Eight years ago, the question facing Peralta was: Can this District survive?

When I first ran, Peralta faced financial instability, accreditation concerns, leadership turnover, board conflict and possible state-takeover of the District.

Now, Peralta is financially stronger, guided by stable and more effective leadership, operating with greater transparency and accountability, and taking a far more pro-active approach to budgeting and long-term fiscal planning. Peralta is no longer on accreditation watch, maintains a strong credit rating, and is supported by both ACCJC and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

Today, the question is : How can Peralta not only adapt, but lead— amidst declining enrollment, limited resources, and growing doubts about the value of higher education?

Our “pruning to grow” strategy is an effort to build a stronger and more sustainable Peralta for the future. The planned unification of Laney and Merritt as Oakland City College is to preserve both campuses while honoring the histories, traditions, community identities, and signature programs that each college values.

The goal is to move Peralta beyond recurring cuts and crisis budgeting — and toward the structural and fiscal sustainability our colleges need to grow, remain relevant, and deliver on the promise of a community college education for the students, in our communities, whose lives and futures depend on our success.

Allow me to finish the work we’ve started ,with your vote .