In the Eleventh installment of the 2013 Texas Leftist Candidate Questionnaire, we hear from Robert Glaser, candidate for the Houston Community College Board of Trustees, District 5.

Please note: Responses have been received directly from the candidate, and have been posted ver batim from the email received. This is done out of fairness to all candidates. Publishing these responses does not constitute an endorsement, but will be considered during the endorsement process.

TL: What is your name, as it will appear on the ballot?

RG: ROBERT GLASER

TL: Are you a current or former elected official? If so what office(s)?

RG: NO

TL: As a political candidate, you clearly care about what happens in certain levels of government. In your own words, why is government important?

RG: GOVERNMENT PROVIDES SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OFTEN NOT BEST OR PRACTICALLY PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR. IT PROVIDES A MECHANISM TO PROMOTE IMPORTANT PUBLIC VALUES.

TL: If elected, what is your top priority in office for the upcoming term? Describe how you plan to accomplish it.

RG: THERE ARE TWO THAT ARE AT THE ‘TOP OF THE LIST’. FIRST, RESTORE UNQUESTIONABLE INTEGRITY TO THE BOARD BY REVIEWING CURRENT ETHICS POLICIES AND IMPROVING THEM AS REQUIRED SO AS TO SATISFY COMMUNITY CONCERNS. SECOND, COMPLETE THE TASK OF SELECTING AND HIRING A NEW, PERMANENT, CHANCELLOR FOR THE SYSTEM BY SUPERVISING THE CURRENT SELECTION COMMITTEE PROCESSES AND ACTIVELY SEEKING OUT AND PERSONALLY INTERVIEWING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION.

TL: As our nation’s educational and professional landscape continues to evolve in the 21st century, institutions like HCC stand to be a critical part of that important process. In your opinion, is HCC ready for the monumental changes coming to education? What can the system do to best prepare?

RG: HCCS IS ‘BECOMING’ READY. BY IMPLEMENTING THE EXPANSION OF TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR THE SKILLS NEEDED IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, EXPANDING THE ‘DUAL CREDIT’ PROGRAM FOR HS STUDENTS, AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CLASSES PROVIDING CREDITS THAT TRANSFER TO OTHER TEXAS PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, HCCS IS RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF A 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY. FOCUSING ON TECHNOLOGY TO BETTER DELIVER CURRICULUM AND TRAINING TO STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE SCHEDULES IS AN AREA THAT HCC MUST CONTINUE TO DEVELOP. HCC MUST ALSO LEAD THE WAY IN AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR ITS STUDENTS TO BEST SUCCEED IN THE PROGRAMS AND PATHS CHOSEN.

TL: What makes you the best candidate for this office?

RG: I AM A NATIVE HOUSTONIAN, A PRODUCT OF THE LOCAL PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND HAVE LIVED IN THE DISTRICT ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE. AS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY FOR OVER 25 YEARS, I EMPLOY SKILLED LABOR AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR A QUALIFIED AND SKILLED WORKFORCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE FINANCES OF RUNNING AN ORGANIZATION AND AM SKILLED AT FOCUSING ON OBJECTIVES AND COMMITTING THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISHING GOALS. BEING MARRIED AND HAVING THREE CHILDREN, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND HOW THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS A BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THE SKILL SET I WILL BRING TO THE BOARD WILL BE VALUABLE IN GUIDING THE INSTITUTION ON A PATH TO CONTINUING ITS MISSION FOR THE COMMUNITY.

TL: When not on the campaign trail, how do you like to spend your free time?

RG: I DIVIDE MY TIME BETWEEN MY BUSINESS, MY FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.

Thanks to Mr. Glaser for his participation.