Did you know that Fullerton voters may be increasing the risk of electing an extremist to the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) Board? This seat is Trustee Area 6, which includes much of Fullerton, on the board governing the NOCCCD, which includes Fullerton College, and it matters.

How could this happen? Think back to the governor’s race last June. California’s June 2, 2026 gubernatorial primary had 61 candidates, including 24 Democrats, and they split the vote.  Fortunately, that race has a runoff, so voters ultimately have another chance to make their true voice count.

The NOCCCD election is different. There is no runoff. The result is final, and it may not reflect the real choice of Fullerton voters.

Although this is officially a nonpartisan race, three Democrats are running against one Republican. The incumbent, Jeff Brown, is a Democrat and, from reliable sources I have consulted, has done a fine job. Yet two other Fullerton residents—Jesus Silva and Paulette Chafee—are also running for the same seat. Both appear qualified, and I believe either could do a good job. But neither mention Brown at all, let alone criticize a single vote. Given that Brown is roughly the same age as the two retired challengers, neither is running on a theme of a new generation of leadership.  

The question is: Why put the leadership of Fullerton College and the entire college board at such risk?

We have already seen what extremist leadership can do in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District and elsewhere in Orange County. In my view, the candidate running against these three Democrats, Zonya Marcenaro Townsend, represents that same troubling direction.  

Her current candidate statement is substantially more toned down than the statement she used when she previously ran. That concerns me, because candidates with extreme views sometimes soften their public language to make those views less visible to voters.

In her earlier Personal Candidate Statement, she listed the following as major concerns:

“The dangers of microwave wireless radiation in schools and the need to hardwire schools to protect our children; the distrust of Common Core Education and the massive federal takeover of our schools; (and) the judicial encroachment and overreach of parental rights, with the State claiming access to students’ bodies and minds against sincerely held religious and personal beliefs.”

These are not the priorities I want guiding Fullerton College or the North County Community College District.

This candidate could win if Fullerton residents divide their votes among candidates they personally prefer rather than voting strategically.  My research indicates that incumbents are generally the most likely candidates to win, especially in a crowded race.  That is why I plan to vote for Jeff Brown, the incumbent.

I respect Jesus Silva and Paulette Chafee and believe they are qualified people. But in this election, the stakes are too high to ignore the mathematics of a split vote. For the sake of Fullerton College and our community, I urge voters to consider the consequences carefully before casting their ballots.