3 School Board Candidates Endorsed By Deerfield District 109 Caucus

DEERFIELD, IL — Though the initial date for filing a petition to run for elected office is still more than a week away, the Deerfield District 109 Caucus has already endorsed three candidates for April's consolidated election. Todd Govain, chief deputy county clerk of the Lake County Clerk's office, told Patch the petition filing is from Dec. 12 through Dec. 19.

For the Deerfield District 109 Board of Education, the current terms of members Nick Begley (vice president), Kenneth Ashman and Ryan Kuo all end in 2023. Each seat is for a four-year term with the election set for April 4, 2023.

The caucus, comprised of 21 volunteer parents and community members, is endorsing the reelection of Kuo, along with Roise Bonar and Dr. Mitchell Dornfeld.

According to the caucus, the candidates participated in an extensive vetting process that included detailed written answers and interviews.

"Deerfield parents and community members engage with potential candidates in a very thorough and careful caucus process," said David Mutnick, caucus chair.

Here are the bios of each endorsed candidate, according to the Deerfield District 109 Caucus:

• Kuo is a business executive, and U.S. Army veteran who has lived in Deerfield for more than nine years. Kuo and his wife are parents of three DPS students, Collin (11, Shepard), Rylee (9, Walden), and Reed (6, Walden). He has served on the DPS 109 Board of Education since 2017. During his time on the Board of Education, Ryan has served as the chair of both the Finance and Facilities Development Committees.
• Rosie Bonar, a Financial Controller, is a wife and mom of two who has lived in Deerfield since 2013. Both of her sons attend 109 schools — one at Shephard and one at Walden. She earned her BS in Business majoring in Finance and Accounting while working full time from the University of Phoenix. She has over 20 years’ experience working in the private sector in service related industries. She has volunteered at Walden for several years.
• Dr. Mitchell Dornfeld, a licensed clinical psychologist, has two daughters one at South Park Elementary and one who will be. Dornfeld and his wife have lived in Deerfield for six years.

According to a news release, the DPS District 109 Caucus is a "nonpartisan, community-based organization dedicated to maintaining and expanding the tradition of excellence manifest in Deerfield's elementary and middle schools, with its role in candidate endorsement at the core of its commitment to the citizens and students served by District 109 schools." For more information, visit here.