Elaine Alaniz is running for Los Angeles Community College District Board Seat 4 in the Nov. 3 general election. The nonpartisan race includes six other certified candidates: Adam Bruno, Darryn Harris, Isidro J. Armenta, Jason R. Aula, Nancy Pearlman and Priscilla Umana.

Asked why she is running, Alaniz said in our questionnaire: "I have experienced firsthand what LACCD can do when education gives a student both an immediate skill and a reason to keep going. At Los Angeles City College, earning a degree initially felt out of reach. I began in film production, gaining practical skills and earning certificates. Those accomplishments gave me momentum until completing my associate degree became attainable."

Candidate information

Birthplace and residence: Alaniz was born in Weslaco, Texas, and raised in Houston, according to NBC Los Angeles. She moved to Los Angeles in 2003.

Education: Asked about her education, Alaniz said in our questionnaire: "I earned an Associate of Arts in Film Production from Los Angeles City College and an Associate of Science in Fire Technology from Los Angeles Valley College. My path through community college was not traditional. I worked while attending school, managed financial pressures and other responsibilities, and earned certificates and practical skills along the way before completing my degrees." She also holds a bachelor's degree in business from Western Governors University, according to BallotReady.

Party: Nonpartisan.

Endorsement: Los Angeles County GOP, according to BallotReady.

Experience and public service

Alaniz described her work history in our questionnaire: "I currently serve as a Public Affairs Specialist with the United States Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Recovery, supporting disaster recovery outreach and communications. Previously, I worked for the South Bay Workforce Investment Board as a Healthcare Workforce Specialist, helping manage a $5 million healthcare High Road Training Partnership workforce initiative connecting education, training and employment. I also worked in human resources and recruitment at Kaiser Permanente."

On her civic roles, she said: "I have served on the Westlake North Neighborhood Council since 2019, first as Treasurer from 2019 to 2021 and as President since 2021. I have been elected twice by my community." She added that since 2015, she has "volunteered with the Los Angeles Mayor's Crisis Response Team, assisting individuals and families during traumatic incidents."

On the issues

What sets her apart: Asked about critical differences between herself and other candidates, Alaniz said in our questionnaire: "I am an LACCD graduate with two associate degrees, and my experience as a community college student is relatively recent. I understand what it means to work, manage financial pressures and other responsibilities while trying to complete an education. My vision goes beyond getting students enrolled. I want LACCD to create a clear bridge from education to economic opportunity, where a course can lead to a skill, a skill to a certificate, and those accomplishments can build toward a degree, transfer, career advancement or employment."

Top challenges facing students: Alaniz identified three priorities: "keeping education relevant to a changing workforce, creating pathways that fit students' lives, and ensuring public dollars produce results." She said she supports "Degree+Skills through stackable education, where students can build from courses to marketable skills, certificates or industry-recognized credentials, degrees and transfer." She also called for expanding "evening, weekend, hybrid, online and accelerated pathways for working adults, parents and career changers."

Healthcare workforce: Alaniz said: "LACCD should be a stronger bridge between education and healthcare employment. … Employers, workforce boards, labor and educators should be at the table early, identifying where shortages exist and what skills and credentials are needed. I would prioritize partnerships that expand nursing and allied-health pathways, paid internships, apprenticeships, work-based learning and employer-supported training."

Residents can follow Alaniz's campaign at elainereadytoserve.com.