FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 15, 2016) At the meeting of the Tarrant County College Board of Trustees today, District 5 TCC Trustee and Board Secretary O.K. Carter announced he will not seek re-election in May 2017.
Voters elected Carter, a writer, journalist and educator, to the board in 2010 to represent South Arlington, Mansfield and Dalworthington Gardens.
“There are few callings more worthy than higher education and no institution contributes more to self-actualization and economic self-improvement in Tarrant County than TCC,” Carter said. “To be part of something like that has been a real life milestone for me. I’m proud of what the TCC family has accomplished over the past six years.”
Carter cited gains in student success rates, expanded TCC self-examination and transparency practices, new aviation and energy technology facilities, numerous new vocational programs and a dramatic expansion in college credit programs for high school students as a partial list of accomplishments by the College during his tenure.
“Though I’ll be leaving the board, I plan to stay active with TCC, particularly in the endowment fundraising arena,” Carter said. “As affordable as TCC tuition is, an expanded endowment will make it possible for thousands more students to attend college and to reward those high performers as well. I hope to promote the message that an endowment gift will be helping students succeed for the next century.”
According to Board President Louise Appleman, District 5 constituents can be proud of Carter’s representation during his six-year tenure. “Since joining the board, Mr. Carter has taken his responsibilities very seriously and has made it a point to ensure that we carefully examine the return on investment of every nickel we spend,” she said. “His commitment to financial stewardship was evident in every board meeting, and I know that same commitment will enable him to continue advocating for TCC.”
Elections for the District 5 seat, along with District 3 and District 4, will be held in May 2017.
