CCC board appoints Laura Leal

Clovis Community College’s board of trustees on Wednesday appointed Clovis restaurant owner Laura Leal to the board.

She will replace Ken Merritt, a Clovis dentist, who has resigned the position he won in March and is moving to Phoenix to teach dentistry.

The vote to appoint Leal was 3-1 and followed debate.

Trustee Russell Muffley opposed the appointment.

Leal will serve in the position until the next board election in March 2017.

Merritt had recommended a successor to his seat — Megan Palla, of Clovis, who owns an accounting firm — but Trustee Ray Mondragon proposed Leal for the job since she finished second to Merritt, among four candidates, in the March election.

Muffley said he wanted to solicit “letters of interest” for the job and then discuss candidates at the board’s next meeting.

Jose Griego, a community activist, also told the board he wanted it to seek applicants and call a special election.

Muffley opposed a special election.

Mondragon made the motion to appoint Leal. Trustees Mondragon, Arnold Martinez and Terry Martin all approved her appointment.

She will be sworn in at the board’s next meeting on Oct. 7.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting:

Natalie Daggett, executive director of the Clovis Community College Foundation, told the board about a scholarship fundraiser.

The goal is to raise $25,000 by asking area businesses for minimum contributions of $500.

Those that donate will receive signs to post outside their businesses indicating they have supported the project.