San Joaquin Delta College Board of Trustees race: Al Lennox counting on his business experience

Al Lennox is a busy man. From his full-time position as the president of the American Legion Ambulance Service in Sutter Creek, to being the American Legion Commander for California, to serving on boards for various organizations, he's executing his motto of being a good citizen on a daily bases.

"I believe good citizenship requires being involved," said Lennox.

So as Lennox's one-year American Legion Commander term is about to expire, and as he is ending a 12-year stint on the board for Valley Mountain Regional Center in Stockton, Lennox realized he was going to have some extra time on his hands. That's when he decided to run for a spot on the San Joaquin Delta College Board of Trustees, representing District 5 — an area that includes Lodi and Galt.

"I am going to have the time and energy to pursue this if I win the election. I thought, 'I have 45 years business experience, 35 years of board experience and I can read a financial statement,'" said Lennox, a former Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. "I think I can help make a difference here."

Lennox is hoping to join the board and help correct the problems it has faced in the last few years concerning a grand jury report that found the college at fault for wasting millions of dollars and not having a firm enough code of ethics.

With experience both on boards and as a president of the American Legion Ambulance Service, where he answers to a board, Lennox believes he knows the ins and outs of how to make the board work more fluidly and transparently.

"When I look at what's wrong at Delta, it is fixable with the right people on that board," he said. "I understand board dynamics."

Al Lennox at a glance

Age: 63.
Residence: Has two residences, one in West Point and one in Sutter Creek. He filed to run by listing the West Point residence in Calaveras County, which lies within District 5, as his place of residence for this election.
Occupation: President and CEO of the American Legion Ambulance Service.
Background:

Has spent 35 years on various boards, such as the Valley Mountain Regional Center in Stockton and Half Way Ranch, a center for displaced teenagers, in Sutter Creek.

He is the current American Legion Commander for California.

He served in the Navy from 1964-70 and was stationed in Vietnam.
— News-Sentinel staff

Lennox has lived in West Point for over 25 years. While splitting time living in Amador County, he's spent a lot of time volunteering there and is the president of the Amador County Chamber of Commerce.

Lennox, who lives with his wife Donna and is close with his five children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild, is worried about the future of the cities and communities feeding into and depending on graduates coming out of Delta College as well as the students themselves.

He's hoping to serve as a board member to help put the priority back on the students and restore order to the board.

"I think the priority is to get the board back under control, to get the public to believe that we are doing the right thing," he said.

Delta College board candidates

Trustee Area 1 (South Stockton)

Incumbent Anthony Bulgarin has served on the board for 16 years. Bulgarin, who graduated from Delta and lives in Stockton, is a fifth-grade teacher at Lathrop Elementary School.

C. Jennet Stebbings, of Stockton, is a businesswoman.

James Grunky is a businessman and former Delta College student who lives in Stockton.

Trustee Area 2 (Central Stockton)

Incumbent Leo Burke, who is board president, is not running.

Mary Ann Cox was a Delta instructor for 27 years. She was born and raised in Lodi and now lives in Stockton.

Motecuzoma Patrick Sanchez, is a 32-year-old former Delta student and Marine who is now a warehouseman, artist and Realtor. He was born and raised in Stockton.

Thomas LaBounty, of Stockton, is the co-owner and head accountant of Constar Supply, a construction company in Clovis. His sister-in-law is a faculty member at Delta.

Gregory Benigno is a business owner who lives in Stockton.

David Rishiwain, of Stockton, is an attorney and partner in Rishwain & Rishwain — a law firm in Stockton.

Trustee Area 6 (Tracy)

Incumbent Greg McCreary has served on the board for 12 years and is currently the vice president. He is a retired educator and is the president of M3 Insurance.

Carolyn Gamino lives in Tracy and is an elementary school food service worker.

Teresa Brown is an administrator at California State University, Stanislaus. She lives in Tracy.

— News-Sentinel staff

Reader Feedback

delta_employee wrote on Oct 17, 2008 11:52 AM:

" I have a question for AL how many times has he made it to a Delta Board meeting? "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes