LW210 Candidate Disputes Flyer's Claim

NEW LENOX, IL - A flyer that has made its way around the Lincoln-Way community in recent days has implied the "Citizens for 210" slate of candidates would consider closing another Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 school.

"Will they close West, Central, or East" is shown in large print at the top of a flyer with a message to oppose the candidacy of the Citizens for 210 slate, which includes Karen Town, Lee Talley, Gus Yiakos, Ben Yomtoob and Cathy Pleasant. The flyer refers to them as "single issue candidates."

The flyer is in support of three of the 13 candidates seeking five open seats on the board of education in the April 4 election: Joe Kirkeeng, Aaron Janik and Joe Kosteck.

Related: 13 Vie for 5 Seats on LW210 Board

"Bringing Experience and Expertise" and "Common Vision, Independent Voices" are phrases used to describe the three.

But the flyer's main message of the "TTYYP" slate focusing on closing either Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way East or Lincoln-Way West could not be further from the truth, according to one of the five candidates on the slate.

"Our slate has consistently stated that we see all of our buildings as assets to the district and want to figure out how to best use ALL of them," Yomtoob wrote in a statement representing Citizens for 210. "Despite this obvious desperate attempt to divert the narrative from the need for the district to get a fresh start amidst all of its scandals, we want to reassure that we respect all the other eight candidates who have willingly volunteered to try and improve the district."

Yomtoob said the slate of which he is part has focused "on the need to reunite the community" from the beginning.

"We believe this is the only way to restore Lincoln-Way 210 to its deserved greatness," he said.

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