Community colleges: Voters elect incumbents, pass bond measure Community colleges: Voters elect incumbents, pass bond measure (November 16, 2005)

By Marjorie Mader

Almanac Staff Writer

With voter support of a $468 million bond measure last week, the San Mateo County Community College District can move ahead to complete the upgrading and renovation of its three campuses -- Canada in Woodside, College of San Mateo in San Mateo, and Skyline College in San Bruno.

Bond Measure A was approved by 64 percent of the voters: 101,397 voted yes and 56,862, no. Passage required approval of 55 percent of the voters.

Voters in the countywide district also re-elected Trustees Helen Hausman of Atherton and Richard Holober of Millibrae to four-year terms on the college district's governing board.

Mrs. Hausman received the most votes, 87,158, with Mr. Holober receiving 73,684. Trailing were Jack Hickey, tax-foe and perennial candidate, 32,140; and Maurice Dupra Goodman, Skyline graduate and community activist, 22,100.

Bond Measure A funds will be used to continue upgrading the campuses, a process started four years ago when voters passed a $207 million bond measure.

Funds will be used to update nursing and healthcare training labs; modernize science, engineering and computer labs and classrooms; build training facilities for firefighters and police; modernize campus libraries and job-training centers; complete seismic retrofits and energy-saving projects; and improve handicapped access.

About 40,000 students are enrolled in the three community colleges.

The vote count includes mail-in ballots counted as of November 11.

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