By Bruce Barton

BRUCE BARTON/TOWN CRIER From left: Foothill-De Anza Community College chancellor Martha Kanter celebrates victory with Adam Montgomery, campaign coordinator; Anna Callahan, president of the De Anza Associated Student Body; Joan Barram, president and Chuck Berghoff, vice president of Foothill-De Anza Foundation and Robert Grimm, treasurer of Citizens for Foothill-De Anza.

Supporters of Foothill and De Anza colleges were all smiles last week in the wake of Measure C’s comfortable passage in the June 6 primary election.

Los Altos resident Laura Casas Frier, a board member with the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, said she had a good feeling that the $490.8 million facilities bond measure would pass.

“We also received the endorsement of every organization we approached, including school boards, city councils, chambers of commerce and the League of Women Voters,” Casas Frier said after more than 65 percent of the voters approved the measure.

Under state Sen. Joe Simitian’s Proposition 39, approved in 2001, the measure needed only 55 percent voter approval to pass.

“Voters approved Measure C because they believe it’s a good investment in their local community colleges and the future of Silicon Valley,” Casas Frier said. “It was also clear that the district has well-thought-out plans over the long term based on our Educational Master Plan, Facilities Master Plan and Technology Strategic Plan, all of which identified the most critical needs for our colleges and our students.”

Measure C funds continue the overhaul of facilities that began with the district’s Measure E in 1999, a $248 million bond measure. The work ahead includes updating electrical and heating systems, roof repairs, expanding classrooms and upgrading technology. District officials can purchase new computers and furniture with Measure C funds. Proposed new construction includes a chemistry laboratory at Foothill and a media center at De Anza. Projects will be spread over a 15-year period, and $40 million is allocated for creation of a satellite campus.

“There is tremendous community support for Foothill-De Anza,” said board member Betsy Bechtel, a lead Measure C campaigner. “Our reasons for the bond made sense: to renovate and repair our almost 50-year-old buildings, to plan for the future over at least a 15-year period allowing for growth on the campuses and to plan for technology over that same period.

“We also did not leave anything to chance. We had students and volunteers making phone calls to voters beginning in April five nights a week for nine weeks. We mailed to voters to get our message out. We also spoke about the bond measure at every opportunity,” she said.

Mountain View attorney Gary Wesley, who authored opposition arguments to Measure C, said he wasn’t surprised the measure passed. “They had the money to run the campaign,” he said.

Wesley contended Measure C doesn’t qualify under Proposition 39 and its 55 percent allowance because the measure’s text does not contain “a binding list of projects.” He said, “There are some people considering legal action” to thwart implementation of the initiative.

Measure C will cost district residents an average of $24 a year for every $100,000 assessed valuation.