Elkarra serves as the Chair of the Los Rios Community College District's Bond Oversight committee. In this capacity, he oversees $200 million tax dollars in the modernization and repair of the Los Rios' campuses.
Civil Rights Work
Basim Elkarra has been the Executive Director of the Sacramento Valley chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations since 2004. He has often been interviewed by Sacramento media on the topic of Muslim civil rights. In 2011, the United States Embassy sent Elkarra to England to meet young British Muslims as part of a strategy to promote civic engagement in England and promoting democracy in the Middle East.
Democratic Party
As a member of the California Democratic Party, Elkarra served as chair of the Affirmative Action Committee. He has engaged with the Sacramento Valley law enforcement agencies on affirmative action issues and cultural education.
Elkarra is running for the vacant Area 5 seat of the Twin Rivers School Board to be held on May 12, 2015. He runs opposed by Sonja Cameron. This is a special election after the former school trustee Cortez Quinn resigned from the Area 5 seat, Sonja Cameron was swiftly appointed to the vacant seat. Some local community members alleged that it was unfair that Sonja Cameron was appointed to the seat without an election and signatures were collected for a special election which will take place on May 12, 2015. The election will cost the school district an estimated $113,000
In 2006, FrontPage Magazine journalist and the Chairman of Americans Against Hate, Joe Kaufman, convinced Senator Barbara Boxer to withdraw a "certificate of accomplishment" that she had previously awarded to CAIR official Basim Elkarra. Kaufman cited CAIR's numerous ties to Hamas and extreme statements and actions perpetrated by Elkarra, himself. Boxer “expressed concern” about some past statements and actions by CAIR, and some law enforcement officials asserted that CAIR “gives aid to international terrorist groups.” Neither CAIR nor any of its leaders have ever been indicted nor convicted of any crime. This revocation was strongly criticized by several organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union and the California Council of Churches. As a result of the controversy Boxer created, Basim received hate mail, including a death threat, since the controversy erupted. Similarly, in 2010, Ami Bera who was running for a U.S. congress seat, returned $250 of campaign donations to Mr. Elkarra after questions about CAIR's affiliations. Bera was criticized because he "succumbed to the growing national hysteria about Islam in America and the NRCC's fear-mongering, in particular." On April 25, 2015, Ami Bera announced his endorsement for Basim Elkarra's campaign for the Twin Rivers School Board seat.
