Why would a retired administrator from California State University Los Angeles want to serve on the Cerritos College Board of Trustees?

Gary Murph pictures a triangle of success for Cerritos College, its students and its community.

He is also motivated by public service, feels he can make a contribution to the college and would like to make a difference in his community.

Murph — who is a married, father-of-three resident of Bellflower — is making his second bid for a seat on the board.

Murph is a native of Ohio, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in economics and statistical analysis at Ohio State. He later moved to California and earned an master of business administration degree at California State University Los Angeles.

Murph has an extensive background working in higher education.

Most recently, he retired from California State University Los Angeles, where he was the Assistant Vice President of Administration and Finance.

He has also worked as Vice Chancellor at Rancho Santiago College, Vice President at Citrus College, and Fiscal Administrator at Santa Monica College.

Murph’s theme in his campaign is one of excellence.

He believes that the community feels that Cerritos College is a great college, a feeling that he himself echoes.

Because of his intimate knowledge of the system, he does not want the college to rest on its laurels.

He believes that the college can be better, and if the college is better, the students will be better.

If the students are better, the community will prosper.

If the community prospers, the college will benefit.

This is Murph’s triangle of success.

Murph has been a professional manager his entire career and has always worked with board members; however, in this seat Murph would be working from a new perspective.

He feels that he comes with a different awareness of issues than some of the other candidates because of his background in higher education.

With recent community college budget cuts, Murph knows that Cerritos College President Jane Harmon and her soon-to-be-hired vice president of business services will have their work cut out for them, and he plans to give them his full support.

Murph has been working through community organizations and precinct walking trying to get known throughout the district.

Murph also hopes that the resurgence of patriotism due to the Sept. 11 tragedies in New York and at the Pentagon will cause voters to turn out in record numbers at the polls on Nov. 6 to exercise their right to vote.

He looks forward to serving as a board member for Cerritos College.