Forums Set for LW 210 Board Candidates

NEW LENOX, IL — Things could get heated in the upcoming election for the Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education.

Thirteen will vie for 5 seats on the embattled and debt-ridden district's board, under intense public scrutiny since the district landed on the state's financial watch list and made the call to shutter Lincoln-Way North as a a cost-cutting measure.

The final candidate list from the Will County Clerk’s Office details five running for two seats with unexpired two-year terms, and eight candidates running for three seats with four-year terms.

Voters will have two opportunities to hear what the contenders have to say, with forums set to take place in February and March. The first will be held Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m., at Lincoln-Way Central High School, 1801 E. Lincoln Highway. Six of the 13 candidates are expected to participate in the Feb. 2 event, which is organized by Lincoln-Way Area Taxpayers Unite. The five-candidate slate Citizens for 210 will not attend, stating the forum is unfair due to one candidate's former role as vice president of the group, Chicago Tribune reports. Candidates Chris Kosel and Beth Janus-Doyle both are also not available to join. The forum will be moderated by Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Member Kristin McQueary.

A second forum will be held March 8 at 7 p.m., at Lincoln-Way Central. Hosted the by Lincoln-Way Education Association, all candidates have until Feb. 24 to confirm their participation. The public is invited to submit questions in advance via email to lwea210@gmail.com.

Both events are open to the public, and questions will be accepted from the audience.

Who Wants to Sit on the Board?

Incumbents

• Joseph Kosteck
• Christopher Kosel
• Christopher Lucchetti
• Joseph Kirkeeng
• Dee Molinare

Citizens for 210

• Karen Town
• Lee Talley
• Cathy Pleasant
• Gus Yiakos
• Ben Yomtoob

Other

• Beth Janus-Doyle
• Robert Ripp
• Aaron Janik

Incumbents Joseph Kosteck, Christopher Kosel, Christopher Lucchetti, Joseph Kirkeeng and Board President Dee Molinare will fight to keep their seats. Facing off against them as the Citizens for 210 slate are Karen Town, Lee Talley, Cathy Pleasant, Gus Yiakos and Ben Yomtoob.

Kirkeeng will vie for a two-year seat against Citizen 210's Town and Talley, as well as Janus-Doyle and Ripp. Ripp recently stepped down from his role as vice president with Lincoln-Way Area Taxpayers Unite.

Kosel, Lucchetti, Kosteck, and Molinare will contend for three four-year seats, with one ultimately booted from his or her spot. They're up against Janik and Citizen 210's Yiakos, Yomtoob, and Pleasant.

Candidate Basics

Incumbents

Joseph Kosteck

• Frankfort real estate attorney with finance degree. Appointed to board in June 2016 to fill one of two vacancies left by the resignations of former board members Arvid Johnson and Kathleen Casey.
• Lincoln-Way grad, lifelong resident. 10-year resident of Frankfort. Two kids set to attend LWE in coming years.
• Previously served as a former director of the Lincoln-Way Foundation for Academic Excellence, a partner in the foundation and as president and treasurer of the Lincoln-Way Chorale.
• Believes the "district is on the right track," noting the board's work to pass a balanced budget and "put forth a focused plan that will enable a surplus of approximately $2,000,000 this coming year."

Christopher Kosel

• Joined the board in 2005. Lincoln-Way graduate and lifelong area resident. Father of 3. Seeks a four-year term.
• Only incumbent who voted in favor of closing North.
• Has stated he fought for transparency prior to board's controversial proceedings to pursue closing North, Chicago Tribune reports.

Christopher Lucchetti

• Financial analyst and Mokena resident, parent of 2 LWC students, and a seventh grader. Seeks a four-year term.
• Appointed to the board a year ago.
• Calls for increased transparency and community involvement as way to improve board and district.
• Stresses need for five-year budget and long-term capital project plan.

Joseph Kirkeeng

• Previous member of New Lenox School District 122. Seeks a two-year term.
• Career experience in banking.
• Was attending Joliet East High School when it closed, requiring his shift Joliet Central in his senior year, Chicago Tribune reports.
• Stresses better control over short-term borrowing. Believes in evaluate other revenue sources.

Dee Molinare

• Current board president. Tinley Park resident. Mother of 3 LW graduates and one freshman. Seeks a four-year term.
• Was appointed to board in 2011; states board's financial issues began before her appointment.
• Served on Summit Hill District 161 board for 10 years.
• Administrator for a private preschool; previously taught at Joliet Junior College. Currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership and is planning completion in May 2017.
• "Unprecedented challenges have led to some former board members resigning," she said in a release. "I have chosen to stay and see these tasks to their conclusion. I am asking voters to allow
  me to finish the job I started.

Citizens for 210

Karen Town

• Marketing specialist and Tinley Park resident. Seeks a two-year term.
• Adjunct faculty member at Moraine Valley Community College
• Seeks to unify the district and repair board's relationship with the community.
• Calls for improved fiscal management and accounting measures.
• Aims to "help unify the district and restore trust in the Board of Education and administration by making student success the top priority and working toward improving the district's financial position."

Lee Talley

• Tinley Park resident and former teacher at Thornridge High School. Retired from teaching in 2011 after 30 years. Seeks a two-year term.
• Served on School District 130 Board of Education.
• References experience with school reform and referendum strategy.
• Seeks to give senior citizens a voice on the board.
• Aims to "restore fiscal integrity to the district that benefits all stakeholders and to provide the best educational opportunities for all students."

Cathy Pleasant

• Frankfort resident and deputy auditor for Will County. Seeks four-year term.
• Advisory member of district's finance and building committee
• Wants to make district's checkbook available online, as well as set up a fraud hotline.
• Calls for increased transparency. Wants separate budgets for each school.
• "There has been great disharmony in the L-W210 community that I believe needs to be improved. We need to treat residents of our community with the same respect we expect from them."

Gus Yiakos

• Tinley Park resident and high school teacher. Seeks four-year term.
• Former Mokena business owner.
• Aims to "help bring L-W210 school district and the community back working together and make sound financial decisions for our kids."

Ben Yomtoob

• Mokena resident. Experience in corporate management and business consulting. Seeks four-year term.
• Previous board member for School District 103 in Lincolnshire.
• Aims to "restore the community's trust in the school district by operating the district in an open, transparent way.

Remaining Candidates

Beth Janus-Doyle

• Mokena resident. Teacher for 16 years. Seeks two-year term.
• Would call for a full school audit.
• Stresses communication and moving forward.

Robert Ripp

• Tinley Park resident. CPA. Father of a Lincoln-North graduate and current East student. Seeks two-year term.
• His goals include: to restore financial stability to maximize the academic and social growth of all students, increase financial transparency and community involvement, and strengthen board governance.
• In favor of term limits for board members, the development of a formal fraud prevention program, and giving laptops to incoming students.
• Suggests implement student activity fees. Supports board policy of annually review registration fees that includes a minimum increase based on CPI.
• Wants the video recording and local cable television airing of all Board of Education and Finance Committee meetings.
• Supports the posting of board packets online prior to the Board of Education and Finance Committee meetings.
• Wants future Board of Education meeting schedule to increase the number of meetings per month from one to two.

Aaron Janik

• Mokena resident and Vice President of Mokena District 159 school board. Seeks four-year term.
• Currently serves as Executive Director for the Mid America Bargaining Association (MARBA)
• Prior to joining MARBA, he practiced labor law as in-house counsel at the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council.
• Participated in the Lincoln-Way 210 Strategic Planning Sessions offering his insight on the Human Resources committee.