Aragon, Liu Lead in Pasadena Area Community College District Board Races

James Aragon and Ryan Liu are leading in their respective races for the Pasadena Area Community College District Governing Board, according to election results Wednesday morning.

With 76.45% of the vote, Aragon holds a commanding lead over opponent Kevin D. Strotz for the Trustee Area No. 2 seat. Liu leads the Trustee Area No. 6 race with 54.24% of the vote, ahead of John Quintanilla.

The election, held Tuesday, will shape the future direction of Pasadena City College and the communities it serves. Trustees are elected to four-year terms to represent different areas within the College District, which spans Arcadia, El Monte, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and Temple City.

Aragon, a 30-year Pasadena City College professor and counselor, has focused his campaign on boosting enrollment and engaging constituents in Trustee Area 2, which covers Altadena to Sierra Madre. His public service background includes the Pasadena Human Service Commission and the Pasadena Unified School District redistricting committee.

Liu, a Pasadena City College graduate and attorney, has emphasized expanding course offerings for university transfer, increasing internships, and supporting efforts to re-establish a Rosemead satellite campus. His campaign has highlighted his journey from a low-income, first-generation student to a successful advocate for higher education access.

Key issues in the election include declining enrollment, student access, and improving pathways to four-year colleges. The new Trustees will work to address these challenges when they assume office.

The election is not governed by the Open Primary Act, so the candidate with the most votes in each race wins. Vote counting is ongoing, with final, certified results expected in the coming weeks.