Geoff Baum is running for the Pasadena Area Community College Board Area 1 seat in the Nov. 3 general election. The nonpartisan race also includes Francis Pollara, profiled separately by the Pasadena Ledger.

Baum said on his campaign website that he and his wife Lisa have been homeowners in the PCC district for more than 30 years, where they raised their daughter Amy. He said he registers No Party Preference and has never treated the community college trustee seat as a partisan seat, according to his Ballotpedia questionnaire response.

Candidate information

  • Education: Bachelor of arts in economics, Claremont McKenna College; master of arts in journalism, University of Southern California; master of business administration, Fordham University (according to his campaign website)
  • Family background: Baum said his father came to the United States as a refugee and his mother was a high school dropout. He said he was the only one of his siblings to complete college.

Experience and public service

Baum lists the following experience, according to his campaign website and Ballotpedia response:

  • Trustee and board president (two terms), Pasadena City College Board of Trustees
  • Member and president (twice elected), California Community Colleges Board of Governors
  • President, West Pasadena Residents Association
  • Assistant dean, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
  • Co-founder, Center on Communication Leadership and Policy at USC Annenberg (2007)
  • Head of communications and public affairs, Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands (2010)
  • Administrator, Claremont McKenna College
  • Producer, C-SPAN

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Baum's campaign website and Ballotpedia questionnaire response.

Fiscal responsibility and bond oversight: Baum said he supports responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, transparency in budgeting and safeguarding PCC's historic facilities bond investment. He noted that Education Code section 15278 requires an independent citizens' oversight committee for Proposition 39 bond funds.

College access and affordability: Baum said he supports reducing textbook and materials costs, strengthening transfer pathways to four-year universities, expanding dual enrollment programs to local high schools and supporting student parents, working adults and first-generation students. He said he pushed for the state investment in Zero Textbook Cost degree pathways and worked on its implementation.

Workforce and economic development: Baum said he supports aligning PCC programs with regional workforce needs, expanding training in skilled trades critical to post-Eaton Fire rebuilding and partnering with industry leaders to prepare students for high-demand careers.

Community college bachelor's degree programs: Baum said that in March 2015, as president of the Board of Governors, he presided over final approval of the first colleges authorized to offer four-year degrees under SB 850. He said he supports PCC exploring whether to pursue bachelor's degree programs now that the pilot became permanent in 2021.

Artificial intelligence in education: Baum said he supports helping faculty use AI tools responsibly and preparing students to compete in a changing economy.

Endorsements

The following endorsements are listed on Baum's campaign website:

  • Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
  • Victor Gordo, City of Pasadena
  • Jack Scott, former chancellor of the California Community Colleges, former state senator and former president of PCC
  • Chris Holden, former Assembly majority leader and former mayor of Pasadena
  • John Pérez, speaker emeritus and former president of the UC Board of Regents
  • Bill Bogaard, former mayor of Pasadena
  • Michael Davitt, City of La Cañada Flintridge

The race is nonpartisan.

Candidate responses were drawn from Baum's official campaign website and his Ballotpedia questionnaire. The Pasadena Ledger presents this profile to help voters evaluate candidates in this race.