One of these seats is contested, while the other three candidates face no opposition.
The current chair of the board and seat holder for Zone 4, Ronald Foerster, has decided not to run again. He feels that he has contributed all that he can to the board in the term that he has served. In his time with the board, Foerster has strongly advocated lowering the cost of college for students, and also creating college credit courses for high school seniors, which encourage high school graduates to continue their education, and provide them with a perspective on what college classes will be like. He feels that a great deal of progress has been made in this regard.
“In four years you bring your experience and your best ideas and you put them on the table and you try to get some things done, and after that you should be prepared to step aside and let somebody else come in and bring their fresh ideas and new energy,” said Foerster.
David Ford, general manager of the Bend neighborhood of Northwest Crossing, is running for Zone 4 in his place. As general manager of a neighborhood that has won multiple awards for green building, Ford hopes to bring an environmental perspective to the COCC campus.
“I said about five years ago: there is a green wave upon us, and you can get on and ride the wave or it’s going to leave you behind… I would love to see the campus developed in as sustainable a way as possible,” said Ford.
Zone 4 is one of three that covers the city of Bend, along with several surrounding precincts.
Anthony Dorsch, who holds the position for Zone 3, which covers Redmond and surrounding areas, has served on the board of directors for twelve years with an extensive background in education. Dorsch was a professor of biology at Linfield College, and taught chemistry and biology at Redmond High School for 25 years
“I represent the process of education [on the board]. I understand how it works. I’ve been in the trenches,” said Dorsch.
Dorsch has worked over the years to improve the Bend and Redmond campuses of COCC, having contributed to renovation and also plans for a possible partnership between COCC’s manufacturing applied technology center and the Oregon Institute of Technology. He hopes to continue this effort, as well as find new ways to improve COCC campuses in the future. Dorsch is running against Douglas Ertner, senior account executive for Central Electric Cooperative.
If elected, Ertner plans to utilize his extensive background in economic development to expand educational opportunities for Central Oregon students. Along with a group of dedicated individuals, Ertner has worked to bring post-secondary educational options to Central Oregon by working with the University of Phoenix to possibly set up a campus here. This group has met with many individuals, including members of COCC administration, to discuss the potential of projects such as this.
“We’re looking to compliment programs that are already existing here in Central Oregon, and articulate them with the COCC campus. That is why it has really been important in our meetings and discussions to include COCC,” said Ertner.
Donald Reeder, who currently holds the seat for Zone 1, which covers Wasco and Jefferson counties, and Joyce Lynn Garrett, vice chair and holder of the seat for Zone 2, which covers Crook, Klamath, and Lake Counties, are both running unopposed. Positions will begin on July 1.