Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below.
Name: Conrad Mazeika
Age: 42
Current job title: Realtor
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Huntington Beach
What are the top two needs of your college district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
I believe the two biggest needs of the Coast Community College District are preparing students for the workforce of tomorrow and building stronger partnerships with the employers who are creating those jobs.
Community colleges need to be more responsive to how quickly the economy is changing. Artificial intelligence, aerospace, defense, technology and healthcare are creating new opportunities, but our educational programs need to keep pace. Students should know not only what degree or certificate they can earn, but what jobs it prepares them for, what those jobs pay and whether there are opportunities locally.
As a trustee, I would push for stronger relationships between the colleges and employers. Companies should have a meaningful voice in identifying the skills they need, helping shape curriculum, providing internships and apprenticeships, and creating pathways directly into employment.
I also want us to measure outcomes. If we are investing public resources in education, we should know whether students are graduating, finding jobs and building successful careers.
My goal is simple: let’s build the workforce of tomorrow right here in Orange County.
To you, what is the role of community college in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
I believe the fundamental role of community college is to create opportunity and serve as a bridge between education and employment.
Community colleges should provide students with affordable, accessible education while preparing them for meaningful careers or further education. That means offering strong academic programs, but it also means making sure students have practical skills that employers actually need.
I believe community colleges should have a seat at the table when it comes to workforce and economic development policy. They should be actively communicating with local businesses, industries and government leaders about where the economy is headed and what skills the workforce will need.
Curriculum should not be developed in a vacuum. Employers should help identify emerging skills and technologies, while educators maintain responsibility for how those skills are taught.
For Coast, I want to see a stronger connection between our classrooms and the incredible industries surrounding us in Orange County. Aerospace, defense, technology and healthcare are right in our backyard.
Community college should not simply prepare students to pass a class. It should prepare them to succeed in the real world.
In October, Long Beach City College will break ground on a new student housing facility at its Liberal Arts Campus that will provide 431 total units to students. Is student housing a priority that your college should pursue? If so, explain how you intend to take on such an endeavor in a timely, cost-effective manner. If you don’t, how should your college district support students searching for affordable housing options near campus? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
I would not make student housing an immediate priority without first understanding the actual needs of Coast Community College District students.
Before committing significant public resources to a housing project, I would want the district to conduct a thorough assessment: How many students are experiencing housing insecurity? How many would actually use student housing? What can students afford? And which campuses and communities have the greatest need?
I would also want to work closely with the cities surrounding our campuses to determine whether there are opportunities for housing partnerships or available space that could help address the problem.
If the data shows that student housing is a significant need, I would support investigating cost-effective options, including partnerships with cities, nonprofit organizations and private developers rather than assuming the district must build and operate housing entirely on its own.
Our responsibility is to help students succeed, and housing stability can certainly be part of that equation. But we should start with the needs of our students and the resources available to us, then develop a solution that is financially responsible and sustainable.
What actions would you suggest to prevent a cyberattack similar to the Canvas data breach in May? How can your district ensure students’ information is safe? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
Cybersecurity has to be treated as both a technology issue and an education issue.
Obviously, the district needs strong systems to protect student, faculty and staff information. That includes keeping security measures current, protecting sensitive data and making sure employees understand how to recognize and prevent cyber threats.
But I also believe we have an opportunity to teach our students how to protect themselves. Students don’t stop being targets of cybercrime when they leave campus. Phishing, identity theft, scams and other cyberattacks affect people in their everyday lives.
I would like to see the district provide regular cybersecurity awareness sessions for students, teaching practical prevention strategies they can use both on campus and in their personal lives. We should teach students how to recognize suspicious emails and links, protect their accounts, use strong security practices and understand the risks associated with sharing personal information.
We should also learn from incidents like the Canvas breach and continually evaluate our own vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity should be part of preparing students for the modern workforce—and for life in a digital world.
How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
I believe artificial intelligence is a tool that students need to learn how to use responsibly because AI is already transforming the workplace.
