José Gómez, is currently on an interim basis while PCC searches for a new permanent leader. 
• Can push for certain policies such as establishing campus food pantries, working with agencies for free transportation, and finding money to help students pay for housing.

Even if you don’t attend or work at a community college, the board’s work extends to much more than academics. They approve expansion plans and new construction that can affect the surrounding community. Community colleges are also engines for their local economies, and a board sets administrative goals that help ensure a college’s success. Community colleges often offer events and other opportunities that are open to the public, as well.