For the first time in El Camino College history, a Latino will be elected to serve on the five-member Board of Trustees in the Nov. 5 election.

“Vying for the Area 5 seat are Torrance City Councilman Cliff Numark, university technology administrator G. Rick Marshall and business owner Aria Shafiee. Competing to represent Area 2 are Hawthorne school board member John Vargas and Hawthorne City Councilman Nilo Michelin,” according to a Daily Breeze article.

Area two consists of Lennox and Hawthorne and area five consists of south Torrance and south Redondo Beach.

Marshall applies his idea of free market principles to his personal life because of his success in implementing this work ethic with students in the past.

“We donated money and time, putting together this little company, teaching them how to manufacture and market their product. I loved watching my young entrepreneurs succeed. Free market capitalism, these kids got a taste of it, this is what it’s about to get ahead in America,” Marshall said.

Passionate about his community and teaching, along with being a council member for the past ten years as well as a being a high school teacher, has made him aware of students’ needs, Michelin said.

“I served as a Hawthorne prosecutor for ten years and I have my teaching credentials,” he added. “I serve on the Oversight Committee on the Foundation Board, and I want to make sure local students get priority when they register for classes.”

Michelin has plans to better the relationship between EC and high schools and expand what EC can offer to incoming students.

Numark has experience in being hands on with business communities and balancing the budget as a legislative aid. This gives him the edge in transforming the young generation into entrepreneurs, he said.

“I served as a business incubator, we set up a resource center for folks who want to start their own business,” Numark said. “It’s free advice for marketing professionals to grow in their business. It’s a private sector lead, it helps local business communities.”

Being an administrator for many years, Vargas has become more aware of the needs of students and their families.

Voicing the concerns and best interests of the common folk is something Vargas strives to address in his first year as a trustee, he said.

“The last four years I have served as a board member for the Hawthorne School Board. Every decision we made affected students,” Vargas said. “I always asked myself, ‘Is this decision in the best interests of our students?’ That has always been my priority.”

Vargas said he continually considers students to be the most important factor when making decisions, and will continue to do so as a trustee.

“In my daily work at the middle school, I make decisions daily that affect students,” Vargas said. “I manage the school’s budget and make sure my teachers have the resources they need to provide quality instruction to all
students.”