Two spots on the board of trustees for College of the Mainland are up for election. Keith Henry and Elias Ramirez are both trying to take away Donald Gartman’s seat on the board as a member at large.
Melissa Skipworth is in fifth place on the board, and Robin Tyra is going up against her. “College of the Mainland Junior College District was formed in 1966,” says the COM’s board of trustees handbook. The College District is 237 square miles, and the five separate school districts of Dickinson Hitchcock, La Marque, Santa Fe, and Texas City pay taxes there. Friendswood ISD and the part of Clear Creek ISD in Galveston County are in its service area.
Trustee Candidates
As a member of the board of trustees, you have many duties that affect the students, staff, and society. According to the handbook, the board’s jobs are, in addition to meeting “legal requirements,” to:
Serve as the College District’s only policy-making group. Receive, think about, and act on the ideas and recommendations of its executive staff about how the College District works and what it should do. Choose and find places for College District buildings, pay for their construction, and plan for any needed expansions. Choose the College President and rate him or her.
Choose a College President, faculty, and other employees needed to run the College District. Set the pay and how the College President, faculty, and other employees will be paid. It will make employment contracts if they don’t go against the rules. Based on what the College President says, set fees for enrollment, labs, the library, the gym, and tuition.
Levy taxes, sell bonds, borrow money, and, if necessary, use the College District’s assets as security for its debts, subject to the restrictions set by the laws of the State of Texas and the general law, as it sees fit for the operation of the College District.” The Post newspaper allowed each candidate to tell our readers about themselves. We’re glad that all of the candidates are ready to serve our community, and we thank them all for that. Early voting continues until May 2, and May 6 is the last day to vote. Please take the time to vote for the Board of Trustees of the College of the Mainland.
Re-Elect Don Gartman
My name is Don Gartman, and I’ve lived in Galveston County for the past 50 years. I don’t run for office. I work in business. A seasoned business leader with decades of experience as an executive manager. I worked for The Light Company (HL&P, CenterPoint, etc.) for 21 years as the Galveston County District Manager. I lived in Argentina for eight years and was the Chairman and President of a power utility company there that was owned by CenterPoint. Over 1,000 workers & 4-500 contract employees.
Board Member and Chairman of the Port of Galveston, Galveston County Central Appraisal District, Galveston County Economic Development Alliance & SBDC, Galveston Chamber of Commerce, Galveston Rotary Club, and University of Houston Clear Lake Advisory Board. Other groups that help the community in the Houston/Galveston area.
“I’m very interested in education!” I think my experience as a manager and the fact that my programs and buildings have been successful for the past six years make me qualified to stay on The Board.
Keith Henry
When I am elected to COM Position-7, one of my main goals is to ensure that COM becomes one of the best community schools in the country. I want to keep creating a place where intellectual excellence thrives. I want to boost the morale of employees, students, and the community by implementing a good community involvement plan.
I want to improve our programs for training workers in industrial skills, aviation, and adult education. I will also support important training programs and build on courses that count for high school and college credit. As a public administrator, an elected official, and a professor, I have a lot of different perspectives on how to run the government and help neighborhoods. My lovely wife Dionne and I were born and raised in Galveston County. You must read that YouTube Prankster Arrested In Texas On Instagram Live
We have three kids. The Galveston County Daily News honored me to be a 40 under 40 winner in 2020. BA in English from Buffalo State University and an MPA from Texas Southern University. Getting close to finishing a Ph.D. in Public Policy. (Needs research for a dissertation or needs dissertation)Keith
Henry
When I am elected to COM Position-7, one of my main goals is to ensure that COM becomes one of the best community schools in the country. I want to keep creating a place where intellectual excellence thrives. I want to boost the morale of employees, students, and the community by implementing a good community involvement plan.
I want to improve our programs for training workers in industrial skills, aviation, and adult education. I will also support important training programs and build on courses that count for high school and college credit. As a public administrator, an elected official, and a professor, I have a lot of different perspectives on how to run the government and help neighborhoods. My lovely wife Dionne and I were born and raised in Galveston County. We have more Texas news related to North Texas Customer Who Overpaid For Electricity and Got A Refund.
We have three kids. The Galveston County Daily News honored me to be a 40 under 40 winner in 2020. BA in English from Buffalo State University and an MPA from Texas Southern University. Getting close to finishing a Ph.D. in Public Policy.
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