A Year of Tensions On Hinsdale D-86 Board

HINSDALE, IL – It's been a year since the Hinsdale High School District 86 board's struggle to elect a president.

Shortly after the election, the board was required to elect a president and other officers. Voters had just ousted board President Kevin Camden and two other incumbents.

On Thursday, the board is set to vote on president, vice president and secretary. Terms last one year.

It likely won't involve the high drama of last year's organizational meeting, when four of the seven members were new.

The board endured 10 ballots before it finally reached a decision.

The longest-serving member, Kathleen Hirsman, received the support of two other board holdovers.

After the ninth ballot, a frustrated Hirsman pulled out of the race, but said it was up to the four newcomers to decide on a new leader.

For the first nine ballots, incumbents Erik Held and Cynthia Hanson voted for Hirsman. Debbie Levinthal, who teamed up with Terri Walker in the election, backed her ally. And Peggy James voted for her election teammate, Jeff Waters. No one could get a majority for the first nine ballots.

In the 10th ballot, Waters received the support of James and Held, along with his own vote, still lacking a majority.

Walker got votes from herself, Hanson, Levinthal and, after a long pause, James, with a successful vote of 4-3. In the final round, James voted for both Walker and Waters. Hirsman abstained.

By 4-3 votes, Hirsman and James became vice president and secretary, respectively.

In the year since then, former allies Levinthal and Walker appeared to have parted ways. An exchange at a December meeting was an example of tensions in their relationship.

In key votes, the board's majority faction consists of Walker, Hirsman, Held and Hanson. Levinthal, Waters and James make up the minority.

If Thursday's vote is Walker vs. Waters, Walker is the likely winner, given her ties to the majority.

The next election is April 2023.