Chuck Van Patten
Cosumnes River College
Philosophy/Religion

Education:

BA, MA, Philosophy - Minor in History
MTS in Religon

Candidate Statement:

My name is Chuck Van Patten. I have been teaching philosophy and religion at Cosumnes River College for past 19 years. I served o the academic senate at CRC as a representative and officer for 15 years. For the past 13 years I have sat on the Los Rios district's union board, the last seven as the union president for CRC, where I have helped negotiate the contract and resolved grievances on behalf of the faculty. I've been active in legislative liaison for our local, particularly with our efforts qualifying the Community College Initiative.

I have served on the statewide academic senate (ASCCC) executive committee. In that capacity, I was the legislative liaison and chaired the ASCCC legislative committee. I wrote position papers for the state academic senate, served on the chancellor office committees and helped write ed code language at that exciting time when the state academic senate was implementing AB 1725 -- the famous FACCC sponsored community college reform bill of the late 80's. I also have served on the FACCC board as the state senate liaison.

Through out my teaching career, I have always been interested in legislation and I can't seem to resist legislative efforts on behalf of faculty. I would like to continue to represent the interests of faculty in the legislative arena. The Community College Initiative is our best chance to reform the community colleges for the better since AB 1725; hence, I want to do my part in getting it passed, now that it has qualified. I ask you to help me serve you by supporting my candidacy.

Chuck Van Patten, March 5, 2007