Election Forum recaps and recordings

Moderator Audrey Olushola Momoh from the League of Women Voters of Oakland, CA posed questions to the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees, Area 5 candidates who are running in the November 2022 General election. The candidates in attendance were Saleem Gilmore, and Cindy Napoli Reiss. 

Each candidate gave a two-minute opening statement, was given one and a half minutes to answer each of the following questions, and gave a one-minute closing statement. 

• Question 1: A report issued in 2019 by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team assessed the District’s risk level for fiscal insolvency. The results were that the District is at high-risk. There is currently an $11million shortfall in revenue for this fiscal year. How will you address this?
• Question 2: The 2021 Grand Jury investigation of the Peralta Board found: a pattern of Brown Act violations, Board interference with the Superintendent’s recommended appointment of management positions, incivility, and harsh treatment of other trustees and administrators. The report made 9 recommendations to improve Board function. What can you, if elected, do to follow the Grand Jury’s recommendations and correct this culture of poor governance?
• Question 3: In February 2022, Peralta was taken off accreditation probation by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. What is the current status of the recommendations, and how will the report be used to continue to guide the District?
• Question 4: What do you think Peralta’s doing right? How will you build on that as a Trustee?
• Question 5: In 2018, voters approved an 8 year renewal for an annual $8 million parcel tax to continue providing the Colleges of Alameda, Berkeley, Laney, and Merritt, funds to support affordable college education. This includes core academic programs to prepare students for university transfer and successful careers, by providing tutoring and teacher support. How will you, as a member of the Board of Trustees, ensure that these tax dollars are being spent as authorized? What role does the Oversight Commission play?
• Question 6: The Peralta Community Colleges are located near the heart of the Tech industry, the main economic engine for the Bay Area. In addition to current programs, what initiatives do you propose to forge more links with high tech companies, from Emeryville to Silicon Valley, for training and job placement of significant numbers of our Community College students?
• Question 7: What are your top 3 priorities as a Peralta Trustee?

00:00 LWV Intro

03:52 Opening Statements

08:24 Question 1

12:11 Question 2

16:01 Question 3

19:22 Question 4

22:42 Question 5

26:44 Question 6

30:51 Question 7

33:57 Closing Statements

36:34 Forum Close

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