EDITORIAL FOUR FOR LACCD ELECT ISLER, BENNETT, MERCER AND HERNANDEZ.

OVER the past four years, the state of affairs at the Los Angeles Community College District has improved, albeit slowly.

The board of trustees has extended more authority to the nine LACCD college presidents, who have been better able to manage their campuses. Strong leadership at the three community colleges in the San Fernando Valley with Tyree Wieder at Valley, Rocky Young at Pierce and Adriana Barerra at Mission has enhanced the district's reputation.

But proof that administrative problems still linger has surfaced in the wake of Proposition A, a $1.2 billion facilities bond that voters approved for the district in 2001.

Despite promising the public that they had done their homework in preparing for the bond, district officials now admit they miscalculated their needs. Plans are already under way to hit up voters for a second bond worth nearly $1 billion.

The LACCD board of trustees might be better than it was four years ago, but it still has a way to go before regaining the public's trust. It must become more honest, more democratic and more accountable.

In each of the four at-large district races on Tuesday's ballot, there's one candidate most likely to lead the community colleges in that direction.

In District 1, incumbent Sylvia Scott-Hayes seeks re-election with the financial backing of the unions that have long called the shots at the LACCD. She is unapologetic about the special interests' stranglehold on the LACCD system, and fails to understand that ownership of community colleges rightfully belongs to the entire community.

Challenger Mark Isler, a Van Nuys educator and commentator, presents a refreshing alternative to Scott-Hayes' business-as-usual approach. He opposes a new bond measure and supports breaking up the district into smaller, community-managed components. He deserves to be elected.

The incumbent in LACCD District 3, Mona Field, is defensive of the status quo, even the board's pattern of making important decisions behind closed doors.

The best pick in this race is educator, businesswoman and former candidate for Valley city council Wilma Bennett. Bennett is bright, idealistic and committed to reform in the LACCD.

In District 5, incumbent and LACCD board President Georgia Mercer, a Tarzana resident, carries much of the responsibility for the improvements that have taken place under her tenure. Mercer has a strong commitment to community colleges, and has earned another term.

Seeking re-election in District 7 is Warren Furutani. Although Furutani can boast of more experience than his colleagues, it's not the sort of experience the LACCD needs. Furutani was a Los Angeles school board member during the school district's darkest days.

Voters ought to replace him next Tuesday with David Hernandez, a former candidate for U.S. Congress and Valley city council who has a strong sense of the needs facing the LACCD. An insurance adjuster and alumnus of Valley College, Hernandez is adamant about bringing fiscal responsibility to the LACCD, where his drive and skills would be put to good use.