Endorsements

There are two run-offs for the remaining ACC board seats. Election day is June 1, and early voting is May 19-24 and May 28 (early voting locations and additional info is posted on ACC's Web site atwww2.austin.cc.tx.us/grantdev/election.htm, including brief biographical info about the candidates.

Based on our review of the positions and experience of each candidate, the Chronicle makes the following endorsements:

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Place 2: Paul Sherr

This one remains a tough call. Our endorsed candidate, Caleb Buckley, came in third and has since endorsed Sherr. We believe either of the remaining candidates would be an asset to ACC's Board, and each boasts new endorsements from groups whose judgment we respect. John Hernandez is an accountant who has served on the boards of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Austin, the YMCA, and other community groups, where he says he often became the obvious choice for treasurer. His experience as an auditor would certainly be welcome on the ACC board. Sherr, on the other hand, has been a college counselor and dedicated community activist, he has already generated such faculty and staff support that they recruited him to run for this position, and his strongest endorsements come from faculty organizations. Both men share the same basic approach to ACC policy: restoring student and faculty confidence by maintaining a balanced budget and better planning, developing more democratic governance, and seeking additional funding.

While both men have particular talents that the board could use, on balance we believe that Sherr has developed a more complete sense of what the college needs in terms of administration and shared governance, and is more fully committed to actively reaching out to the ACC community and the larger public to begin again to believe in the college as one of its most important community resources.

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Place 3: James McGuffee

Our "Postmarks" column has featured more than a little fireworks on these races, but we continue to believe that McGuffee's enthusiasm for ACC and his past experience as a teacher and an administrator at the college make him stand out. His understanding of the issues facing the board seems more fully developed than that of other candidates, and he has a well-considered plan of action: reforming board policy for shared governance; expanding the tax base with new school districts; steadily working toward an equitable pay and benefits policy for both full- and part-time faculty; and restoring community confidence in the board and the college before asking voters for a tax increase.

Nan McRaven, a communications and public affairs executive at Motorola, has an impressive résumé and wide range of community involvement, including experience as an adjunct ACC faculty member. She emphasizes communications as the key to restoring the board's credibility, as well as better financial management and increased funding, but she is not specific about how these things should be done. Her experience does indicate that her presence on the board would make a positive contribution.

But we believe McGuffee is both amply qualified to join the ACC board, and represents well the new blood and community engagement that the board so sorely needs if it is to restore a sense of community on the campuses and the confidence of the larger public.

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Early voting on May 19 is noon-5pm. May 20-24 is 8am-5pm. There is no early voting during Memorial Day Weekend (May 25-27). The last early voting day is May 28, 8am-5pm.

Early Voting Locations:

Austin Recreation Center - 1301 Shoal Creek Blvd.

ACC Business Center / District Offices - 5930 Middle Fiskville Rd.

ACC Eastview Campus - 3401 Webberville Rd.

ACC Northridge Campus - 11928 Stonehollow Dr.

ACC Riverside Campus - 1020 Grove Blvd.

Anderson High School - 8403 Mesa Dr.

Bowie High School - 4103 W. Slaughter Ln.

Crocket High School - 5601 Manchaca Rd.

ACC Cypress Creek Campus - 1555 Cypress Creek Rd., Cedar Park

Manor Middle School - 10323 Hwy. 290 East, Manor For more information, go to www2.austincc.edu/grantdev/election.htm or call 223-7889.