Contested races, new faces mark Skokie school elections next spring

Election 2013

Updated: February 11, 2013 6:37AM

SKOKIE

For those who have grown tired of uncontested races with incumbents seeking re-election, the April 9 election may be a breath of fresh air.

Not only is the village’s Caucus Party facing a rare election season with a highly contested race for trustee seats, but several school districts also have contested races or at least guaranteed new faces joining their boards.

In fact, Skokie Fairview School District 72 is a rarity in that all three incumbents are seeking re-election, but they will face three newcomers. Incumbents Jeff Brill, Vicki Goldberg and John A. Del Genio will fight to win new four-year terms against newcomers Mark Sproat, Glenn E. Bianchi and Petar Gataric, Jr. for the three open seats.

The race for four seats on the Skokie School District 68 Board, the largest elementary school district in Skokie, is uncontested, but there will be two new faces joining the board.

Una McGeough, who has served on the District 68 Board since 2008, and Amy Anson, who has served on the board since 2009, seek re-election and will join newcomers Todd Fingerman and Mark Weil.

Skokie School District 73.5, on the east end of the village, will be the subject of a contested race in April with mostly newcomers vying for open seats.

Only incumbent Charlene Abraham is seeking re-election for one of four four-year terms. She will be joined by five newcomers in that campaign: Gary Dolinko, Mark Goldberg, Randall Steger, Sally A. Graham and Natalie Izquierdo-Tsagaroulis.

Katherine Lockerby, a board member who was appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy on the board, filed for an open two-year seat and will run for election for the first time.

New faces are squaring off against longtime board members for three open seats on Niles Township High School District 219 Board, Incumbents Ruth Klint, Robert Silverman and Lynda Smith will face newcomers Orrin Joffe and Mitchell Steinberg for three four-year terms.

At Skokie/Morton Grove School District 69, incumbent Terri Lefler and newcomers Steve Dembo, Felicia Holtz and Jennifer Waters are running uncontested to fill four open seats.

District 69 board members Zachary Williams, Shajan Jose, and Barbara Poddig did not file for re-election.

Skokie School District 73 is the school district in the village that failed to have enough filings for open seats on the board.

Three candidates – only one incumbent – filed for the four open seats. Incumbent Rich Evonitz and newcomers Atanu Das and Amy Steinhauer filed to run for four-year terms in next spring’s contest.

It’s remains possible for someone to step up and run as a write-in candidate, or the School Board will appoint someone to fill the open seat.~.

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