Candidate Name: Leanna Louie
Phone Number: (415) 310-8412
Web site: www.LeannaLouie.com
E-mail: info@leannalouie.com
Name of Campaign Manager: William Lee
How much do you expect to spend in this contest: As much funds as I can raise. My goal is to raise $10K per month from June to November 2024.
Major Endorsements: CA State Treasurer Fiona Ma, SF Deputy Sheriff's Association, Retired Judge Quentin Kopp, Retired Judge Claude Perasso, Attorney Karina Velasquez, Chinese American Citizens Alliance, and over 1200 individuals who signed my petition to get me on the ballot this November. A partial list is available on www.LeannaLouie.com/endorsements.
Incumbent whose votes are most similar to the way you would vote: I am not particularly close with any of the incumbents of CCSF Board of Trustees. I am willing to work with everyone.
Incumbent who votes least similarly to the way you would vote: I am not particularly close with any of the incumbents of CCSF Board of Trustees. I am willing to work with everyone.
1. Do you have practical ideas on how CCSF can be adequately funded?
Yes, there's more than one way to skin a cat. There are definitely many ways to procure more funding for CCSF. For one, we need to work on increasing enrollment. Increased enrollment means more funding from the State. We can also apply for Federal grants for CCSF. We can do fundraisers and invite philanthropists to donate to CCSF. We can also reach out to CCSF Alumni Associations or Clubs to help out with fundraising efforts.
2. Why are you running for College Board?
I am a sensible problem solver rooted in the community. CCSF is in danger of losing its accreditation, operating in financial debt, and suffering from low enrollment levels. I want to help change that. I'm excited to bring my experience in organizational leadership skills and balancing public budgets to fix these issues.
Like many city natives, I attended SF public schools & City College. I earned my Bachelor's Degree at Pacific Lutheran University. I'm a proud US Army veteran of 11 years, and worked as an Administrative Analyst for Sacramento Fire Dept for 10 years, where I managed the Emergency Medical Services billing and budget, resulting in a revenue increase from $9M to $15M in my first year.
My father was a Culinary Arts Instructor at City College 2003-2005. My younger son just started his first semester at CCSF. Everything that affects CCSF matters to me.
CCSF needs strong leaders who are willing to make difficult decisions to improve the education system. I am committed to putting students, faculty, staff as top priorities, along with balancing the budget, increasing enrollment levels, and attaining full accreditation for City College. A vote for me is a vote for accountability, sensibility, and balance.
3. How are you currently involved in the Community College -- or how were you involved in the past?
I was a student at CCSF during my Senior year at Mission High School 1989-1990. My father was a Culinary Arts instructor at CCSF 2003-2005. My 18 year old son is currently enrolled at CCSF. I am an involved parent with my child's education. He consults me on course choices and education planning.
4. What is your stance on public and private partnerships within the college?
I think it is important for City College to have opportunities for public and private partnerships. My first child was enrolled and graduated from Natomas Charter School which was a public-private partnership in Sacramento in 2012. It was very well run and they did a great job with my son who has learning disability. His education counselor worked with us on developing IEPs every semester and we were able to achieve education goals effectively.
5. What is your position on Free City College? How should it be changed, if at all?
I believe that City College should be free to students from low- and moderate-income families. There should be an application process to determine qualification. For moderate income families, it should be sliding scale tuition to help balance the budget. For families who are high income or wealthy in assets, they should be contributing to CCSF by paying tuition.
6. If elected to the Board, how would you ensure that you and the public would receive the college's draft budget with sufficient time to review it thoroughly before adopting it?
We need to work together as a Team to draft the budget and be open-minded, not adversarial. We must stay focused on the needs of the students above all.
7. What is your position on selling campus properties?
At this moment, I am opposed to selling any campus property. I would be open-minded to hear and read about the pros and cons of selling campus property. I would like to ask questions about the pros and cons before making any decisions on such an important issue.
8. Do you feel there is enough transparency or public disclosure of the Board and the college? How would you change things?
There is not enough transparency or public disclosure of the Board and the college. Most people in SF do not know what's going on at City College. We need to keep up with the times, as most people get their news from social media platforms. There needs to be an Administrative Staff to manage social media for the Board of Trustees meetings and decisions.
9. Have you attended the Community College Board meeting? Would you change public comment policy at the meetings? If so, how?
I have watched the Community College Board meetings online, not in person. I would like to make sure public comment is available for every item on the agenda.
10. How will you increase quality child care at ALL campuses?
On campus child care needs to be available during class hours for students with children under 12, on a sliding scale basis. Child care providers and staff members should be trained and certified in order to provide child care at ALL campuses.
11. How will you work to counter and prevent profiling and police harassment on campus? What is your position on police firearms on campus?
CCSF Campus police should go through a training program which addresses preventing profiling and police harassment on campus. I believe in protecting the innocent. Campus law enforcement should be armed with pepper spray and firearms, in the case when an active shooter needs to be dealt with.
12. What is your position on allowing noncitizens the right to vote for College Board and other local elections? Did you take a public position on previous ballot initiatives on the subject?
I support all law-abiding residents of San Francisco should have the right to vote for College Board. I oppose voting rights to convicted felons whether citizens or noncitizens, unless they have already served their time for their crime.
13. What are your views of transportation and pedestrian safety to, from and around City College campuses? What, if anything, would you change, and how would you go about making those changes?
Safety for everyone is important, whether you are a pedestrian, bicyclist, or driver. I drive my son to CCSF a few times per week. I see people walking to school, taking the bus to school, and driving to school. So far, I do not have major transportation safety concerns.
14. What is your position of military recruiting on campus?
A country without a strong Department of Defense is a country that will collapse when attacked. I am a US Army Veteran 1990-2001, I served in the Medical Service Corps Enlisted, and Military Intelligence Corps as an Officer. I believe we should allow military recruiting in public high schools, colleges, and universities.
Due Date: Friday, August 23, 11:59 pm
Please submit by email to cc@sfgreens.org. For more information, call
Barry Hermanson at 415-255-9494. Please return your answers in plain
text (not HTML, PDF, or Word format), so that we can post all
candidates' answers in the same format.
The SF Green Party will invite selected candidates who return
completed questionnaires on time to speak and answer questions at our
candidate forum and endorsement meeting. To be given time on our
agenda, each candidate needs at least two active Green Party members
to request their invitation. This will be a hybrid meeting, so
invited candidates may also speak with us via Zoom.
Our endorsement meeting is scheduled for Wed, August 28 from 6:30-9:30
pm at our office, 2973 16th St, #300, SF - note that this is across
the street from our old office in the Redstone Building. The first
two hours will be for interviews of selected candidates, and the last
hour will be for decision making.
Completed questionnaires will be posted on our website,
https://sfgreenparty.org.