By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff writer
Now is traditionally the beginning of the political season, so many candidates for local offices are beginning to campaign. A Crestline resident, policy leader and Professor, Carlos Aguilera is seeking the position of Trustee to represent the San Bernardino Community College District (Area 5), which includes the mountain communities of Cedarpines Park, Crestline, Twin Peaks and the northern parts of San Bernardino, from Cal State San Bernardino to Devore.
San Bernardino Community College District Trustees are responsible for policy decisions impacting San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College, such as funding and resource allocation. As an educator and leader with a long history of governmental experience in public policy, Aguilera believes he can help the students and the Community College District by building for their futures when he is elected. He wants to “uplift the region and enhance its quality of life through the transformative power of education.”
Aguilera is a native San Bernardino County resident, born and raised in the Inland Empire. He attended Crafton Hills College, where he saw the impact that education can make in a life. He earned his Master of Public Administration at USC and is currently finishing his dissertation for his Ph.D at Howard University. He is currently a Professor of Public Policy at the University of Redlands.
Aguilera reflects the success that education can provide in the Inland Empire. He desires to share that access and success with other students so they also can be successful and, by result, improve the economy of the Inland Empire area communities.
While working in Rialto for First 5 (the state of California’s early childhood education and healthcare initiative), Aguilera saw how grants can help success come to a community. After that, he worked in Sacramento for the nationally recognized Capital Fellows Program, where he saw how state funding can be used effectively for locals. He also made connections in Sacramento to focus on helping the Inland Empire. Additionally, he secured one billion in federal funding for Health and Human services programs such as childcare initiatives.
Aguilera has experience from when he worked in the Governor’s Office of Finance, which makes policy directing how programs work at the state and local levels. This unique insight he has into funding at the state and local levels, since no bills can be passed in the legislature without funding connected to them, gives Aguilera unique knowledge on how to effectively use tax dollars for the best results at the local level.
Despite Rim of the World District schools having a high percentage of students attending higher education schools, many at the community college level, it has been decades since there has been a mountain resident on the local community college trustee board. Aguilera would like to change that, and help Rim get more access to community college programs that would benefit all students, including those in the Rim District who have been ignored for years for extension and continuing education classes.
Aguilera said, “I have a decade of government experience serving diverse communities while promoting inclusive programs and policies. Working in government at the federal, state and local levels has equipped me with strong skills in communication, organization, presentation and working under pressure. My extensive experience in policy and government aligns with the mission of community colleges to provide accessible and equitable education opportunities. For my entire life, I have witnessed the SBCCD region struggle economically due to major employers leaving the region. My dream is to see the region thrive by educating residents and providing quality career opportunities. Community colleges are at the center of creating a strong economic ecosystem in the area.”
Aguilera’s website, www.vote-carlos.com, further details his experience and vision for the future of the Community College District. He wants your vote for the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) Governing Board for Area 5 to be sure the mountains finally have a voice and are represented on the board.
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