Conservative Group Backs 4 Elmhurst D205 Hopefuls

ELMHURST, IL – A conservative group that warns parents about the indoctrination and grooming of children has endorsed four candidates for the Elmhurst School District 205 board in Tuesday's election.

Awake Illinois supports Linda Nudera, Lan Li, Tom Chavez and Jammie Esker Schaer. The other candidates are Courtenae Trautmann, Beth Hosler, Kelly Henry, Kelly Asseff and Ben Zulauf.

In its endorsement, Awake Illinois cited dropping test scores in the district.

On Friday, Awake released its endorsements for school board races in the area.

Patch left an emailed message Monday morning with the candidates about whether they accept the group's support.

In response, Nudera emailed a statement saying she was not aware of the endorsement and was not part of the group.

But she said that after a review of Awake's website, the group is "not just a platform for concerned parents, but they support inner-city initiatives like Project HOOD and our military Veterans – both honorable philanthropies."

Nudera said the American Middle East Voters Alliance's political action committee last week endorsed her candidacy.

"As an American Arab, I was proud to receive their backing," she said.

She said a school board member is a nonpartisan position that has been "intentionally undermined by political parties," but she reserved her criticism for one of the two major parties.

"I find irony in the fact that Democratic organizations are supporting a slate of homogeneous women for the school board versus a heterogeneous panel made up of both men and women, multicultural with diverse skill sets," Nudera said.

She noted that the Illinois Democratic Party's website says it is "dedicated to electing Democrats at all levels across Illinois while building the most active, inclusive, and diverse party possible."

"Is this party really for inclusion and diversity?" Nudera said. "I believe this election is about our children’s future. We need a diverse board to work with administration to prepare our children to handle the rigors of higher education, vocational opportunities, be lifelong learners and socially conscious citizens."

In an email, Li said he is independent and has no involvement with Awake. He said he has received just one donation – $100 from an old friend in Arlington Heights. He said he has paid for everything else.

"Concerning the endorsement from Awake Illinois, I have not been directly contacted or interviewed by any of its members," Li said. "My assumption is that they endorsed me based on my website and word of mouth. Maybe they believe that I am not as radical as some of the other candidates. Nonetheless, I have no control over who finds me agreeable or disagreeable."

Li also said he, too, was endorsed by the American Middle East Voters Alliance's PAC.

"Although I had not heard of this organization before, I am honored to receive their endorsement," Li said. "It is worth questioning why they did not endorse candidates who supposedly advocate for diversity and tolerance, but chose to endorse someone who has been labeled as 'right-wing' by at least one Democratic committee person."

In an email, Chavez said Awake was founded out of a need to defend students' and parents' rights during the pandemic.

"As you’re aware, public school reopening (or keeping them closed) became politically charged, with special interests doubling and tripling down on keeping kids masked, and learning remote, to great detriment to millions of children who have yet to fully recover from the mental health impact and the learning loss," Chavez said. "Were it not for courageous parents and advocacy groups like REOPEN D205, AWAKE Illinois and many others stepping into the breach and standing up for children, the damage to their mental health, wellbeing and academic education would likely have gone on much longer, and the damage been much greater."

Meanwhile, Chavez said, "private schools used common sense, facts, and data to normalize schools as quickly as possible."

Schaer said in an email, "I was first introduced to Awake Illinois down in Springfield during the mask lawsuit trial. They were a newly formed group supporting parental rights. I 100% support parental choice and parental rights."

On its website, Awake says it is fighting the grooming of children. This is where an adult builds a relationship with a child to exploit and possibly sexually abuse the child.

The website includes links such as "Groomer playbook," "Gays against groomers" and "Pritzker profits from synthetic sexual identities."

Awake is known for opposing all-ages drag shows at the Downers Grove Public Library. The group's website says, "Be the barrier between your child and anyone or any agenda to indoctrinate/groom/data mine your children."

