Elections

• The Compton Community College District operates Compton College and serves communities within the District’s trustee areas.
• The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the District and consists of five elected trustees, plus a non-voting student trustee elected by students.
• The Board’s role is to govern on behalf of the public, establish policy direction, support institutional goals, and help ensure the District fulfills its mission of providing access to quality higher education.

• Trustees are elected by trustee area, and candidates must reside in and be registered to vote in the trustee area they seek to represent.
• Only registered voters within the same trustee area vote for that trustee position.
• Governing Board elections are held every two years in even-numbered years and coincide with the statewide general election.
• Trustee terms are staggered so that, as nearly as practical, one half of the Board is elected at each trustee election.
• Trustee Areas 1, 4, and 5 are scheduled for election in 2026 and every four years thereafter; Trustee Areas 2 and 3 are scheduled for election in 2028 and every four years thereafter.

• The term of office for each trustee is four years.
• The term begins on the first Friday in December following the election.
• A trustee whose term has expired continues to discharge the duties of office until a successor has qualified.

• Candidates should confirm their trustee area of residence and voter registration status before filing.
• Candidate filing, forms, filing deadlines, ballot designation rules, campaign statements, and official election requirements are administered by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
• The District may provide general information about the Board, trustee areas, and District governance but does not administer candidate filing or provide legal or campaign advice.

• Represent the public interest and serve the District’s students and communities.
• Establish policies that define the District’s mission and set ethical, legal, and operational standards.
• Assure fiscal health and stability.
• Monitor institutional performance, educational quality, and progress toward District goals.
• Advocate for and protect the District.
• Delegate authority to the President/Chief Executive Officer to lead District operations.
• Hire and evaluate the President/Chief Executive Officer.
• Respect the authority of the President/Chief Executive Officer by providing policy direction and guidance through the Board as a whole.

• Access and completion: improve enrollment, retention, persistence, and completion rates.
• Student success: support students in meeting their educational goals, with attention to historically underrepresented and underserved populations.
• Innovation: support the effective use of technology and innovative practices to enhance student success.
• Workforce development: strengthen programs and pathways connected to regional workforce needs.
• Partnerships: build and maintain partnerships that benefit students, the District, and the communities served.
• Board responsibilities and professional development: maintain effective governance, ethical standards, and continued trustee learning.

• Regular Board meetings are generally held monthly and are open to the public.
• Closed session typically begins before open session when closed session items are scheduled.
• Regular meeting agendas are posted at least 72 hours in advance; special meeting agendas are posted at least 24 hours in advance.
• Trustees should expect to review agenda materials, attend regular and special meetings, participate in retreats or study sessions, and engage in required trainings and governance responsibilities.

• Trustees act as members of the Board as a whole; individual trustees do not direct District operations or act on behalf of the Board unless authorized.
• Trustees should avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of impropriety.
• Trustees are expected to make decisions based on available facts and independent judgment while serving all residents of the District.
• Trustees should understand open meeting requirements, public records obligations, ethics rules, conflict-of-interest requirements, and mandatory training obligations that apply to public officials.

• Board of Trustees webpage, including current trustees and trustee area information.
• Trustee Area Map and trustee area descriptions.
• Board policies and administrative regulations available through BoardDocs.
• Board meeting schedule, agendas, and minutes.
• District budget and financial documents.
• District strategic planning, accreditation, institutional goals, and annual planning documents.
• Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee and bond/construction information, as applicable.

This information is provided as a general resource for prospective candidates. It is not legal advice and does not replace official election information provided by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk or applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Candidates are responsible for confirming all filing requirements, deadlines, campaign rules, and eligibility requirements with the appropriate election officials.