Board of Trustees
SECTION III

Article I   Article II   Article III   Article IV
 

To hold the office of Trustee in The San Jacinto Community College District, one must:

  1. Be a qualified voter.
  2. Take the oath of office.
  3. Serve without compensation.
  4. Reside in one of the independent school districts comprising The San Jacinto Community College District; to wit, Channelview, Deer Park, Galena Park, La Porte, Pasadena, or Sheldon.

An individual seeking election to the office of Trustee by having his or her name placed on the ballot must have been a resident of the state for 12 months, and a resident of the district for six months, prior to the last date on which the candidate could file to be listed on the ballot.  An individual seeking election in the office of Trustee by write-in vote must have been a resident of the state for 12 months, and a resident of the district for six months, prior to the day of the election.  An individual appointed to the office of Trustee must have been a resident of the state for 12 months, and a resident of the district for six months, prior to the day on which the appointment is made.

 Election of Trustees shall be at large by position and either two or three Trustees shall be elected at each election, the number of Trustees depending upon that required to constitute a Board of seven to serve terms of six years.

 A candidate for any position may have his or her name printed on a ballot for election to any position to be filled at each regular election by filing a written statement, signed by the candidate, with the secretary of the Board not later than 5 p.m. of the 61st day before the day of the election.   An application may not be filed earlier than the 30th day before the date of the filing deadline.  The application must state the number of the position for which the candidate is filing or the name of the incumbent member of the Board holding the position sought.  The application shall include all statutorily required information, including a statement that the candidate is aware of the nepotism law.  The location on the ballot of the names of the candidate for each position shall be chosen by lot. The candidate shall be eligible to run for only one position in each election.

 Before a candidate can have his or her name placed on the ballot, he or she must execute and have notarized the loyalty oath.

 A candidate shall not take any affirmative action to influence a district employee or current Trustee regarding the appointment, reappointment, employment, confirmation, re-employment, changes in status, compensation, or dismissal of a person related to the candidate within a prohibited degree of relationship under the nepotism law.  However, this prohibition does not apply to a candidate's actions taken with respect to a bona fide class or category of employees or prospective employees.

Candidates for the Board shall file the designation of a campaign treasurer and all required financial statements with the Secretary of the Board in accordance with applicable law and directives from the Texas Ethics Commission.

 The election of Trustees of the district shall be on the second Saturday in May in odd numbered years. The notice of election shall be given by publishing notice in a newspaper of general circulation, at least ten days prior to the date of election, stating forth the date of the election, the polling place or places, the numbers or the positions to be filled, the candidates for each position, and any other matters deemed necessary or advisable.

 The district shall cooperate with the commissioner’ court in ensuring that each polling place is accessible to and usable by the elderly and physically handicapped by the statutory deadlines for elections.  The Board shall provide for early voting in Board elections as provided by law.

 The Board, being subject to the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, shall not hold an election that implements any changes affecting elections until clearance is obtained from the U.S. Justice Department.  Requests for clearance shall be submitted as soon as possible after enactment.

 The winning candidate for any position shall obtain a simple majority of the votes cast.  If no candidate receives a simple majority of the votes cast for all candidates for a position, then the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall run against each other for the position.  The runoff election for all positions shall be held according to the provisions of Section 2.025 of the Election Code and shall be ordered, notice given, and held, as for regular elections.

 Upon election, the Trustee shall take the official oath of office, and file it with the chairman of the Board.  The oath may be administered and a certificate of the fact given by:

 A judge, clerk, or commissioner of any court of record.

  1. A notary public.
  2. A justice of the peace.
  3. The Secretary of State of Texas.
  4. An employee of the Secretary of State of Texas who has duties related to the records required by Chapter 14, Texas Election Code, as amended.
  5. A member of the State Legislature.

 Any vacancy occurring on the board through death, resignation, or otherwise, shall be filled by a special election order by the board or by appointment by resolution or order of the board.  A person appointed to fill a vacancy in the representation of the district at large must be a resident of the district at large.  The person appointed to fill the unexpired term shall serve until the next regular election of members to the board, at which time the position shall be filled by election for a term appropriately shortened to conform to what regularly would have been the length of the term for that position.

 A person elected to serve as a Board member must remain a resident of the district throughout the term of office.  A Board member who ceases to reside in the district vacates his or her office.

Texas law provides for the removal of Board members only for cause, including incompetence, official misconduct, intoxication on or off duty caused by drinking an alcoholic beverage (but not if it was caused by drinking such beverage on the direction and prescription of a licensed practitioner), or conviction by jury for any felony or for misdemeanor official misconduct (including conviction of an offense relating to the violation of college purchasing procedures).  Actions for removal of Board members must be brought before the judge of the district court holding jurisdiction, except that any court convicting a Trustee of a felony or official misconduct shall order immediate removal.

 Statement of Ethics

 As a member of the Board, I will strive to improve community college education, and to that end I shall adhere to the following ethical standards:

1.      Attend all regularly scheduled Board meetings insofar as possible, and become informed concerning issues to be considered at those meetings.

2.      Bring about desired changes through legal and ethical procedures, upholding and enforcing all applicable statutes, regulations, and court decisions pertaining to community colleges.

3.      Work with other Board members to establish effective Board policies and to delegate authority for the administration of the colleges to the Chief Executive Officer.

4.      Work with other Board members to establish effective policies and practices prohibiting unlawful discrimination, including conduct that constitutes sexual harassment.

5.      Recognize that I should endeavor to make policy decisions only after full discussion at publicly held Board meetings.

6.      Render all decisions based on the available facts and my independent judgment, and refuse to surrender that judgment to individuals or special interest groups.

7.      Encourage the free expression of opinion by all Board members, and seek systematic communications between Board and students, staff, and all elements of the community.

8.      Communicate to other Board members and the Chief Executive Officer expressions of public reaction to Board policies and college programs.

9.      Inform myself about current educational issues by individual study and through participation in programs providing needed information, such as those sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Community College Trustees.

10.  Support the employment of those persons best qualified to serve as college staff, and insist on a regular and impartial evaluation of all staff.

11.  Avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest, and refrain from using my Board position for personal or partisan gain.     In addition to filing disclosures required by the Texas Ethics Commission under Texas state law, a Board member who has a personal or private interest in a measure, proposal, or decision pending before the Board shall publicly disclose the fact to the Board, and that disclosure shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting.  The Board member may not vote or otherwise participate in the decision. 

12.  Take no private action that will compromise the Board or administration, and respect the confidentiality of information that is privileged under applicable law.

13.  Remember always that my first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of the students attending the college.

 

Standards of Conduct and Conflict of Interest

            As a member of the Board, I will strive to uphold those standards of conduct for state officers and employees and agree not to:

1.      Accept or solicit any gift, favor, or service that might reasonably tend to influence the officer or employee in the discharge of official duties or that the officer or employee knows or should know is being offered with the intent to influence the officer’s or employee’s official misconduct;

2.      accept another employment or engage in a business or professional activity that the officer or employee might reasonably expect would require or induce the officer or employee to disclose confidential information acquired by reason of the official position;

3.      accept other employment or compensation that could reasonably be expected to impair the officer’s or employee’s independence of judgment in the performance of the officer’s or employee’s official duties;

4.      make personal investments that could reasonably be expected to create a substantial conflict between the officer’s or employee’s private interest and the public interest; or

5.      intentionally or knowingly solicit, accept, or agree to accept any benefit for having exercised the officer’s or employee’s official powers or performed the officer’s or employee’s official duties in favor of another.


   :Next::>