I would encourage students to use AI for things like research, brainstorming, exploring ideas and getting help understanding difficult concepts. Used correctly, it can be a powerful educational tool and can give students another way to learn.
At the same time, we cannot allow students to become dependent on AI. The purpose of education is to develop independent thinkers who can analyze information, solve problems and communicate their own ideas. Students need to learn how to use AI as a tool—not have AI do the thinking for them.
There should also be clear boundaries. I believe using AI to complete exams or term papers in place of a student’s own work should be prohibited. Students should demonstrate that they actually understand the material and can produce their own work.
Rather than trying to stop technological change, I want Coast to lead it. We should teach students how to use AI effectively, ethically and responsibly so they graduate prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.
How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
I believe colleges have an important responsibility to teach students how to disagree without becoming disagreeable.
We should encourage free thought and make our campuses places where students can discuss difficult and controversial subjects without fear of intimidation, violence or being shut down simply because someone disagrees with them.
I would support a combination of approaches: exposing students to competing viewpoints, teaching respectful debate, having faculty model healthy disagreement and creating opportunities for students to discuss important issues in structured environments.
Civil discourse does not mean everyone has to agree. In fact, disagreement is often where learning happens. Students should be challenged to listen to opposing viewpoints, ask questions, defend their own positions with facts and reconsider their views when presented with compelling evidence.
At the same time, free expression must be balanced with a safe learning environment. Threats, violence and harassment should never be acceptable.
Our students are going to enter a world where they will work with people who have different backgrounds, beliefs and opinions. Teaching them how to communicate and work together despite those differences is an essential part of preparing them for life and the workforce.
What experiences and priorities do you bring to this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that makes you the person for the job? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
I bring a combination of business experience, nonprofit leadership, financial experience and a practical understanding of the importance of connecting education to opportunity.
I have worked as a financial planner, in business, and in real estate, and I have served as president of the Baltic American Freedom League since 2020. One of the things I am most proud of from that leadership experience is my ability to have healthy, productive discourse with congressional staff and members of the community—even when discussing difficult or complicated issues.
That experience taught me that leadership isn’t about always getting your way. It is about listening, building relationships, understanding different perspectives and finding areas where people can work together.
As a trustee, I would bring that same approach to the Coast Community College District. I want to ask questions, look at the data, listen to students and faculty, and work with employers and community leaders to find practical solutions.
Most importantly, I want to bring a forward-looking perspective. Technology and the workforce are changing rapidly. Our community colleges need leaders who are willing to adapt while remaining focused on the fundamental mission of serving students.
If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
A beaver. Absolutely.
The reason is simple: Let’s build!
Beavers are builders. They take the resources around them, solve problems and create something that serves their community.
That’s the approach I want to bring to the Coast Community College District. I don’t want to spend my time arguing about what can’t be done. I want to look at what we have, identify what needs to improve and start building.
We need to build stronger connections between our colleges and local employers. We need to build the workforce of tomorrow. We need to build opportunities for students to develop practical skills that lead to good-paying careers.
And we need to build a culture where innovation and new ideas are welcomed.
So if my campaign had a mascot, it would be the beaver—with a hard hat, naturally.
Let’s build!
Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.
I just began reading “Your True Human Power” by Steven Golden, so I haven’t finished it yet.
But it is the book that has been most compelling to me this year because it has made me think about human potential and what we are capable of accomplishing. That idea connects closely with why I am running for the Coast Community College District. We sometimes look at education primarily through the lens of institutions, degrees and programs. I think we need to keep the individual student at the center of the conversation. Every student has the potential to develop skills, build a career and contribute something meaningful to their community. Technology and artificial intelligence are going to change the workforce dramatically, but I don’t believe that makes people less important. I believe it makes uniquely human qualities—critical thinking, creativity, judgment, communication and the ability to work with others—even more valuable. I’m looking forward to finishing the book, but even early on, it has reinforced something I strongly believe: Education should help people discover and develop their potential, then give them the skills and opportunities to put that potential to work.