2009 LRCEA Election Information

On April 24, from 8 am to 4 pm, LRCEA members will have the opportunity to elect our next LRCEA President.  Here are your two candidates in alphabetical order, and the candidacy statements received:

Candidate Statements for LRCEA President:

Jeff Bucher

Hello Members

My name is Jeff Bucher and I am the current President of LRCEA. I am seeking re-election for my second term as your President. I have been an officer of the LRCEA for 7 years both as a Representative for ARC, the Vice President, and as your President for the last 2 years.

I am a member of the Joint Labor Management Committee, the District Budget Committee, the Insurance Review Committee, the Job Classification Review Committee, and the Reclassification Board. I also served as team leader for the last negations with the district. At American River College, I have chaired the IT Committee; I am currently a member of the Budget Committee, the Classified Professional Development Committee, and I am a participant on Standard IIIC for our Accreditation.

All this experience has afforded me a great understanding of the institution that employs all of us. For the last 2 years, I have spoken at our lunch meetings and explained to the best of my abilities the changes in our retirement contributions, our current medical plan options, the effects of California’s budget issues on Los Rios, the process for reclassification, the Catastrophic Leave Program, and the avenues employee’s can use to protect their rights. I know these meetings are valuable and have helped us all to make informed decisions about our future.

I have made myself available to our association as an advocate for employee growth and advancement. I have voted against raising member costs to our medical benefits and will continue to vote against increases in the future. I have been involved in many successful reclassifications and will always have the time to give members advice and support.

Thank you for the opportunity to lead one of the last independent unions in the state, and I respectfully ask for your vote to re-elect me as your President.

Jeff Bucher

LRCEA President

Geoff Preston

Fellow Union Members,

For those of you that do not know me, my name is Geoff Preston, I currently work at ARC as a Senior IT Technician.  I have been with the district for more than 12 years.  We have seen a lot of good times and some bad times between the LRCCD and LRCEA.  My goal is to fight for what makes this school district great; its classified employees.

My plan is quite simple, to enforce what the union and district have agreed upon, verify the contract’s legal boundaries with State Ed codes and make sure that all employee needs are met.  There will be no job class unit too small to have the support of its Union.  I can guarantee that I will do my best to make sure that you are protected, at all times, as a workforce. For those of you who desire the same, you can count on me as your advocate to implement the laws and regulations equally among all members. Please vote for me and show your support for all Union members.

Additionally, LRCEA Members at ARC and DO will vote on a new representative.

Here are your candidates in alphabetical order, and the candidacy statements received: 

Candidate Statements for LRCEA ARC Representative:

Ed Bartholome

            My nomination for Los Rios Classified Employee’s Association representative for American River College is quite an honor. American River College has been a big part of my life since the fall of 2000.  I started out as a returning student here and marveled at the amazing work the people did here.  I was especially taken by the work of an Instructional Assistant here in the Computer Science and Information Technologies Department.  Paul Hodgkin’s dedication and kindness convinced me that ARC was the place I wanted to be a part of.  Over the years I was hired as student help/tutor in both the CSIT Department and the Learning Resource Center, honing my skills both as listener and mentor.  I found that by helping others, I became a better student, which in turn helped me become more able and competent at helping others.  I was then hired as a Classified Temporary by the LRC, and then by the Assessment Center, where I continued to advance my skills in helping our customers get all they could use from our awesome campus.  Finally landing my dream job as an Instructional Assistant in the CSIT Department was a dream come true.  Not only did I become an IA, but it happened in the department that inspired my dream in the first place.  As we all know, this does not always happen, much less so quickly.  Then by being promoted, I have a lot more to be thankful for.  Having worked around campus, I have developed relationships everywhere.  I know a lot of people here, both from being a student and as an employee.  Working here has provided me with an opportunity to meet people that I otherwise would not have met as a student.  I have taken advantage of this and met people from all over, I can proudly say from just about every department.  I also did a term as a non-voting representative for our campus Classified Senate as the Classified Temporary Representative. 

By following Paul’s example, I found a great calling.  And by coming back to college to brush up on math skills to help my teenage son with his high school homework, I found a wonderful career.  I feel my time here has been well spent, and I look forward to giving back to the people and place that has given me so much.  I am a firm believer in the Shared Governance process, and I am a member of the Technology Committee on campus. I believe I will provide all classified staff members with an open channel between them and our elected LRCEA officers.  Thank you.

DeCarla Strong

Hello! My name is DeCarla M. Strong and I am an Instructional Assistant for the Math Department. I have worked at ARC for over 10 years and during that time have served as a representative on the ARC Classified Senate. Currently, I serve on the Equity and Building, Grounds, and Safety Committee as well as one of the Accreditation teams.  I enjoy being an active member of the ARC community and if elected will do my best to represent you. Thank you for considering me as your ARC Representative.

Candidate Statements for LRCEA DO Representative:

Jason Cunningham

Vote for me Jason Cunningham for District Office Representative, I have been a DO rep for the last four years and have help the union pass a new contract.  Have been with the District for 8 years and been on the Insurance and Reclassification review committee. Get out make you vote for Jason

Taunya Wattier

I've worked at the District Office for 7 years as an Accounting Specialist. I feel that it is important that our members are informed with what LRCEA is working on and representing on our behalf. If elected I would assure that DO members are able to have their questions and concerns answered.

Congratulations to the nominees who ran unopposed and take office in July 2009:

Secretary                                           Wenda Vander Werf, ARC

SCC Representative                   Kellie Lusk

CRC Representative                   Leanne Rogers

 Note:  FLC nomination declined, and position will be vacant after July 2009.

Remember to vote on April 24!

Voting Locations:

ARC – Portable 603

CRC – Library Circulation Desk

DO – District Office Training Room

FLC - Admissions and Records

SCC - Rodda North, 1st Floor, Next to Elevators

Instructions for Centers:

A member who normally reports to work for the college district at an Educational or Outreach Center (Center) that is not located at a college campus, or the district office, in lieu of voting at the polling place at the main work location the particular Center is assigned to, may FAX his or her cast ballot to the LRCEA Office on the date of election, during the hours the polling places at the main work location for that Center is open for voting, however, when a ballot is delivered to the LRCEA by FAX, the voting member shall include his or her employee identification number on the ballot, in order for the Faxed ballot to be counted.

LRCEA Office Fax (916) 927-9726

 Remember to vote on April 24!

The elections will take place on April 24, 2009.