Auburn Journal: College's Reputation must be restored

By: Loryll Nicolaisen, Journal Staff Writer
Sunday, August 27, 2006 10:51 PM PDT


Martin Harmon, a lifelong Nevada County resident, is running for a seat on Sierra College's board of trustees in hopes that he can help restore the community's belief in the college and the board. Photo by ben furtado/Auburn JournalLifelong Nevada County resident Martin Harmon is looking to give Nancy Palmer a run for her seat representing Nevada County on the Sierra Joint Community College District board of trustees.

Incumbent Nancy Palmer, who's represented Area 6 of the district for 12 years, is seeking re-election.

Harmon, 38, hopes to return stability to the board, which has seen its fair share of controversy the past few years.

"The board has become too political and polarized, and it's grossly affecting their ability to function," he said.

Harmon is vice president and serves on the board of directors at Western Care Construction in Rocklin and is also a public works inspector for the City of Lincoln. He lives in rural Nevada County with his wife Michelle and their three children.

This is Harmon's second attempt at a public office following an unsuccessful campaign earlier this year for the Nevada County Board of Supervisors.

Harmon said he set his sights on Sierra's board of trustees because he'd like to see the college's reputation restored.

"First, we need to get back our pristine, white-horse image the college has had," he said. "The board of trustees' image should be untarnished ... everybody should have their faith and trust back in the college. I think that's imperative."

Harmon said the current board has its selling points and its drawbacks.

"The strengths I think are the outstanding board members that have made good decisions ... the weaknesses are egotistical ideas, where egos get in the way," he said.

Harmon said the board has become too political "instead of thinking about what's good for the students."

"There are some wonderful board members but there are problems as well," he said.

Harmon is currently reading through the Placer County grand jury report, released earlier this year, which states charges of a "money laundering scheme" made by Sierra trustee Aaron Klein against Kevin Ramirez, the college's then-president, were "utterly without merit."

Ramirez agreed to step down as president in January 2005, accepting a retirement package estimated at $500,000.

"I'm still digesting it but it's a travesty that this took place on a school board," Harmon said of the grand jury report's findings. "The cost on the community to retire a president is also a travesty. It is indeed a travesty that this went on in the first place. It really shouldn't have happened, at least the way that it did."

When asked if he supports the efforts of Save Sierra College, a recall group attempting to remove trustee Klein and board president Jerry Simmons, Harmon spoke carefully.

"I understand and agree with their thoughts behind the recall but I am very concerned," he said.

Harmon said his concern lies with the fact that the recall group failed to gather the approximately 26,000 signatures they needed from registered voters within the college district's boundaries in order to get the recall items on the November ballot. The recall group continues to collect signatures in hopes that they can attempt the recall by way of a special election.

"We spent a lot of money to retire a president that probably didn't need to go anywhere, and now we're talking about a recall that could cost $1 million," Harmon said. "That concerns me for the community. As a fiscal conservative, I'm very concerned with spending that kind of money. By no means am I against the recall, but my concern is the community."

The Journal asked Klein what his reaction was to Harmon's attitude toward the grand jury report and the recall effort.

"There are definitely folks like Mr. Harmon who have initially been concerned, but once they peel the onion back a bit, they quickly begin to understand the tremendous need that existed for reform at Sierra College, and that the college is now headed in a very good direction with Dr. Leo Chavez as our president," Klein said Friday via e-mail.

Another concern of Harmon's is the crumbling state of Sierra College's Rocklin campus. Voters knocked down Measure B in June, which promised $78.2 for upgrades and renovations for the aging facilities.

"Bonds have to pass. We have to prioritize our money," Harmon said. "You have to dedicate dollars to bring classrooms up to basics before starting something new. Existing maintenance is an absolute priority. It is critical that the existing facilities be maintained and upgraded."

E. Ken Tokutomi, president of Placer County's board of education, said Friday he thinks Harmon would be an asset to the Sierra College board.

"Martin has worked in the private sector, he's worked in the public sector, he's an articulate speaker," said Tokutomi, who is acting as Harmon's campaign manager. "He's got kids, he cares about the community and he cares about the college."

Harmon said last week that he had yet to meet Palmer and that he'd prefer not saying much about her, other than acknowledging her as the competition.

"Obviously, if there weren't any problems with Nancy I wouldn't be running," he said.

The Journal's Loryll Nicolaisen can be reached at lorylln@goldcountrymedia.com.