Foothill-De Anza board: Four seeking three-year position

Candidates battle over seat left open by Jackman's resignation

by Charlie Breitrose

Four candidates are vying to fill an open seat on the Foothill-De Anza Community College Board.

The winner will serve the three remaining years of the seat left vacant by Jay Jackman, who resigned this fall because he was moving out of the area.

Following are brief descriptions of the candidates.

Edward "Sandy" Hay, 63, is a geology engineering consultant and former math and science teacher. A Cupertino resident, he would emphasize the acquisition of basic skills by students and a more efficient, student-oriented administration. He also favors the introduction of more new technologies, but only if they are taught with the "creativity and guidance of skilled and dedicated classroom teachers," his election literature says. Hay ran unsuccessfully in the board election in 1997. He has been endorsed by the California School Employees Association, the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council and the Santa Clara County Democratic Committee.

Retired flight attendant J. Elaine Lubich, 54, was a volunteer in the Los Altos-Mountain View High School District for 14 years. A resident of Los Altos Hills, she was president of the Santa Clara Valley Learning Disabilities Association. As a board member, Lubich says she would refine a cost-efficient system that recognizes student diversity and promotes development of individual skills. She also wants to encourage more community participation in advisory, volunteer and fiscal functions. In addition, she wants to push for more alumni donations, foundation grants and community contributions to help finance the district.

Raychem Corp. executive Joseph Krackeler, 61, says he would use his strong chemistry background to help improve the technical orientation in the curriculum. Krackeler, a Los Altos Hills resident, is a former instructor of general chemistry at De Anza. In his campaign, he stresses improving advanced science equipment and computer technology, as well as serving the needs of students in vocational programs who are not seeking to move on to a four-year college. He added that he supports seeking more partnerships with the business community, government agencies and private foundations.

Los Altos educator Pat Lemp Millar has taught graduate courses at San Jose State University and has been director of the evening division of the College of Notre Dame and associate dean at National University. She says her background in educational administration would help in financial matters and in the development and implementation of policy. Millar has been endorsed by former trustee Jackman and Reps. Tom Campbell (R-Campbell) and Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto).