The following profiles have been submitted by the respective candidates.
ROD BELLEZA RITE
Rod Belleza is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers and has a BA (Political Science) and LL.B degree from the Philippines where he practiced law before immigrating to Canada in 1980.
As a Trustee of the Richmond Board of Education since 2008, he was appointed as Chairman Audit Committee, Vice Chair-Education Committee and Personnel and Finance Committee, AEEA Representative, BCPSEA Alternate Representative and Trustee Liaison to various schools.
For over 25 years, Belleza has dedicated his time to community service. He served in the Richmond Intercultural Advisory Committee, Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee, ERCA, AMSSA, Rotary, Jaycees, RMCS and Filipino Canadian Associations.
The Philippine Asian News and the Filipino Canadian Business Directory awarded Belleza for his outstanding community service.
He believes in enabling children's individual potential by providing them quality education. His mission is to ensure the board has accountable and responsible governance.
WILLIAM KANG CHEN
William Chen is a financial advisor and accountant.
He obtained a Bachelor Degree in Commerce from University of Northern B. C., majoring in marketing and a diploma in accounting from Kwantlen University.
Chen immigrated to Canada in 1993 and has lived in Richmond for over 15 years. He hopes he can be a good communicator between the immigration community and the school district.
Chen has volunteered in SUCCESS, BC lung association and Richmond Senior center. He and his wife have three lovely sons.
KENNY CHIU RITE
Kenny Chiu studied computational science at the University of Saskatchewan.
He immigrated to Canada in 1989 and has since been employed by various companies in the software engineering profession.
Currently a software development manager, Chiu also lives in the city with his wife and two elementary school aged daughters.
Chiu believes in active community involvement and
volunteerism. He has served on a number of non-profit and charitable organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce Business Development Committee and the Mennonite Housing Society.
He has also been a current affairs commentator for over ten years, and co-hosts two weekly talk shows at Fairchild Radio in Cantonese and Mandarin.
This professional and cultural crossroad provides Chiu with a unique perspective to Richmond's educational need in the 21st century.
NORM GOLDSTEIN RITE
Norm Goldstein moved to Richmond in 1994 and has since served on the Board of the Richmond Jewish Day School, co-chaired the Incentive Parents Groups at MacNeill secondary and coached in the Richmond Cosom floor hockey league.
Goldstein believes that the business of the school district must be carried out with transparent governance and motivated by the best interests of the students.
If elected as trustee, Goldstein will strive for offering all students the opportunities they need to develop to their full potentials.
At the secondary level, this requires having a diversity of programs, offered at varying levels of intensity, attracting students from across the school district.
JONATHAN HO RITE
Jonathan Ho immigrated to Richmond from Hong Kong in 1997.
He has worked with TD Bank since 2000.
Jonathan Ho Ho has two children and passionately believes all children are entitled to a good education.
Ho is a new candidate who will bring a fresh perspective and enthusiasm to the school board.
If he is elected, he will partner with the provincial government to ensure that adequate and predictable funding is provided. He will advocate for a more efficient use of public funding.
Ho will also ensure that resources will be provided in delivering an optimal learning environment for children in this rapidly changing world. Giving back to Richmond is a labour of love for him.
DONNA SARGENT RICHMOND FIRST
Donna Sargent has been a resident of Richmond for over 25 years and has been actively involved with the Richmond School District since 1991.
Completing her third term as a school trustee, Sargent is currently the chairperson of the Board of Education.
Her extensive track record has given her a reputation of being a hard working, principle-centered and trustworthy team player.
Some of her involvement includes Chairperson of the Personnel and Finance Committee, Chairperson of the Council Board Liaison Committee, Special Purpose Task Force on Land Issues, and Career Development Advisory Committee, City of Richmond's Sister City Committee, Richmond Substance Abuse Task Force, Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, Richmond District Parents Association President/Vice President to name just a few.
Sargent has been married for 27 years and has two children Jenny and Greg.
MICHAEL STARCHUK RITE
Michael Starchuk has lived in Richmond all his life. Born in the city in 1901, his great grandmother helped to instil in M him a great passion for Richmond.
Being the eldest of five boys, he learned at a young age the art of listening, understanding and compromise.
Starchuk is the senior program manager at an outofschool care in Richmond.
He believes schools are the lifeblood of the community and strong schools build stronger communities.
Going to school is about getting an education in academics, but also learning social skills, respect and responsibility.
Starchuk believes it's a child's right to learn all of these skills and that it is the
community's responsibility to deliver a quality education.
DEBBIE TABLOTNEY RICHMOND FIRST
As a Richmond resident since 1982, Debbie Tablotney completes her second term as School Trustee, currently as ViceChair for the board of education.
For 23years, she has been a volunteer and advocate for public education, fine arts/ music programs and students with learning challenges/special needs.
Tablotney brings a principle-centered leadership, allowing her to make difficult decisions when called upon, always putting the student first.
She has demonstrated commitment to the community by serving with organizations such as the Richmond District Parents Association and Westwind PAC Chair (4yrs).
GRACE TSANG RICHMOND FIRST
Grace Tsang is a certified financial planner with two children.
She has been involved with School District #38 since 1995 and is completing her second term as a school trustee.
Grace Tsang During her tenure she has served as Vice Chair/Chair of the Audit, Education, Personnel & Finance Committees, and a member on various board and city committees.
Tsang encouraged accountable and transparent governance, supported safe schools and advocated for stable funding.
Tsang was director of the Richmond Youth Concert Band and is an active member of the Richmond Sunset Rotary Club where she was director.
ERIC YUNG RICHMOND FIRST
Eric Yung has spent the last three years as president of the Richmond District Parents Association.
As trustee, he can take action to protect children's future education.
The greatest challenge is meeting the needs of children with diminishing resources.
Yung will continue to advocate for stable and increased funding for the school district. He will carefully examine all expenditures, remembering that the focus is on the learner.
As a parent of two elementary aged children, all-day kindergarten and individualized learning and assessment for K-3 are not abstract concepts, but very real personal issues.
