5 Candidates Running In Hinsdale D86

HINSDALE, IL – Five candidates are vying for the Hinsdale High School District 86 board in the April election.

Monday was the last day for candidates to submit paperwork to the DuPage County Clerk's Office.

Three of the seven seats are up in the election. All candidates run at large.

The incumbents – President Erik Held and members Kathleen Hirsman and Cynthia Hanson – have decided against running again.

Patch has previously reported that Kay Gallo of Clarendon Hills, Catherine Greenspon of Burr Ridge, Andrew Catton of Hinsdale and Asma Akhras of Darien are candidates.

On Monday, Deborah Clare Willoughby of Westmont filed her candidacy.

Patch could not find anything about Willoughby's positions on the district. A Google Maps shows 18 political signs in front of her house in an August photo. They were for Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other Democrats.

Gallo, Greenspon and Catton have expressed opposition to the district's administration. Patch has been unable to determine Akhras' approach.

Now, the majority of Held, Hirsman, Hanson and Terri Walker has supported Superintendent Tammy Prentiss. Members Jeff Waters, Peggy James and Debbie Levinthal have criticized the administration.

Barring any write-in candidates, the majority after April's election will be made up of administration critics.

If Akhras is not elected, the board would have no members from the Hinsdale South High School zone. Now, only Hanson hails from the South area.

In Illinois, school board members are unpaid.