Election 2016: Westminster School District race draws 3 hopefuls
The race for two seats in the Nov. 8 election for the Westminster School District board has three candidates in the running.
Board President Jamison Power is up for reelection. He joined the board in 2012.
Community college instructor Frances Nguyen and attorney Karl Truong also are seeking a spot.
Trustee Amy Walsh is termed out.
The district consists of 17 elementary and middle schools, three of which are in Huntington Beach.
Here are the candidates in the order they appear on the ballot:
Frances Nguyen
Age: 53
Professional occupation: Westminster businesswoman; part-time instructor at Orange Coast College and Coastline Community College
Education: MBA
Time lived in city of residence: 11 years in Westminster
Previous public service: Community activist the past 35 years, working with youths, bringing Vietnamese communities mainstream and vice versa; first Vietnamese-American president of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce; president of the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California, 1985-88; Scout leader, 1983; Westminster Elks member
Immediate family: Husband Tony Hoai, daughters Caroline Nguyen Hoai-Phuong and Josephine Nguyen Hoai-Yen
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Implementation and expansion of the dual immersion program of Vietnamese and Spanish languages. Knowing another language is vital for the students’ future; it is the power of knowledge and the workforce.
2. Provide the extended programs for working families to keep the students in a safer environment and to experience the sports and arts programs.
3. Provide a playground for disabled students and to work with Orange County Behavioral Services to provide services as needed to the students and their families.
Jamison Power
Age: 36
Professional occupation: Attorney
Education: Juris doctor, UCLA
Time lived in city of residence: Eight years
Previous public service: Governing board member, Westminster School District (2012 to present); Westminster city commissioner (2013 to present)
Immediate family: Wife My Lan Dang Power, 3-year-old son, expecting a daughter in February
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. Two years ago, I ensured that we became the first and only school district in California to offer a Vietnamese-English dual language immersion program, and I plan to continue to strengthen and expand the program.
2. Attract and retain highly qualified teachers by offering competitive salaries.
Karl Truong
Age: 35
Professional occupation: Attorney and business owner
Education: Juris doctorate, law; bachelor of science, computer science
Time lived in city of residence: One year in Westminster
Previous public service: Office of U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez; president, Saigon Foundation
Immediate family: Father Daniel D. Truong, mother Diane Truong, brother Gianni Truong
What are three things you hope to achieve if elected?
1. With classroom sizes the highest in the nation, it is imperative that we recruit and retain highly qualified teachers.
2. Develop and support academic initiatives that will prepare our children for the rigors of high school and higher education.
3. Increase accessibility to the school board members and current school board issues.
Twitter: @AlexandraChan10
