Incumbent Jim Buchan squares off against challenger Dan Cucchi this November on the voting ballots. Both are fighting for the Yuba College Board of Trustee position for Area 2 in Sutter County.
As one of seven elected Board positions, this seat carries a lot of weight in the administration of Yuba College. Many people– including professors, staff and students– have voiced concerns over the current administration’s handling of the college.
Jim Buchan taught at the college for 25 years before taking his position on the board six years ago. Buchan has lobbied at our state capital in support of Yuba College. He has been happy with our new governor, because of his support of education.
Buchan said that this year especially has been a good year, and continued, “There are good people in the legislation right now that support community colleges.”
Dan Cucchi, a former student of Yuba College, is a substitute teacher and graduate student at San Jose State University. He is a citizen of Sutter County, a husband and a father. He ran an unsuccessful campaign a few years ago for a local school district position. He says he learned a lot from that campaign, and this time around, he plans to be more successful. “I want to do something for the community,” he said.
Cucchi claims to bring to the table something that he says the board is lacking. He claims that there is a communication issue at Yuba College. There is mounting tension between the administration, faculty and staff over budget cuts, lay offs and raises.
Cucchi sites the January pay raise of President Harrington amongst layoffs at the college, as the wrong message to send at the wrong time. President Harrington had earned a $15,813 raise, nine months after the same Board of Trustees had initially lain off 37.17 full-time equivalent classified employees.
Buchan has the advantage of being the incumbent. He knows this area well, and is very active in many aspects of it. He is a member of local clubs, including the Rotary Club of Yuba City. He remains a prominent figure in Sutter County.
It is Cucchi’s hope that the influx of new voters into the growing area will aid in his campaign. With so many new houses built and new people in the area, it will be up to the candidates to get their names out.
It is still a close race. Both candidates have their advantages and their disadvantages. Buchan has experience. Cucchi has youth. Buchan is close to the issues at hand and understands what is going on. Cucchi offers an outsider’s perspective and can look at the Board from the outside in.
Both candidates are ready for November.
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