New Faces to Join New Lenox District 122 Board of Education

Eight candidates vied for three seats on the New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education, and voters picked Nicole Swallow, William Pender and Michele ‘DeGroot’ Rosenfeld, according to unofficial vote totals recorded Tuesday.

Incumbent Nick DiSandro finished fifth in the vote tally. Incumbent Maureen Flanagan Broderick finished sixth. Broderick has sued the school district she represents for failing to pay her legal bills in a lawsuit filed against her by a former board member, Kathy Miller. A judge dismissed Miller’s lawsuit.

Divisiveness was an issue in this school board election. Broderick has often been at the center of disputes among board members yet has won re-election in the past. This time, voters opted for new faces.

With all 21 precincts reporting, the unofficial vote tallies are:

• Nicole Swallow: 2,695 *
• William Pender: 2,238 *
• Michele ‘DeGroot’ Rosenfeld: 2,194 *
• Albert Haring: 2,022
• Nick DiSandro: 1,688
• Maureen Flanagan Broderick: 1,658
• Jennifer Babbington: 1,443
• Jonathon (JP) Cohen: 1,376

Swallow won her first board election. During a recent candidate forum, Swallow cited her degree in accounting and her budget experience as an asset that could help the district focus money on students and teachers.

“You can’t trip over the dollar bills to pick up the dimes,” Swallow said.