Roberto Alcantar was elected to Southwestern College governing board seat #3 with 37 percent of the vote.
After Humberto Peraza announced last November that he would not seek re-election, a five-candidate race to replace him began. Alcantar had an 11 percent lead over the second place candidate William McLeroy, an Army veteran and retired firefighter, who received 26 percent of the vote.
Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka was in third with 20 percent. Attorney Lei-Chala Wilson received 10 percent and returning student Lander Iriarte pulled in just under 6 percent.
Alcantar said he was looking forward to his term.
“I’m beyond thrilled and excited to be the next governing board member,” he said. “I know I definitely have some big shoes to fill with Humberto Peraza being in that seat before me, but you know I see Humberto as
a mentor, as someone who’s helped me come in there and do a really good job at the campus.”
Peraza endorsed Alcantar early in the race, calling him “a younger version” of himself. He said Alcantar had the talent to make a good board member.
“I think he’s going to do a great job,” said Peraza. “He comes in with so much experience already. It’s something that we looked at early on and we’re really proud of what he’s accomplished with his campaign and look forward to what he’s going to do for our community and for the college. I’m expecting really big things from him. I think the only advice I would give him is to stand up for what you believe and be courageous. That’s the main thing.”
Alcantar said this election was meaningful to him.
“For me it’s about serving my community and being able to give back to an institution of higher education that did so much for my family,” he said. “That’s really what helped change my life and my family, continuing to have that kind of opportunity for us as a family to really move forward. So I’m really excited about being able to give back through public service and really start advocating for our students and our faculty.”
One of his top priorities will be accreditation, he said.
“We need to protect our college,” he said. “(Accreditation) is something I’ll be taking very seriously and I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
SWC was issued 15 sanctions by the Accreditation Commission of Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) last fall and must submit a follow-up report in March after being placed on warning. Alcantar will also be presiding over the selection of a new superintendent/president. His four-year term begins in December.