Moorpark College business major Brian Lovatt was sworn in Tuesday as the new student trustee on the Ventura County Community College District governing board.

Lovatt, who beat out eight other hard-working student candidates from Oxnard and Ventura for the district-wide position, won the election in the second round of balloting Aug. 27-29.

Lovatt said his highest priorities as student trustee are to improve the image of the college district and ensure a constant and adequate level of state funding. He would also like to work closely with other involved students, particularly those who ran for election.

“I highly encourage my fellow candidates to speak to me directly so we can work together to solve issues that face us as students in the Ventura County Community College District,” Lovatt said.

Lovatt was elected in a special fall election after the results of the regular spring election were voided.

Lovatt received 117 votes to win the election, beating out his closest rival, Marenn Espiritu of Oxnard by 18 votes. Other candidates were Garmund Chan, Rachel Flickinger and Cynthia Lopez, all of Ventura; and Sheryl Copon, Hong Le, and Robert Arroyo, all of Oxnard.

In his position as student trustee, Lovatt will act as the representative of students to the district’s Board of Trustees. Although Lovatt will not be a voting member of the Board of Trustees, he sits on the dais with the voting members and comments on the measures before the board votes.

The student trustee is a one-year term and pays a $400 per month stipend. Student trustees must maintain a 2.0 grade-point average and be enrolled in at least five units.

His background in politics ranges from leading his Eagle Scout troop as a teen to volunteer work on the Campaigns for Sen. Barbra Boxer and presidential candidate John Kerry in 2003.