Tom Peters
CA · Vice Chair, Santa Monica Community College District Board of Trustees
Tom Peters is vice chair of the Santa Monica College board, on which he has served since 2022, and a former tenured SMC faculty member in its Center for Students with Disabilities. He holds a doctorate in business administration and focuses on accessibility for students.
Where Tom Peters stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Education Quality (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (3 support · 3 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 support · 3 oppose
Voted to commit $126 million of Measure SMC bond money to build affordable student housing with about 250 apartments and 746 beds. It passed 6-1.
September 8, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: admin.smc.edu
Voted to make final the layoffs of classified college staff that the board started in February, after a hearing officer's decision. It passed 5-2.
May 5, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: admin.smc.edu
Voted to freeze pay raises and require two unpaid furlough days a month for all college managers and confidential staff, saving about $1.95 million. It passed 5-0.
April 7, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: admin.smc.edu
Seconded the motion to add every classified manager job to a layoff resolution that cut 57 classified staff positions for lack of funds. The goal was to weigh all manager jobs in a restructuring. It passed 4-3.
February 3, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: admin.smc.edu
Seconded the motion to adopt the college's 2023-24 budget, which had a $343 million general fund. It passed 5-0.
September 12, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: admin.smc.edu
Seconded the motion to approve a 2021-2024 contract with the classified staff union (CSEA). It gave raises of 7.5% for 2021-22 and 2.5% plus a $3,000 one-time payment for 2022-23. It passed 6-0.
January 17, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: admin.smc.edu
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 1 support
Seconded a board resolution backing Measure MM, a $395 million bond to repair and improve Malibu public schools. It passed 4-0.
September 10, 2024Supports Public Education Quality
Source: admin.smc.edu
Track record — General
General · 6 records
Voted against naming two specific people as co-chairs of the college president search committee; that motion failed 3-4. The board then chose him 6-1 as its member on the committee.
March 23, 2026
Source: admin.smc.edu
Seconded the board's approval of items that included a change to the college president's contract. It set her retirement for Dec. 31, 2026 and added a post-retirement payment of up to $250,000. It passed 7-0.
October 7, 2025
Source: admin.smc.edu
Made the motion to sign Santa Monica College onto a national statement by college leaders, the AAC&U Call for Constructive Engagement. It passed 6-0.
May 6, 2025
Source: admin.smc.edu
Made the motion to raise the student health fee to the state maximum starting fall 2025, to pay for health, basic needs and mental health services. It passed 6-0.
April 1, 2025
Source: admin.smc.edu
Nominated Patricia Nakao to fill a vacant board seat and voted against appointing Kera Blades, which failed 3-3. He then seconded the motion appointing Luis Barrera Castañón, approved 4-2.
February 4, 2025
Source: admin.smc.edu
Seconded the motion to hire an outside firm, for up to $57,000, to review how the college handled the Oct. 14, 2024 campus shooting. It passed 5-0.
December 12, 2024
Source: admin.smc.edu
Past race Tom Peters ran in:
- Santa Monica Community College District Governing Board Member · November 3, 2026 · Santa Monica Community College District · incumbent