News Release

CONTACT: Della Elliott, Public Information, (619) 644-7690, della.elliott@gcccd.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               July 19, 2006

GCCCD trustees: Let voters select new board member in fall election

Seat left empty with death of Wendell Cutting

EL CAJON – The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board unanimously agreed Tuesday night that the trustee seat left vacant with last month’s death of Wendell Cutting would be best filled by voters in the regularly scheduled fall election.

“Wendell had wanted to run for re-election this fall in partnership with his board colleagues,” Governing Board President Deanna Weeks said. “The East County community would have undoubtedly returned Wendell to this board. Their commitment to him has been reflected in the thousands of votes he previously garnered. Because it was the public that filled this seat, and because the election is less than four months away, I strongly support leaving Seat 5 vacant until the public makes its decision
Nov. 7.”

The board had several other options regarding the vacancy. Trustees could have made an immediate appointment, developed a process and timeline for an appointment, ordered a special election, or they could have put off action at this time. By law, the board has within 60 days of vacancy or until Aug. 28 to make a decision on filling the vacancy.

Cutting, longtime chief of staff to Congressman Duncan Hunter and well-known philanthropist and humanitarian best remembered for his volunteer work with the East County-based Rescue Task Force, succumbed to cancer June 28.

Appointed to the governing board in spring 2002, Cutting went on to retain the seat through election later that year. He spoke publicly of running for re-election in November.

Those interested in seeking election to the board must be 18 years old, registered voters, and reside within the boundaries of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. The district encompasses the following East County communities: Lakeside, Santee, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, La Mesa, Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley, Alpine, Jamul, Crest, Dehesa and beyond to the Imperial County line and the Mexican border.

Grossmont College is at 8800 Grossmont College Drive in El Cajon. Cuyamaca College is at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in Rancho San Diego. The two community colleges serve some 25,000 students per semester, whether to prepare them for university transfer, upgrade basic skills, or obtain workforce training.

For more information, go to www.grossmont.edu  or www.cuyamaca.edu.

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