Inglewood commissioner appointed to El Camino College board

ByEmilie St. John

Contributing Writer 

INGLEWOOD — Inglewood Parking and Traffic Commissioner Brett Roberts was sworn in to the El Camino College Board of Trustees during a special meeting May 12.

Roberts and six other applicants applied to fill the unexpired term of the late Ken Brown, who died in late March.

During the meeting, the board conducted interviews of all seven candidates and selected Roberts.

Roberts was sworn in by Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr., who happened to be on hand for the selection. Butts and Roberts developed a close working relationship working on the K-Line rail project.

Roberts was appointed to the Parking and Traffic Commission by Councilman Eloy Morales Jr.

Roberts spoke with the El Camino College Union, the college’s student run newspaper about his appointment.

“When the opportunity, I’ll say unfortunately, arose I knew that it had to be filled by someone,” Roberts said. “With everything I’ve been doing recently [it] would put me in a position to be able to add value, contribute from day one, so I took a stab at it.”

Roberts plans to create more synergy between the college and Inglewood Unified School District to encourage more students to attend.

Roberts plans on continuing the path established by Brown encouraging students to transfer to either four-year universities and historically Black colleges and universities.

Brown was proud of his connections to HBCUs. He attended Morehouse College where he obtained a bachelor’s in computer science and physics and then earned his master’s in applied physics from Clark Atlanta University.

“I want our IUSD kids to look at El Camino and know that this a place that’s for them and it’s right in their backyard. It can be integral to their success just like Santa Monica College was for me,” Roberts said. “So if I can do that, that’s great.”

Roberts will represent Inglewood and Ladera Heights for the remainder of the current term ending on Nov. 5, 2024 and has not indicated whether he will run for a full term.

Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.