(Photo Slideshow) Mark Zacovic announced at the public forum held at Cerritos College at 11 a.m. Wednesday that if selected as its next president, his main concern would the school’s accreditation.

The Interim Vice President of Administrative Services at Pasadena City College was the second of the five presidential candidate finalists to present their views and opinions in front of faculty, classified staff, hourly employees, and students.

The candidate welcomed questions and concerns such as what his main priority would be if hired for said position.

“It is amazing to me how Cerritos College could have not met required recommendations from the accreditation visit in 2002,” he said. “My main focus would be the accreditation of the school and making sure that those recommendations are met.”

He also stated that he is a firm believer in the importance of the role that a school’s faculty takes and that he will seek its help and opinion from the get-go.

He adds,” Faculty is central to the mission of this college and in the potential success that students may obtain.”

Because Cerritos College has had eight presidents in a matter 19 years and has struggled with sustaining a president who maintains a long term role as president, he understands the concern of many who are afraid the next president will not stick around for long.

He assured those present that he would bring realism to the job because he was “the whole package.”

“I’m the whole package,” he said, “in the sense that not only do I have the experience in 6 different districts in a matter of 24 years, but I also know what it’s like to work with and in small colleges, big colleges, and urban colleges.”

He firmly believes that he obtains the background experience and qualities that the college needs.

To him, people are the bottom line. His career has taught him to become a good listener and the importance it is to be one because “you can’t just mouth words, you have to take action and keep your word in whatever it is you say you will do.”

In regards to the growing concern that as president he will not commit to a long term role, he joked, “I do not have a trust fund and I am not the sole owner of an inheritance so I’m here for the long term commitment.”