Aaron Klein's Corner

Sierra College Veterans Counselor Profiled in SacBee

A big hat tip to Catherine Morris, Sierra College Veterans Counselor, for her front page profile in the Sacramento Bee today! Her work for our returning veterans has been going on for some time, and she has my deep admiration for her efforts.

Photo Credit: Sacramento Bee

"Some of these veterans are truly more afraid of going to college than they were of going to Iraq," said Morris, who has served in the Army National Guard and the California Air National Guard as well as the Marines. "They are so overwhelmed, and they feel very isolated."

» Read the Article

Two dads

We ran into our friends, Paul and Sarah, at church (they don't normally attend where we do, so it was a fun thing to have happen) and got to meet the little guy they are in the process of adopting!

Here are two dads who love their boys...

(Thanks for the picture, Sarah!)

Rivercats last night! They won.

Breakfast at Starbucks

One thing that Bill Martin and I agree on...

From an article in the Auburn Sentinel...

“This November election is just crucial,” said Martin. “It will be pivotal and will ultimately decide the direction of the college for years to come.”

How very true that is. Which is exactly why I trust that the voters will choose to continue on the agenda for change, rather than go back to the old way of doing business.

Statement on Martin's Sad Political Attacks

Bill Martin has launched another round of sad, contradictory and false political attacks. I issued the following statement this morning.

“Bill Martin’s actions today sadden me, because he has issued yet another report riddled with inaccuracies and falsehoods. This new report contradicts his own record of voting, without objection, for the budgets and policies he now so vehemently criticizes.

“At our July 19 meeting, Bill tried to convince the board to abolish our balanced budget policy, and in a 6-1 vote, failed to convince even one trustee to join his ridiculous idea that you can balance a budget by borrowing money from reserves or other funds.

“This reminds me of years ago, prior to our current management team, when the college was reprimanded for borrowing funds from a retiree trust fund to balance the budget, and was forced to repay those funds back to the retiree trust with interest.

“Despite Bill’s desperate attempts to paint the college in a negative light, respected community leaders agree: Sierra College is better off than it was four years ago. Bill needs to issue a retraction and apology to all six of his board colleagues.”

“I’m a firm believer in looking at the results, and Aaron has achieved results at Sierra College. He has worked to balance the budget, build up strong surpluses, and make it possible for the college to make it through this economic downturn without massive cuts. I’m proud to support him for re-election.”
— Don Brophy, Sierra College Executive Dean Emeritus

“Before Aaron was elected, our budget suffered tremendous cuts. He has worked diligently to make sure the budget is balanced, and he has protected our academic freedom. All our community has to do is to look at our financial standing and take a look at the curriculum which has been approved in recent years as proof of Aaron’s performance as a board member. I strongly support his re-election.”
— Lindy Atoms, Sierra College Professor

And the campaign begins...

Some breaking news: filing has closed, and we do have an opponent. John Vodonick, a self-funding attorney from Nevada City, has launched his campaign to return Sierra College to the old ways of doing business.

Here’s what we know so far.

• First, we know that my opponent has publicly claimed that “there were no budget deficits at Sierra College” and that “the college isn’t even allowed to have budget deficits under state law.”
  
  This is a common statement from the folks who believe that there is no good taxpayer dollar left unspent – and many people say the same thing about the State of California’s budget! It’s simply false – any time you spend even $1 more than your revenues in a given year, you have a budget deficit. And if a candidate for the Board of Trustees actually thinks that interpretation is open for debate, I’m happy to say that Sierra College does offer remedial arithmetic courses!
  
  Sierra College had three straight deficits totaling $850,000 before I was elected. I led the charge to turn that around, and my colleagues joined me in passing a balanced budget and prudent reserve policy that has led to four balanced budgets in a row and has generated $2 million in surpluses. As a direct result, we have the chance to make it through this economic downturn, without slashing access to college education and opportunity.



• Second, we know that my opponent is making claims that I’ve “wasted taxpayer dollars” in supporting a change of leadership at Sierra College. It is true that we have a new President in Dr. Leo Chavez – a man of vision, integrity and ethics. I served on the search committee that found him, and it has been one of my finest votes as a trustee to appoint him as our fifth President.
  
  But again, all the people of this district have to do is look at the results. Sierra College is far better off than it was four years ago. We are preparing more students than ever before to thrive in any four year university in the world. We’re equipping more students than ever before with the skills they need to get a real world, high paying job. While other districts are slashing their budgets, we’re still increasing access to college, and access to opportunity – all because we’ve had the leadership in place to balance the budget and build $2 million in new surpluses since 2004.



• Finally, we know that my opponent is apparently wealthy enough to self-fund his campaign by a significant amount. Using his own money, he has already outspent us, spending at least $11,000 so far, and $6,000 of that has been to hire two professional political consultants. His only hope in winning this race is to outspend us so badly that we can’t respond to his distortions of our record.
  
  We don't need to match my opponent dollar for dollar...we just need the resources to get our message out and ensure that people know the facts.

So if you can join the many friends and neighbors who have made an investment in their own future by donating to our campaign for a stronger Sierra College, you'd have my great appreciation! You can do so by clicking here.

And we're filed...

I raised my right hand and said "I so swear..." over the lunch hour at Placer County Elections. We are officially filed for re-election.

Will post a few pictures for evidence later when I have a spare second.

UPDATE 8/8: And there's the picture. My two favorite people even showed up! (No offense to the incredible elections staff, but I mean Cacey and Spencer. :>)

Spencer and Dad, on our own for the weekend...

This weekend, Cacey was off with her sisters and Mom for a "scrapbooking retreat", and no, I don't think that's the same thing as a Sierra College board retreat. :)

So we watched some TV...

Talked to Mom on the phone...

Went out for an ice cream at McDonald's...

Had breakfast at Starbucks (one fruit cup, and one small milk, please!)...

And just generally had fun (with Dad getting some work done in between)...

Governor Responds to Budget Letter

As I shared with you in a previous blog post, the Community College League of California had urged trustees to write letters to legislators, asking them to pass a budget with $8 billion in new taxes.

My strong feeling is that the people most hurt by a statewide tax increase would be our Sierra College students, who rely on the part time employment market that would shrink as a result. Fewer students would be able to pay their way through school, resulting in either more student debt, or less opportunity to go to college.

So, I wrote a letter to our legislative leaders and the Governor, asking them to urgently pass a budget, but to oppose a massive statewide tax increase.

Now, I must say...I'm not Governor Schwarzenegger's biggest fan. But I did appreciate his comment in the form letter I received today that "California cannot tax its way out of this budget deficit."

Here's the Governor's letter...

And while I'm at it, I'd like to note that Scott Lay, the CEO of the Community College League of California, contacted me to point out that the League is not solely funded by the 72 community college districts, and that these alternate areas of funding exceed its lobbying budget.

I still think that it is inappropriate for the League to get involved in choosing sides on a budget in that manner, but my post might have been a little more balanced if I had also pointed out all of the other great things the League does to support the mission of community colleges.

Scott is a great guy...a little misguided on policy sometimes (I'm sure he thinks the same of me!), but a dedicated advocate of the value and quality of community college education.