Desert Community College District Board of Trustees to Hold Candidates Forum

PALM DESERT, CA - Candidates running for two open seats on the Desert Community College District Board of Trustees will face off Thursday during a public forum.

A half-dozen candidates, including incumbents Mary Jane Sanchez-Fulton and Fred Jandt, are running to represent the district's Trustee Areas 2 and 3, which encompass Palm Springs, as well as the entire northern stretch of the Coachella Valley.

The Board of Trustees oversees the district's College of the Desert campuses in Palm Desert, Indio, Desert Hot Springs and Thermal.

Trustee members are elected to four-year terms.

Headline issues expected for debate include the establishment of a West Valley campus in Palm Springs, which the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to construct by acquiring the vacant Palm Springs Mall through eminent domain.

Audience members may submit questions for the candidates. The three entities sponsoring the forum -- College of the Desert's Faculty Association, Adjunct Faculty Association and Classified Employees Association -- will each submit questions, as well.

The free forum, which will be held at the Palm Desert campus' Cravens Student Services Center, will be moderated by College of the Desert political dcience instructor Sara Butler.

Voter registration materials and candidate literature will be available.

– By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock