New Lenox Election 2021: Township, Park District, School Boards

NEW LENOX, IL — Election Day is almost here. There are several elections in New Lenox for school districts, township, park district, village board, fire district, and library, although many candidates are running uncontested.

Contested races in New Lenox include the race for New Lenox District 122 Board of Education, New Lenox Community Park District Board of Commissioners, Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education, and several positions for New Lenox Township.

New Lenox District 122 Board of Education

There are five candidates running for four open positions on the New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education:

• Aaron Raatjes
• Rhonda Starklauf
• David Rush
• Kris O'Connor
• Albert Haring

Raatjes, Starklauf, Rush and Haring are all incumbents, while O'Connor is a newcomer candidate.

Rush is the current secretary of the board.

Raatjes is also a current board member, and works as a teacher at Lincoln-Way District 210. In his Patch questionnaire, he wrote that the most pressing issue facing the board is maintaining instruction for remote and in-person learners.

"I believe a school district needs dedicated board members who are interested in advocating for our students by ensuring that all aspects of the district are managed properly and effectively with a sincere dedication to transparency," he wrote.

Starklauf is the current board president and also works as a teacher at Lincoln-Way D210. In her questionnaire, she wrote that funding is the most pressing issue facing the board.

"I try to be consistent and fair when making decisions, and my number one goal is to always put students first," she wrote.

O'Connor works as a vice president of a nonprofit, and also serves as commissioner for the Village's Police commission.

In his Patch questionnaire, O'Connor wrote that dealing with "new state-mandated policies and the burden on taxpayers" is the most pressing issue facing the board.

"As a small business owner and as a vice president of an organization that provides programs for youth, I have a fiscally responsible mindset that cares about providing the best opportunities for students," he wrote.

Haring, another current board member, is retired. In his candidate questionnaire, he wrote that the most pressing issue facing the board is the pandemic. Another priority of his campaign platform is increasing transparency.

"I think voters should trust me because I believe I have been an honest person. I believe I have spoken truthfully about what I stand for and would advocate for," he wrote.

New Lenox Township

In New Lenox, contested races include the race for New Lenox Township Clerk, New Lenox Township Highway Commissioner, New Lenox Collector and New Lenox Township Trustees.

The two candidates for township clerk are:

• Dave Medema
• Maureen Flanagan Broderick

The two candidates for highway commissioner are:

• David Maine
• Ronald Sly

The candidates running for township collector are:

• Sheila Corrigan
• Philip Juarez

The eight candidates running for four open trustee positions are:

• Alex Vancina
• Michelle De Bella Monbrod
• Laura Kinnan
• Michelle Fadeley
• Martin Boban
• Barbara Kaupas
• Kathy Hilton
• Patricia Deiters

Wennlund, Medema, Sly, Hernandez, Juarez, Boban, Kaupas, Hilton and Deiters are all running as Republicans, and are a part of the Citizens for New Lenox Township slate.

"Your Republican New Lenox Township officers and trustees have consistently provided exceptional township services without increasing tax rates," the slate wrote on Patch.

You can find the slate's Facebook here.

Maine, Corrigan, Vancina, Kinnan, De Bella Monbrod and Fadeley are all running as Democrats and are part of the New Lenox Township Democratic Organization slate.

You can find the slate's Facebook here.

New Lenox Park District Board of Commissioners

There are three candidates running for two open positions as commissioners for the New Lenox Community Park District Board of Commissioners.

The candidates are:

• Mark Ott Jr.
• Bill Thomson
• Ted Schulz

Schulz and Thomson are current board members, and Schulz serves as the board president for the park district.

Ott Jr. works as the head of trading for an investment management firm, and believes the most pressing issue facing the park district is the pandemic.

"Successfully bridging the gap to normalcy is imperative for the health of the New Lenox Community Park District much like the rest of the world. I intend to help facilitate a safe opening of all of our programs and use a common sense approach to the task at hand," he wrote.

Lincoln-Way D210 Board of Education

There are five candidates running for three open positions as board members for the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education. The candidates are:

• Emily Biegel
• Aaron Janik
• Deadra Stokes
• Joseph Kosteck
• Tania Rempert

Janik, Stokes and Kosteck are all current board members, while Rempert and Biegel are newcomer candidates.

Biegel is a high school teacher, and has previously served as a precinct commiteeperson. In her Patch questionnaire, she wrote that the most pressing issue facing the board was that, "school board members foster positive relationships with teachers, students, administrators, and community members so that we can all work together to ensure that all students thrive while in our schools."

Janik is the current vice president of the school board, and works as an attorney. In his questionnaire, he wrote that the most pressing issue facing the board is long-term debt.

"I want to maintain the current reputation of the District, ensuring students receive a high quality education, while continuing to improve on the District's financial position," he wrote.

Stokes is also a current board member. She was appointed to the board in 2019, and she works as an attorney in Orland Park. She has previously served on the economic development committee for the Village of Frankfort.

Kosteck is the current board president, and also works as an attorney. In his questionnaire, he cited the most pressing issue for the board as "the need to restructure existing bond debt."

"I continue with the same promises and platform since first seeking and winning election to this board. I wish to do my part to maintain and improve our academic excellence, promote fiscal accountability, and preserve the district's excellent reputation," he wrote.

Rempert has a Ph.D. in educational psychology, as well as a degree in social work.

In her questionnaire, she wrote that the most pressing issue for the board is helping students after the COVID-19 shutdowns.

" I am running independently, as a volunteer mom who serves hot lunch and works the concession stand, to use my expertise to help the district rebound, rebuild, and assure resilience for our academic and extra-curricular programs to support the development of our students," she wrote.

Polling places in New Lenox are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day on Tuesday. You can check to see if you are registered to vote by heading to the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

The law requires registered voters to keep their name and address current, and you will not be able to vote in the April consolidated election if you are not properly registered.

If you're a Will County voter, you can find lists of candidates on the Clerk's website.

Follow Along On Election Night

New Lenox Patch will be covering local contested elections on April 6.

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