Shortly after the February 5, 2005 Election, the ACCD Trustees assembled a cross-section of citizens to review a plan that would incorporate equity in a number of different ways, especially with regard to the location of the health campus.  The Committee included the following distinguished citizens:

          Hon. Dan Naranjo, Attorney & Facilitator

Jaymie Balboa…Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Leslye Baumann, ACCD District 9

Mark Bernard, Methodist Hospital System

Bennie Cole, ACCD District 5

Dominic Dominguez, Baptist Hospital System

Cedrick Edwards, Randolph Metro-com Chamber of Commerce

Cary Fox, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital System

Tom Frost, Member-at-Large

Dr. Robert Jimenez, University Health System

Michael Llamas, Northeast Area

John Longoria, ACCD District 4

Weston Martinez, ACCD District 8

Steve Mifflin, ACCD District 6

Alan Miller, Alamo WorkSource

Rolando Pablos, Greater SA Chamber of Commerce

Gloria Ray, ACCD District 2

Greg Shean, Northwest Area

David Sosa, ACCD District 3

Alejandro Soto, ACCD District 1

Dr. Morris Striebling, Alamo City Chamber of Commerce

Cindy Taylor, Southside Chamber of Commerce

Jackie Van De Walle, ACCD Foundation

Gilbert F. Vazquez, ACCD District 7

Luis R. Vera, LULAC

Dr. Roberto Villarreal, UT Health Science Center

Rev. E. Thurman Walker, Member-at-Large

Duane Wilson, North SA Chamber of Commerce

In the process of its many meetings over a seven week period, the Committee heard from the public and discussed the needs of the District.  They noted among other things, the following: 

• The ACCD colleges enroll more than 50% of all college students in Bexar County.
• Enrollment at the ACCD colleges has grown by 41 percent during the past six years, from 35,465 per semester in 1998, to 52,781 credit students in spring 2005.
• ACCD's enrollment is projected to grow to 68,800 students each semester in six short years, by the year 2010.
• ACCD provides training in critical occupation such as nursing and health care, firefighting, police and emergency medical technicians.
• Alamo Community Colleges have an open admission policy that allows all high school graduates, including students earning their GED, to enroll at any of the ACCD colleges.
• Increase of $.03 per $100 valuation.  On a house valued at $100,000, this would mean an increase of $30 per year.

Some years ago, now former Labor Secretary, Robert Reisch wrote in his book entitled, "The Work of Nations" that the greatest assets of any country are the educational levels and skills of its citizens.  This is no less true for our County.  Our continued economic vitality as well as our competitiveness with other communities across the nation and even the world, necessitate that we fortify our workforce with the kind of skills that ACCD is so capable of delivering.

It is with this in mind, that I whole-heartedly endorse the ACCD Bond Issue and respectfully request your consideration of a "Yes" vote during the early voting period or on Election Day, November 8^th.