I am Alex Starr, and I am here tonight speaking for the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City.

There are many issues facing this Ohlone Board, and they will require that you work closely with the public to get input. Public participation will make it easier for you to make decisions that better serve your constituents.

The league has several suggestions that we would like to have you consider:

1. The process that you will be using to search for a new president should be made known to the public. When you prepare a profile of the person you are seeking, public input should be sought so that the concerns and needs of local residents are addressed. This will help to ensure consensus on the choice you make to fill this important position.
2. Input from the Bond Advisory Committee should be reported to the Board monthly so that both bodies can work collegially as the construction on both campuses proceeds. Open dialog between you and the Bond Committee is a necessity.
3. We suggest that a representative from Fremont be appointed to the group that is researching the joint use library in Newark. The satellite campus needs to be considered one that is available and open not only to residents of Newark but also to the majority of the college's students and taxpayers who live in Fremont. Balanced representation on all committees is required.
4. We suggest that you appoint a subcommittee to study the issue of this college's use of numbered seats to run for election. The subcommittee should report back to the full board giving information that should lead to a discussion and a board decision about whether this is the best way to conduct an election. The time to do this is now when there is no imminent election so there can be no political implications.