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# New school of thought: Chamber chalks up candidates for boards By Daily Press staff
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/new-school-of-thought-chamber-chalks-up-candidates-for-boards-by-daily-press-staff/
- Published: 2004-09-15T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:04:46.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import

Officials here have picked six people as their choices to represent the local school board and community college board.

The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors on Tuesday endorsed Jose Escarce, Maria Leon-Vasquez and Kathy Wisnicki for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.

Margaret Quinones, Robert Rader and Douglas Willis are the chamber picks for the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees.

Escarce, an incumbent on the school board, has been endorsed by a broad spectrum of community members and is an experienced candidate who is serious about the quality of schools in Santa Monica, chamber officials said. He has proven to be a strong and effective leader for the district. Leon-Vasquez, also an incumbent, believes the mission of the local schools is to prepare students to be successful. She said she would like to expand collaboration between the business community and the schools. Wisnicki is a candidate from Malibu who has served on the financial oversight committee and is committed to fiscal responsibility in the district.

As an incumbent, Quinones is the most experienced candidate for the SMC Trustees, chamber officials said. She also serves on the Board of Governors for Community Colleges and was involved in getting equalization money for SMC. She is a strong supporter of the bond issue and is focused on bringing in new funds. Rader is known as someone who brings people together and wants to improve the relationship between the faculty and administration. He also recognizes the importance of effective vocational programs and would like to restore some of those programs to the curriculum. Willis is a longtime Pico Neighborhood resident who has the ability and personality to smooth the relationship between the college and residents, chamber officials said. He has a strong background in finance and familiarity with budget and funding issues. He would also like to improve vocational programs, perhaps working with the local auto industry to create a truly beneficial program.

The chamber is supporting Measure S, the $135 million bond issue for SMC.

“The Chamber is excited to present these candidates to the community. We believe they are all firmly committed to improving Santa Monica,” said Kathy Dodson, president and CEO of the chamber.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 15, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091504.pdf?ref=smdp.com)