Tuition costs, transparency among issues in CLC election
Keeping tuition affordable, increasing openness with taxpayers and seeking new revenue sources are among the issues cited by candidates running for College of Lake County's board.
Six candidates are competing for three, 6-year positions at the Grayslake-based college. All Lake County voters will get to make their choices in the April 7 election.
Incumbent trustees William Griffin of Lake Forest and Richard Anderson of Grayslake will be on the ballot with Lake Zurich-area resident Amanda Howland, Leamon Bruce Austin of Grayslake, James Creighton Mitchell Jr. of Lindenhurst and Grayslake-area resident Charlie Breit.
In a Daily Herald candidate questionnaire, five of the six listed what they considered their most important goals or objectives the CLC board should tackle in the coming term. Austin was the only one who did not provide answers.
Mitchell, 65, already holds elected positions on the Lake County Regional Board of School Trustees and the Lake Villa Public Library board. He ran for U.S. president in the 2008 election.
For the CLC race, Mitchell wants to push for increased educational opportunities to meet changes in technology and competition, along with controlling costs for students.
"It makes no sense at all for high school students, parents or taxpayers to consider College of Lake County as the 'college of last chance.' We spend too much tax money for a fine institution that has national recognition to let this myth continue."
Griffin, 56, began his second CLC board stint in 2003. His goals include bringing an expanded range of academic opportunities and support services to CLC's Lakeshore campus in Waukegan, and having affordable tuition.
"One in three adults in Lake County has not completed any education beyond high school, but soon, more than half of all job openings will require postsecondary education," Griffin said.
Howland, 54, has made two unsuccessful efforts to unseat Republican state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. of Mundelein. Keeping tuition costs affordable, keeping up with technology, and accountability and open governance are among her most important goals or objectives if elected to the CLC board.
"The board needs to ensure that a fiscally responsible budget is in place and that unnecessary spending is eliminated," Howland said.
Breit, 30, said he'd want to develop a long-term vision for the college, create a plan for future funding shortfalls and increase transparency and outreach to students and the general community. He said CLC board members could be more accessible by having e-mail on the school's Web site and participating in forums beyond regular meetings.
"Open communications will allow the board to explain their rationale for decisions, build consensus among members of the community and listen to the public's concerns," Breit said.
Anderson, 56, a CLC board member since 1974, said bringing the new college president up to speed, presenting a balanced budget and finding new revenue sources are his top priorities.
"The state has to honor its commitment to higher education," Anderson said. "We must continue to work with our state legislators to free up more funding for our students."