Christian Garcia’s goal: keep college district, ‘fiscally safe’ (GARCIA) — October 11, 2020 Escondido Times-Advocate
College board’s Nina Deerfield wants to ‘continue my good work’ (DEERFIELD) — October 2, 2020 Escondido Times-Advocate
Trustee, Trustee Area 2 — Palomar Community College District
Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the Trustee, Trustee Area 2 — Palomar Community College District
Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them.
Access additional information about this contest in the tabs in this section. For most screenreaders, you can hit Return or Enter to enter a tab and read the content within.
News and links
News
You must select at least 2 candidates to compare them.
Candidates
You can vote for 1 of these 2 candidates.
Christian Garcia
High School Teacher
Top 3 Priorities
- Maintain fiscal accountability and balanced budgets.
- Increase job program opportunities by creating local...
- Increase high school to college partnerships to accelerate...
Profile
Endorsed by
Use tab to activate the candidate button. Use "return" to select this candidate. You can access your list by navigating to 'My Choices'.
Latino American Political AssociationJim Desmond; County SupervisorMike Morasco; City CouncilmanDane White; President, Escondido Union High School DistrictJoan Gardiner; President, Escondido Union School District
Nina Deerfield
Vice President of Palomar College...
Top 3 Priorities
- Fiscal responsibility-I was the only trustee to vote...
- Diversity in hiring-I have been supportive of our...
- Community outreach-I support helping new students...
Profile
Endorsed by
Use tab to activate the candidate button. Use "return" to select this candidate. You can access your list by navigating to 'My Choices'.
High School Teacher
Use tab to activate the candidate button. Use "return" to select this candidate. You can access your list by navigating to 'My Choices'.
For more in-depth information on this candidate, follow the links for each tab in this section. For most screenreaders, you can hit Return or Enter to enter a tab and read the content within.
Candidate has provided information.
My Top 3 Priorities
- Maintain fiscal accountability and balanced budgets.
- Increase job program opportunities by creating local partnerships with the college.
- Increase high school to college partnerships to accelerate completion of AA degrees and lower costs.
Experience
Experience
Profession:High School Teacher
High School Teacher, Futures Academy (2017–current)
President, Pepperwood Home Owners Association — Elected position (2020–current)
Education
University of Southern California — Masters Degree, Public Policy (2013)
UC Irvine — Bachelors, Political Science and international studies (2009)
Biography
Christian Garcia was born and raised in San Diego County. After graduating high school, Christian attended UC Irvine where he received his bachelor's degree in political science and international relations. Christian then served in the United States Peace Corps for two years, teaching English in Cambodia.
After returning home, Christian earned his master's degree in public policy from USC. Taking his experience from overseas and combining it with his education in policy and international affairs, Christian went on to spend several years in the private sector, working in logistics and data analytics for companies involved in international trade.
For the past four years, Christian has worked as a high school teacher, primarily teaching math and social studies.
Christian is an active community member in Escondido, as the elected president of his Homeowners Association and as a member of several local community groups and organizations, such as the Latino American Political Association.
Christian's parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico. Growing up in an immigrant household taught Christian the importance of education and seizing opportunity. Christian is tri-lingual, speaking fluent Spanish which he learned from his parents, and Khmer which he learned during his time teaching in Cambodia. Christian currently lives with his wife and dog in East Escondido, close to his parents and four siblings.
Christian is running for the Palomar Community College Governing Board, Trustees Area 2 which covers most of Escondido and San Marcos.
Who supports this candidate?
Organizations (1)
- Latino American Political Association
Elected Officials (4)
- Jim Desmond; County Supervisor
- Mike Morasco; City Councilman
- Dane White; President, Escondido Union High School District
- Joan Gardiner; President, Escondido Union School District
Questions & Answers
Questions from League of Women Voters San Diego and League of Women Voters North County San Diego (1)
What are the three biggest challenges facing this region in the decade of the 2020s, and how would you use this office to help our community prepare for (and meet) those challenges?
Answer from Christian Garcia:
Affordable education is a big one. As a teacher, I encourage students to look at community colleges to reduce the cost of education. I am also a big advocate for trade schools, technical schools and certification programs. I also believe that apprenticeship programs should be more ubiquitous and more accessible to everyone.
Affordable housing is number two. We need to draw more students from around the region (not just northern San Diego) to this area, by offering an excellent and appealing college program. This will increase the demand for housing, which will increase investors incentive to develop more in the area. Specifically because they are college students, it is important that the housing remains affordable.
Law enforcement retraining. Palomar College trains our local law enforcement. While many advocate for defunding the police, I believe that we need to have more funding to properly train our law enforcement officers. Annual retraining programs should be mandatory, and Palomar has the opportunity to spearhead programs that create better trained police officers that would provide a more trusting and safer community.
Questions from League of Women Voters of San Diego and League of Women Voters of North County San Diego (1)
What action (personal or professional) that you have taken most exemplifies how you will execute the duties of this office in the coming term, if you are elected?
Answer from Christian Garcia:
I have met with current board members, current union members, current members of the high school board and have studied the budgets carefully.
I have become a teacher and have worked in high school to college programs, I have helped student apply to colleges and have worked in the education field in general for almost seven years.
I have studied public policy, received my degree in it and have done data analysis in the past.
My combined experience with working with local leaders, working in education and working/doing research as prepped me for this position more than most people.
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
Everything has nuance.
Very rarely can social or economic issues be simplified or categorized into a word, a term or even an ideology. It is essential that we end the divide we see today and learn to collaborate with each other so that we could aim for common goals.
The more localized an issue is, the more essential it is that we address it at a local level. Every region and area in the United States is unique because of its history, culture, economics, demographics and more. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for any social issue. Therefore, it is imperative that we keep legislation and law enforcement as localized as possible so that we could address issues more appropriately.
Opportunity has to be given equally to all people. Whether it is education, career paths, safety and protection, environmental safety or anything else, we should strive for equality and ensuring people have the ability to choose where they live, where they are educated, what careers they want to pursue, and more.
We live in a tremendous country with untapped potential. If we give more people more right to choose their path, we can become even greater.
Governing Board Member, Palomar Community College District
Use tab to activate the candidate button. Use "return" to select this candidate. You can access your list by navigating to 'My Choices'.
For more in-depth information on this candidate, follow the links for each tab in this section. For most screenreaders, you can hit Return or Enter to enter a tab and read the content within.
My Top 3 Priorities
- Fiscal responsibility-I was the only trustee to vote against the ex-President/Superintendent 27% raise, against the million dollar executive suite and the $400,000 executive bathroom and I will continue to be the fiscal watchdog
- Diversity in hiring-I have been supportive of our diversity in hiring process and will continue to support this for all departments
- Community outreach-I support helping new students find their way to a career or to a four year university and help older community members find new careers and enrichment classes
Experience
Biography
I am a community volunteer. I started a local bilingual newspaper for north County San Diego. After two local transgender suicides I started an LGBTQ+ teen group for north county inland. I organized a Veterans Day Parade for Escondido last year.
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
We are living in an unprecedented time that truly requires experienced leadership. I'm aware that change comes in excruciatingly small increments but I have a fierce belief in what we can achieve together. Education is-in the words of Horace Mann-the "great equalizer," as it provides everyone the chance to learn, to succeed, and to live a richer, more fulfilling life. In our community, nowhere is that chance more available than at Palomar College, and I am both proud to support this school and passionate about making sure that it continues to fulfill the promise of public education.
