Trustees select a new chair and vice chair following closely contested 4–3 votes to begin the 2026–27 leadership year
by Amanda Fallon
The Lane Community College Board of Education elected new leadership at its Wednesday,July 1 evening meeting, selecting Trustee Jesse Maldonado as board chair and Trustee Jerry Rust as vice chair following two closely contested 4–3 votes during the board’s annual reorganization meeting.
During the vice chair nominations, Trustee Steve Mital said the board had experienced “a very divisive year” marked by “many 4–3 votes” and urged trustees to consider leadership that could help bridge those divisions. He argued that bringing together different perspectives would “help move us forward as an institution, as a board.”
Maldonado, who has served on the board for one year, defeated Kevin Alltucker after both were nominated for the position. Before the vote, Rust praised Maldonado’s leadership and ability to work collaboratively.
“I think Jesse is one of the strongest young leaders that we have in Lane County,” Rust said. “We’ve seen his calm demeanor and fairness without rancor toward any board member, member of the public or staff.”
Mital nominated Alltucker, citing his experience and emphasis on governance and long-term planning.
“He’s helped us focus on the future, on the big picture, on the ends and not the means,” Mital said while encouraging colleagues to support Alltucker’s nomination.
In remarks before the vote, Maldonado thanked the board for its confidence and emphasized respectful leadership.
“It has been a privilege, and I would be honored to have the support of board members,” Maldonado said. “The role of the chair is to make sure these meetings run and that we are respectful to each other, respectful to our communities, respectful to our students, respectful to the staff.”
Although he was the opposing nominee, Alltucker also praised Maldonado before outlining his own priorities.
“I always try to bring the board back to governance and policy,” Alltucker said. “I’d like, no matter who is chair, for this board to spend more time looking to the future and how we can make the college better for generations to come.”
Following the vote, Maldonado was elected board chair by a 4–3 vote, and outgoing Chair Austin Fölnagy passed him the gavel to begin leading the meeting. The leadership elections came after several trustees acknowledged the board’s recent divisions.
Maldonado then presided over the election for vice chair.
Rust was elected vice chair after another 4–3 vote over Alltucker. During his remarks, Rust emphasized collaboration despite recent disagreements among trustees.
“I can work with everybody. I respect everybody,” Rust said. “I will accentuate what brings us together and what we have in common, not what divides us.”
After the leadership elections, the board adopted its agenda and continued with business that included public comment, administrative reports, policy updates, and discussions on student success, institutional planning, and campus operations, marking the beginning of the LCC Board of Education’s 2026–27 leadership term.
