The Linn-Benton Community College Board of Education swore in two new board members at its annual organizational meeting in July.

Cathrine Thomas will represent East Linn County, Sweet Home zone 1. She resides in Sweet Home and works for the Greater Albany Public Schools as an administrative assistant in facilities.

Penny York will represent Corvallis zones 6-7A. Corvallis resident, York retired from LBCC in 2005 after serving as the Benton Center director.

Benton County Commissioner Linda Modrell and Circuit Court Judge David Connell swore in the new board members.

The board also selected Dick Running, representative for Albany zones 2-3, as board chair, replacing Ron Mason from Benton County zone 5.

Claus Sass, also Albany zones 2-3, was selected as vice chair.

Running, of Albany, has been on the board since 2007. He is a certified public accountant with Boehme and Running in Albany. He holds a bachelor's degree from Pacific Lutheran University and a master's degree from the University of Denver.

Sass, also of Albany, has been on the board since 2007. He retired as general manager from DLF International Seed. Sass studied mechanical drafting at Oregon Institute of Technology.

Additional board members are Hal Brayton, Ann Brodie and Ron Mason.

The LBCC Board of Education governs Linn-Benton Community College. Linn and Benton county residents elect the seven-member board, with members serving four-year terms.

Democrat-Herald