In the recent election for the Los Angeles Community College District board, incumbent Steve Veres has taken a strong lead in the race for Seat 2, while Darryn Harris is currently ahead for Seat 4 and Randall Winston is leading in the contest for Seat 6, based on the initial ballot counts.
Candidates Competing for Key Board Positions
A total of 16 candidates are competing for three available seats on the seven-member board of trustees. These seats are at-large, meaning they do not correspond to specific geographic areas. Covering an expansive 900 square miles, the LACCD is the largest college district in the country, and it serves a student body of approximately 200,000, predominantly low-income individuals.
The candidates come from diverse backgrounds, each bringing unique perspectives and ideas to the table. However, they share a common consensus: there is a pressing need for district leadership to better address the fundamental requirements of students striving to reach their higher education aspirations.
Currently, educator Adriana Cabrera is positioned second in early results for Seat 2, with business owner Kristina Irwin not far behind in third place.
Steve Veres, who also advises state Senator María Elena Durazo, has garnered support from numerous Democratic lawmakers and labor unions, including those representing LACCD’s faculty and staff members.
With incumbent Sara Hernandez vying for a state Senate seat, the race for Seat 4 has opened up significantly. Darryn Harris, a community affairs officer at St. John’s Community Health, has secured the backing of a broad coalition of Democratic officials, labor organizations, and six of the seven current LACCD trustees, including Hernandez, making him the top-funded candidate for this seat.
The early election results indicate a close competition between healthcare workforce specialist Elaine Alaniz and former board member Nancy Pearlman for the second and third slots.
Insights Into Seat 6 Contest
In the ongoing Seat 6 election, incumbent Gabriel Buelna is trailing in second place, followed closely by community college professor Roberto David LaCarra in third, according to the latest tallies.
Randall Winston, who currently serves as a deputy mayor under Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, received a crucial endorsement from the district’s faculty union, which is backing his campaign with significant financial resources. James McKeever, the president of the AFT Local 1521 faculty union, has clarified that the executive board favored a shift in direction and considers Winston to be the strongest candidate.
Both Buelna and another candidate have raised concerns, alleging that Winston has misled voters by identifying himself in the campaign as an architect and educator, despite his primary role as deputy mayor focused on infrastructure and climate resilience. In response, Winston affirmed that his foundational degree is in architecture and that he is licensed in that field. He also mentioned plans to teach a leadership course at West L.A. College this fall.