On Sunday, Awake announced that it gave the Rev. Latasha Fields the Advancing Freedom Award for her "commendable advocacy in Education and Parental Rights." The group said Fields advocated against a sex education bill last year.

According to the website, Fields said the bill "encourages and advocates for radical child sexual rights and aggressively promote abortion as a contraception, wanting tampons in our boys bathroom, affirming homosexuality, pornography, transgender; queers, gender identity, sexual identity, and gender expression and teach our children that the nuclear family is a Western-prescribed structure."

Email from Linda Nudera to Patch:

I was not aware of the AWAKE endorsement as I am not part of the organization. After reviewing their website, this group is not just a platform for concerned parents, but they support inner-city initiatives like Project H.O.O.D. and our military Veterans - both honorable philanthropies.

Last week AMVOTE-PAC reached out to share that they endorsed my candidacy. They are the American Middle East Voters Alliance. As an American Arab, I was proud to receive their backing. I encourage you to visit their website at amvote.org.

This is a non-partisan position that has been intentionally undermined by political parties. I find irony in the fact that Democratic organizations are supporting a slate of homogeneous women for the school board verses a heterogeneous panel made up of both men and women, multicultural with diverse skill sets.

The Democratic Party of Illinois, “… is dedicated to electing Democrats at all levels across Illinois while building the most active, inclusive, and diverse party possible.” Is this party really for inclusion and diversity? (https://ildems.com/, https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2023/03/23/illinois-dems-join-the-culture-wars-00088494)

The District 205’s Belief Statements under Diversity says, “In today’s global society, it is essential for school systems to embrace diversity, including ethnicity, ability level, and socioeconomic status, and implement initiatives to ensure the needs of all students are met.” Why is the Union pivoting from the district’s own Belief Statement and backing a slate of homogeneous candidates? It would make more sense for them to support a variety of candidates that represent the diversity of families within our district. The Union Board unilaterally made their endorsement without surveying the over 700 licensed professionals they represent. (https://www.elmhurst205.org/district/about-us/belief-statements, https://www.facebook.com/ETCLocal571)

I believe this election is about our children’s future. We need a diverse board to work with administration to prepare our children to handle the rigors of higher education, vocational opportunities, be life-long learners and socially conscious citizens.

Email from Lan Li to Patch:

To provide clarity on my stance regarding recent events and endorsements. As you may recall, my campaign for the Board was centered around independence, and I want to reiterate that I have not attended any event organized by Awaken Illinois or any political organization. All events I have attended were open to the public and all candidates, and my campaign has only received $100 from an old friend from Arlington Heights. All other funds have come from me personally or local Elmhurst residents, and I have not received any outside funding. I wonder if you could get the same assurance from the other candidates?

Concerning the endorsement from Awake Illinois, I have not been directly contacted or interviewed by any of its members. My assumption is that they endorsed me based on my website and word of mouth. Maybe they believe that I am not as radical as some of the other candidates. Nonetheless, I have no control over who finds me agreeable or disagreeable.

Speaking of endorsements, I find it curious that the four candidates endorsed by progressive 4 change, who claim to be "inclusive" on their website, did not invite me to their campaign event. This does not align with their purported message of inclusivity.

Recently, I learned that several of my opponents have been endorsed by the Teachers Union. These candidates, if won, will be negotiating for a new contract under Amendment 1. Elmhurst voters should consider who will best represent the interests of students, parents, and regular residents of Elmhurst: members who are independent of any political party or union bosses, or members who are fully aligned with the union bosses and act as THEIR representatives rather than advocates for the students and citizens of Elmhurst.

It is worth noting that this is a nonpartisan election, yet the Democratic party has openly endorsed some candidates. There have been no official endorsements from the Republican or Libertarian parties. Additionally, an Elmhurst Democratic committee person in her letter labeled me as "right-wing" without having a single conversation with me or providing any evidence given. This is a clear attempt to introduce politics into a nonpartisan election.

