Rocky Cifone

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Rocky Cifone

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Graduate

University of Southern California

Personal

Birthplace

New York, N.Y.

Contact

Campaign website

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Rocky Cifone ran for election to the South Orange County Community College District to represent District 3 in California. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Cifone completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Rocky Cifone was born in New York, New York. He earned graduate degrees from the University of Southern California and San Diego State University. Before retiring, Cifone worked as a college educator.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, California (2024)

General election

General election for South Orange County Community College District District 3

Lisa Bartlett defeated Rocky Cifone in the general election for South Orange County Community College District District 3 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Bartlett (Nonpartisan)	52.0	37,354
		Rocky Cifone (Nonpartisan)	48.0	34,501

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 71,855
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Cifone's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cifone in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Rocky Cifone completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cifone's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

For 30 years I served community colleges, as a teacher and a dean, including at two of the SOCCCD campuses -- Saddleback College and the Advanced Technology & Education Park. I’m a first-generation student of our amazing California community college system and I want to ensure that all students have open access to affordable, equitable higher education, especially in an era when college can be crushingly expensive.

I bring unparalleled professional and fiscal expertise to the Board, having managed millions of precious tax dollars responsibly and transparently in preparing students for workforce opportunities and transfer. As a 23-year resident of our district and a parent, I understand the capabilities and needs of today’s students, whether they plan to attain a two-year certificate, transfer, seek career education, learn a trade, or are lifelong learners. My Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from USC uniquely qualifies me to serve on this board.

Higher education is my life’s work and I want to continue my life of service: Helping students from all backgrounds attain the level of learning they seek and providing the community with a solid labor force to do the work that keeps the community thriving. I know the questions to ask and the priorities our district needs.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I will support and advocate for quality, affordable, accessible higher education at Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College that empowers all students to learn, earn, and work where they live.
• I will strengthen relationships with local K-12 districts and businesses to ensure Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College continue to provide high-quality, responsive education with no new taxes or bonds, thereby maintaining the colleges’ premier reputations for student success in academics, athletics, career-technical training, and lifelong education.
• I will champion timely career-technical education for good-paying jobs in Orange County through robust collaborations in grades K-12, community colleges, and adult education. We must focus on regionally relevant, high-impact, high-wage career pathways comprising hands-on training, internships, and apprenticeships developed in partnership with business and the labor community.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The impact of the high cost of college coupled with the expensive cost of living in Orange County cannot be overstated. I am passionate about keeping higher education accessible and affordable for all.

I believe strongly that our colleges are powerful agents of economic mobility. Comprehensive partnerships between the colleges, K-12 education, business, local workforce development agencies, and labor are critical to delivering affordable, quality career-technical education to a large, diverse population seeking occupations that keep the community thriving.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I possess many qualities that all of us look for in successful office holders: Fairness, trustworthiness, good communication skills, truthfulness, and empathy are among them. I also can point to many examples of tenacity and self-discipline in my personal and professional background, one namely the ability to complete a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at University of Southern California while working full-time as a community college dean, and in the role of husband and father. Other attributes are transparency and consensus-building across constituencies in the management of precious budget dollars, while building programs and processes where the evaluation of long-term benefits to students and the community were at stake. The examples here are the multi-million dollar technological and facilities upgrades to Saddleback College's McKinney Theatre that I oversaw, or the comprehensive Workforce Investment Program implementations that I led at Pasadena City College and Citrus College and in the LA/Orange County Region.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A core understanding and expertise in the California education code and college funding models is crucial to the execution of a community college trustee's duties. Trustees' many responsibilities of governance include: fiduciary duties; making decisions about major aspects of the colleges such as the budget and public image; college advocacy in the community and state; building partnerships; hiring and retaining leadership and staff; staying informed about trends and issues affecting the colleges; and thinking strategically. Above all, trustees are responsible for making tough decisions in support of students and the institutions.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was delivering Fuller Brush household products door-to-door on Friday afternoons after school in the diverse neighborhoods of the Bronx, New York. I began working this job when I was 12 years-old and did it for two years before my family moved to California. I was handling checks and cash on the go, while balancing inventory, and providing friendly customer service. I share this to demonstrate that I did not come from a place of privilege or affluence. Rather, this job was one of many steps toward becoming a first-generation college student in my family, a pathway which began in community college. It helps illustrate why I have such a passion for the transformative power of community colleges -- and public education as a whole -- to uplift and advance whole communities of students, one by one.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

U.S. Rep. Mike Levin

OC Supervisor Katrina Foley
CA Senator Josh Newman
Stephanie Oddo - Mayor Pro-tem, Laguna Niguel
Ross Chun – Councilmember, Aliso Viejo
Chris Duncan – Councilmember, San Clemente
Roger Schultz – President, Mt. San Jacinto College
Rajen Vurdien -- President (Retired), Pasadena City College
Salvatrice Cummo -- Vice President of Economic & Workforce Development, Pasadena City College
SOCCCD Trustee Carolyn Inmon
SOCCCD Trustee Ryan Dack
Tustin USD President Allyson Muñiz Damikolas
Capo USD Trustee Amy Hanacek
Capo USD Krista Castellanos
SOCCCD Faculty Association
OC Democratic Party
Women for American Values and Ethics (WAVE)
Orange County Labor Federation (OCLF)

Supporters of Public Education - OC

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I am committed to transparent fiscal management of the millions of precious tax dollars for which the Board of Trustees is responsible.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2024 Elections

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South Orange County Community College District District 3

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