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Health & Fitness

Let the Voters Pick the District 99 School Board

The DGCA has endorsed an ineligible candidate which takes the vote away from the voters and puts the decision of who is on the board into the hands of a small few.

I received a mailer late last week from the Downers Grove Community Advocates with their endorsements for the upcoming April 9th election. Of concern to me are the endorsements for District 99 school board. Even though the field has narrowed to four people for four spots, the DGCA has endorsed one of the candidates that have dropped out and by their mailer, calling for people to vote for an ineligible candidate, Henry Jakobsze. While Mr. Jakobsze may very well been a fine candidate, he dropped out of the race on March 13th (http://downersgrove.patch.com/articles/district-99-candidate-henry-jakob...) due to a conflict of interest that would not allow him to serve on the school board. The DGCA endorsed Mr. Jakobsze on March 14th, the very next day. As a responsible community organization that has from time to time been recognized by the state as a Political Action committee, they should be aware of election laws and consequences of their endorsements, particularly since one of their members (Megan McCarthy Schroeder) is a former member of the D99 school board.  

The consequences of voting for Mr. Jakobsze, as the DGCA is asking voters to do, would mean that one of the school board seats is vacant and can be filled by those on the school board. This means that rather than a community vote deciding our school board, the decision will rest in the hands of possibly four individuals. I ask that the Downers Grove Community Advocates issue a public statement withdrawing their endorsement of Henry Jakobsze and allowing the democratic process take place. Our residents and our children have a right to pick our school board, and not have it chosen for them.

An Advocate for the Community,

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Ron Brzoska

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