On a positive note, I was recently endorsed by amvote inc, which is the first Arab American Political Action Committee in Illinois. Although I had not heard of this organization before, I am honored to to receive their endorsement. It is worth questioning why they did not endorse candidates who supposedly advocate for diversity and tolerance but chose to endorse someone who has been labeled as "far-right" by at least one Democratic Committee person.

I hope this letter clarifies my position on recent events and endorsements.

Email from Tom Chavez to Patch:

AWAKE Illinois was spawned out of the need to defend students and parents rights during the pandemic.

As you’re aware, public school reopening (or keeping them closed) became politically charged, with special interests doubling and tripling down on keeping kids masked, and learning remote, to great detriment to millions of children who have yet to fully recover from the mental health impact and the learning loss.

Were it not for courageous parents and advocacy groups like REOPEN D205, AWAKE Illinois and many others stepping into the breach and standing up for children, the damage to their mental health, wellbeing and academic education would likely have gone on much longer, and the damage been much greater.

In Elmhurst, private schools used common sense, facts, and data to normalize schools as quickly as possible. On the other hand, Illinois public schools, beholden to special interests, did the opposite, again, to great detriment to millions of students and their families.

Parents who can afford an expensive home in Elmhurst, high taxes and a private school education have moved their kids out of the district. The data shows enrollment in D205 is down 4%.

Concerned parents and advocacy groups also banded together to file a class action lawsuit to overturn Gov. Pritzker’s illegal mask mandate. Parents won, Pritzker lost, and the illegal executive order and the masks were removed.

Here’s a link to a PDF file of all the public comments parents made to D205 regarding going back to in-person vs. remote learning. https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1596844922/elmhurst205org/jin2nkpe1kh7llf8usl8/ElmhurstCUSD205PublicCommentSubmissionForm8-6-20Responses-FormResponses13.pdf

As voters read the comments, they should take careful note of who advocated strongly for normalcy and who allowed their politics to interfere with making sound decisions on behalf of our children. Who used good critical thinking skills to determine the best course of action, and who went along with the bad advice? Parents should also remember who had the courage to stand up for our children, despite withering personal attacks from many of the same bad actors who are now defending the status quo in this election. Many of the loudest voices on the Patch and on social media argued strongly to keep masks on your children and schools locked down. They were wrong then, and they are wrong again now, and parents shouldn't forget.

There’s strong evidence that heavy political muscle and millions of dollars are being funneled into school board elections by the Democrat party and Governor Pritzker. Does the Patch report on that or see that as an issue in a supposedly non-partisan local school board election? https://defendourschoolsil.com/

The Patch has yet to ask why the ROSE D205 group, that strongly advocated for masks, and school closures, endorsed the First 4 Candidates (Kelly Asseff, Kelly Henry, Courtenae Trautmann and Beth Hosler). The ROSE D205 group announced their alignment with a far left political organization, and some of the candidates who jumped on-board the ROSE D205 train claim they are non-partisan. Is that newsworthy?

Not only did ROSE D205 endorse them, but these four candidates proudly accepted the endorsement, and participated in a ROSE D205 forum and other meet and greet events. None of the other 5 candidates were invited...

Did you reach out to the Elmhurst Teachers Council (Teachers Union) to ask why they passed over two of their own (Linda Nudera and Ben Zulauf) in favor of 4 non-teachers? Perhaps because they know Ben and Linda will hold them accountable, while the the First 4 will be the rubber stamp they desire?

Have you asked why the Teachers Union that boldly and strongly advocates form diversity of skin color (not diversity of ideas) is backing four white women? Is there any diversity on the school board?...

I took the time to answer the Elmhurst Patch questionnaire carefully and thoughtfully, which included questions on sex ed, proficiency, CRT, SEL, district finances, among other things. Those are my positions, and they haven’t changed in months, let alone in the past few weeks.

This article is yet another attempt to draw attention away from the real issues facing our community and our schools - academic proficiency, transparency and accountability.