The community colleges' historical vestiges with California's public elementary and secondary schools continue to be evident in several ways and contribute to the perception that it is not an equal partner in California higher education. As the Master Plan made clear, the three systems of higher education are intended to accomplish complementary but unique missions. The mission of the community colleges is not to be a world-renown research university that accepts only the top high school graduates. Too many candidates supported by special interests such as employee unions are elected to boards of trustees, thus giving these groups far too much influence on the boards and creating roadblocks for innovation and change. In democratic elections, citizens are free to run for office based on their personal interests and goals.
Voters are free to cast votes based on their best judgments on the issues and the candidates.
Of the 435 locally-elected trustees in California's 71 community college districts, there are business people, civic leaders, retired seniors, students, medical professionals, educators, lawyers, community activists, city workers and farmers. It is true that district boards have been criticized for being under the influence of employee unions. It is also true, however, that boards have been criticized for being unresponsive to employee unions. How well community colleges meet their education mission from one year to the next is determined by many external and internal influences. External influences can be laws passed by the California Legislature or Congress, the state's overall economic health and ability to raise revenues to fund operations, the unemployment rate and demand for job training, and shifts in population demographics due to immigration and subsequent need for basic language and skill training.