California Code, Education Code - EDC § 71002

(a) Members of the board shall be selected from outstanding lay citizens of California who have a strong interest in the further development and improvement of the California Community Colleges.

(b) Members of the board, to the greatest extent possible, should be inclusive and representative of the many demographic groups found in California, and the board should reflect diversity of race and gender, and should include, among others, disabled persons and veterans.  In furtherance of the mission of the California Community Colleges, a member of the board should embrace the basic role and responsibility of a member of the board to bring his or her own best thinking and personal views to the board's discussion, determining his or her own position on each issue rather than being bound to represent or advocate for the positions of a particular organization or constituency.