Tom Fuentes is an Orange County political icon. He's been active in OC and Republican politics since the late 1960s, including a record 20 years as chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County -- during which the OC GOP reached a zenith of popularity and influence.

Tom's life has been largely one of service: from his -much-heralded service to the cause of conservative Republicanism to his mostly-unheralded service to the less fortunate in OC through the Orange County Food Bank (now called Second Harvest), not to mention his quient and prodigious service to the poor of Tijuana.

While less active in OC GOP politics, Tom remains engaged as a member of the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, for which he is running for re-election this year.

I caught up with Tom, who has been a friend and mentor to me for many years, and interviewed him about his re-election campaign and other matters. Here is Part One of the interview:

Matthew Cunningham: Tom, I think the first thing on readers' minds is your health. Can you give us an update on your liver transplant and your health in general? 

Tom Fuentes: After a year-long battle with cancer, I received a liver transplant on May 1st, for which I will be eternally grateful.   The doctors have declared me to be cancer-free at this time.  My recovery is way ahead of schedule.  I feel good and am resuming my normal social, political and business schedule.

I credit my recovery to the wonderful medical team at UCLA and to the power of prayer of family and friends. 

MC: How long have you served on the SOCCD Board? What are your responsibilities as a trustee
 
TF: I have served for two elected terms.  Before that, I was appointed to finish an unexpired term.

My responsibilities as a trustee are to represent the taxpayers in providing a quality higher education opportunity for students in our local community colleges at the most fiscally responsible price.  Likewise, I think it is vital that a board of trustees sets the tone for success by selecting the best leadership team for the district and its colleges.  We have a terrifically talented administrative team at the South Orange County Community College District.

MC: Why are you seeking another term?

TF: We have achieved great things at the South Orange County Community College District by building a superb team of fiscally cautious administrators to guide the operations of our three campuses, Saddleback College, Irvine Valley College, and the new Advanced Technology and Education Park in Tustin.  Overall, we have a fine faculty who is devoted to the students and their learning.  I believe that our board strives to be sure that our colleges well represent the values and traditions of the South Orange County community.

We also have fine middle management personnel, a hard working classified employee staff and a dedicated campus police department.  All of these elements of the district's payroll deserve fair and equitable treatment. 

But, there is also a small element of liberal union bosses leading our local CTA-affiliated faculty labor union who want control of the public checkbook to enhance their salaries and eliminate responsible public oversight. They have attempted to macro-manage affairs at the colleges but we have worked hard on the board to stop these efforts. Unfortunately, we have only a one vote margin. So it is important that Dave Lang, John Williams, and I remain on the board. If any one of us loses, we will give control of the district purse strings to a CTA union leadership that does not have the public interest and our students in mind and will not exercise fiscal restraint or who will govern in a manner consistent with our community's values. 

We have the obligation - and have been successful - to plan, save, and utilize the fiscal resources of the district to build and renovate on all of our three campuses.  We have implemented advanced technology and improved facilities to better serve our students.  This is the kind of prudent use of district funds that cannot be abandoned to the whims of liberal union bosses.

MC: What would you point to as your proudest accomplishments as a trustee?
 
TF: The fiscal stability of our district is second to none in the state.  We have no debt, and face the future with healthy reserves, while offering a first class college education to our district's residents.  We do not seek the passage of bond measures.  We are responsible to the local taxpayers. We have high transfer rates of our students to four-year institutions.  Our students are the proof of our success.  And, our students are proud of their college education in our district.

And, in a matter dear to my own heart, recently, the board voted unanimously to support my proposal to name our new board of trustees auditorium, the Ronald Reagan Board of Trustees Room on the Saddleback College campus.  It was 40 years ago that Governor Reagan came to the campus to turn the first spade of earth at the groundbreaking.  It is fitting that we honor his memory. 

MC: What are the most important issues currently, and what our your priorities for your next term?
 
TF: A continued record of a balanced budget and no borrowing are essential to the future of our District.  We have the opportunity to develop the new ATEP land in Tustin.  Our District received the 68 acres of the old Marine Corps helicopter base as part of the "Peace Dividend" accomplished for our nation by President Ronald Reagan when he won the Cold War.  We have an obligation to wisely use the land.