Wants focus on quality

John Robert Shilling

The 58-year-old Coos Bay resident has lived in Coos County for all but six years of his life, which he spent in Central Oregon.



He grew up in Coquille.

• Why are you running for a position on the college's board of education?

As a former student of Southwestern, Shilling said he's thought about being on its board for some time. He explained that if it weren't for the college, he may not have continued his education. He added that he wants Southwestern to continue providing a quality education to current and future students that will take them onto higher education or a career.

"I really want to give something back to the college since I've gotten so much out of it," Shilling said.

He added that his business experience would aid him on the board.

"I think I can look at the big picture."

• What changes would you like to see made at the college?

Shilling said he wants to find ways to replace lost state funding without raising tuition any more than necessary. This could be done through careful examination of expenditures, grants, cost cutting measures and increasing classes offered through distance learning.

He also said he'd like to maintain current full-time faculty levels, bring a greater focus on adult basic education, and bring more classes on green technology, health care and natural resource management to the school.

"I'm not sure letting go of seven faculty positions is the best thing for the college," Shilling said. "We must provide programs that will lead to jobs."

• What would be your priorities as a board member?

More vocational programs and low-cost education.

"We have to make sure we do both of those," Shilling said.

• How should the college go about hiring a new president?

Shilling said that many of the college's recent presidents haven't served more than five years, and he believes Southwestern should hire someone who is willing to commit.

"It's important to look for someone qualified, but who also wants to stay in the area."

He noted that he believes interim president Patty Scott is doing a good job and is communicating well with various campus groups.

• What should be done with the future Curry County campus?

Shilling said the campus should be build as more students would likely enroll from that area.

"I don't think we should ... give up on the idea."

• Occupation: Semi-retired, Abby's Pizza delivery driver.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in botany from Oregon State University, teacher's certification from Eastern Oregon University, master's in education from Oregon State University. Also attended Southwestern Oregon Community College from 1968-70, along with continuing education.

• Business experience: Former owner of Earth Station Satellite Systems in North Bend, assistant manager at several stores in North Bend.

• Political experience: City of Culver Budget Committee and long-range planning committee; State Council on Alcoholism. Former officer and delegate to the central labor council for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Motion Picture Operators union.

• Organizations: 4-H program, Oregon Educators Association, Babe Ruth Baseball, Boy Scouts of America, superintendent for the Coos County Fair.

Wants more scrutiny

Julie Kremers

This 44-year-old Coos Bay resident has lived in the area for almost 10 years.



• Why are you running for a position on the college's board of education?

Kremers said she decided to run after someone suggested she join the SOCC board. While working at the college, she said she recognized there were some problems under Judith Hansen's administration, but wasn't able to voice her opinion. If elected, she can.

One problem she saw was the purchase of property adjacent to the college without the board's permission.

"I think our current board has been addressing some of those issues, but I want to make sure those issues are addressed."

She added she feels the public's voice should be heard when the college makes a major expenditure, as it is the public's money being spent. Kremers said in 2007-08 she went to Salem in hope of getting the college more funding.

"Basically, I'm not above begging for money for the college," Kremers said.

• What changes would you like to see made at the college?

"I would like to see ways of keeping the school going in a positive direction without more staff layoffs."

• What would be your priorities as a board member?

Keeping students in programs at the college, and drawing more wherever possible, vocational offerings and funding for the college.

"Vocational is very, very important to this area," Kremers said.

Regarding funding, Kremers believes there have to be other avenues for revenue to be identified. With her on the board, she might be able to find a few.

• How should the college go about hiring a new president?

Kremers said she wants to be involved in the presidential search, as she saw red flags when Judith Hansen was hired - including making promises she felt couldn't be kept.

"She just wasn't a good fit for this particular college," Kremers explained.

A good candidate for the college presidency, she said, would be a former educator who has some experience dealing with unions, and some financial background.

"They need to be able to know how the unions work and how to work with them," Kremers said. "I think the president needs to be aware of what is happening with every staff member on campus."

• What should be done with the future Curry County campus?

Having recently driven to Gold Beach, Brookings and Port Orford several times in a row, Kremers said it's very difficult for Curry County students to get to the Coos Bay campus and believes they need their own educational venue.

"I have a lot of compassion for those guys having to do that drive."

She added that while they can take online classes, those are not always offered when a student needs them. She said she understands the college wants to begin construction this summer.

"I think the current board is pretty much getting that on track," Kremers said.

• Occupation: Finance assistant for the city of Coos Bay.

• Education: Associate degree in computer applications and currently working toward an associate degree in business at Southwestern Oregon Community college.

• Business experience: Finance for the city of Coos Bay, also worked in human resources and payroll for Southwestern for six years until November 2008. While at the college, created an in-house budget committee to let employees weigh in on the process.

• Political experience: Lobbied for funds in 2007-08 before the Oregon Legislature's Joint Ways & Means Committee.

• Organizations: Committee for Relay for Life.

Wants better collaboration

Brett Kenney

The 42-year-old North Bend resident has lived in the area for about five years.



• Why are you running for a position on the college's board of education?

Kenney wants to be a role model for his two daughters and hopes to do that via public service. He noted he hasn't been able to get involved for the past seven years because of work and family obligations. He's very concerned about the community and feels the college is an important part of that. Southwestern presents a chance for families to improve their situations and themselves, he said.

"The middle class has been disappearing for quite a while," Kenney said. "The health of SOCC correlates with the health of the economy."

• What changes would you like to see made at the college?

Kenney said he does not come with a specific agenda for Southwestern beyond the success of students.

"I am not somebody who is going to come in and change everything around," he said.

He said he does want to see the board listen more closely to the union, especially in situations where they show no confidence in the college president, as occurred during Judith Hansen's administration.

"You have to pay attention to that," Kenney said.

He also hopes to create a better practice of collaborating with the employee unions on topics such as the budget process. 

Kenney would also like to use his lobbying experience to maintain funding the college gets from state and federal sources and to maintain the local control on how that money is spent.

• What would be your priorities as a board member?

Kenney said his first priority would be surviving the economic downturn, followed by the selection of a permanent president and the development of the Brookings campus. He said he'd also encourage a greater dialogue with the community on how the college can better respond to educational and economic needs.

• How should the college go about hiring a new president?

While the process to hire a new president is a good one, Kenney said it should be made with the community and employee union input.

 "I think the board should seek out multiple opinions and perspectives from stakeholders," he said.

A president he'd like to see running the college would be someone who is mature, has comparable experience, understands state and federal funding, personnel issues, labor negotiations, property development and finance. That person, he hopes, also would be a good listener and compassionate.

• What should be done with the future Curry County campus?

Kenney said Curry County is a major priority and should be recognized as such. He added that there aren't enough opportunities for people in Curry County and the college can step forward to help them. One way to help students in those area would be to take a hard look at technology and increase those services.

"At some point we need to talk about what is the most efficient way to expand services to some of our smaller service communities," Kenney said.

• Occupation: Attorney for the Coquille Indian Tribe.

• Education: Law degree from Notre Dame Law School, bachelor's degree from Portland State University, high school diploma from Newport High School.

• Business experience: Advised corporate boards for 16 years as an attorney. Worked in local businesses.

• Political experience: Limited to representing tribal governments.

• Organizations: Oregon State Bar Association.