Voters cast their ballots on election day. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local file)

APTOS >> Karen Cogswell led by almost 4,000 votes in early election results for the Area 6 seat on the Cabrillo Community College District Governing Board of Trustees, as of Tuesday night.

Benjamin Finke and Milissa Ales-Barnicoat trailed.

Vote tallies will continue to be updated throughout the night and in the coming days. Final election results must be certified by Dec. 3. 

All are first-time political candidates. Each offered similar visions in their approaches to  living wages for faculty, the college’s budget and students’ sense of community.

Cogswell called for fiscal responsibility and said she wanted to learn more about the issues before making proposals. She said she would work collaboratively to find a solution. The college needs to find new sources of revenue amid declining enrollment, she said.

Ales-Barnicoat emphasized the need to listen to staff and students to drive her decision-making. She said she would compare teacher pay to other colleges to see if there should be adjustment, while acknowledging there “isn’t an endless pot of money.”

Finke was the most forceful in calling for higher wages for staff and offered specific proposals to balance the budget, including putting a new bond measure before voters and lobbying the state for changes to state funding formulas.

The Area 6 seat is currently held by J. Dan Rothwell, who assumed the role in 2018 but is not seeking reelection. 

The board gives Superintendent Jenn Capps authority to oversee the college. It makes decisions that directly impact students, such as shaping the college’s policies, budgets and leadership. The board is made up of representatives from seven areas across most of Santa Cruz County and part of Monterey County.

Some of the biggest issues raised this year by students and residents included addressing recent federal funding cuts, providing livable wages for teachers and faculty and creating a sense of community among students. 

This story will be updated as votes continue to be counted. Follow our election results page for the latest tallies.

Read more about early election results:

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