I am thrilled to see that Adele McAfee is running for the Central Oregon Community College board! What a great advocate she would be for the “real world needs” of both students and the local community. Her common-sense approach to fiscal realities of the “funded” (not “borrowed”) budget is exactly what is needed. Having done her homework, she understands that COCC priorities should be focused on improving and maintaining what we have, not taking on debt to build a residence hall that 99 percent of the students will never benefit from.

Other community colleges built them and have empty rooms they have to offer “deals” to fill. Who pays then? The students, of course, through tuition hikes, as subsidies are needed to repay the borrowed bond funds. McAfee has proven herself to be a true advocate for “everyday” taxpaying students and citizens. She helps build the bridges that close the gap between uncertainty and opportunity, possibly and probably, a job and a career. She is exactly who we need on the COCC board if we truly want to keep our Community College focused on local realities and have it remain accessible and affordable for those it was meant to serve.

Loretta Murphy

Sunriver