Dr. Colette Harris-Mathews Easily Wins Los Rios Board Seat

By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff WriterEducation champion Dr. Colette Harris-Mathews emerged from last week’s election victorious in her bid to become a Los Rios Community College District trustee.Harris-Mathews beat out opponent Ralph Merletti by a landslide, garnering 72% of the 42,568 votes cast in the Nov. 5 election. She’ll replace longtime Area 5 trustee Pamela Haynes, who is retiring after 25 years on the board. Area 5 includes the Land Park, Curtis Park, Oak Park, Pocket, Greenhaven, and Meadowview neighborhoods.& Dr. Harris-Mathews is taking a breather before being sworn in Wednesday, Dec. 18.& “Running for office is an arduous process,” said Dr. Harris-Mathews who has worked within the local community college district in several capacities, including dean and professor of communication studies.Dr. Harris-Mathews retired during the pandemic and decided to focus on education on a different level.& “I retired to focus on leadership development, education policy and work to close the opportunity gap in Sacramento,” she said.Retirement allowed her to spend time with her two grandchildren and double down on her commitment to educating the next generation.“I am a lifelong learner who wants to instill that love of learning not just to my grandchildren, but to all children,”...