1 Incumbent Projected To Keep Seat, 1 Ousted In District 202

UPDATE: With newly tabulated mail-in votes, Toni Galan has overtaken Rick Todd to win a seat on the school board.

PLAINFIELD, IL— Nine candidates competed for four spots on Plainfield's District 202 school board. Of them, Kathleen Baxter, Barbara Seiden, Rod Westfall and Rick Todd are projected to win.

The board is made up of seven members and serves all 30 schools in the district. Those elected will serve a complete four-year term.

Election results from the County Clerk's Office are below. Votes have yet to be certified. (* denotes incumbent)

Board of Education:

• Kathleen Baxter: 4,552
• Barbara Seiden: 3,998
• *Rod Westfall: 3,730
• Rick Todd (Richard): 3,411
• Toni Galan: 3,365
• *Robert C. Smith: 3,340
• Nick Giannasi: 3,132
• Annie Klupshas: 3,206
• Raj Pillai: 2,726

The Association of Plainfield Teachers endorsed Toni Galan, Barb Seiden, Kathy Baxter, Rod Westfall and Bob Smith. Both Westfall and Smith are current board members.

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The union did not endorse any candidates running on the Parents for Choice slate, which includes Annie Klupshas, Nick Giannasi, Raj Pillai and Rick Todd. According to their website, the Parents for Choice supports an immediate return to in-person learning.

Westfall said he looks forward to putting the negativity of the campaign behind him. The difference between slates of candidates caused tension during the race, but Westfall said there is only one issue to focus on now.

"The goal that everybody wants is to have children back in classrooms for full days, no restrictions," Westfall said. "But that wasn't a reality and I personally took safety's side, so I took a lot of heat for that, but we will all work together to get to that goal as soon as possible."

Though almost half of the board will be replaced, larger administrative changes are also on the horizon for District 202.

In March, longtime Plainfield School District Superintendent Lane Abrell announced his upcoming retirement at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Associate Superintendent Glenn Wood will take over the role starting the following year.