District 211 School Board Election: Incumbents Re-elected; Former Member Recaptures Seat

PALATINE, IL — While it wasn't the only issue for candidates running for one of the three open Township High School District 211 school board seats, the school system's transgender restroom and locker room policy cast a large shadow over the election.

The agreement between the district and the Department of Education under then-President Barack Obama allows a transgender students open access to opposite sex restrooms and locker rooms.

But the agreement is currently being challeged by a lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 50 Palatine-area families. And the change in policy by President Donald Trump's administration when it comes to access for transgender students has created more uncertainty for the district's deal.

But it appears the agreement's future will include two of the incumbent board members who support the policy. Anna Klimkowicz and Robert J. LeFevre Jr. kept their board seats Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

They will be joined by former board member Edward M. Yung. He won the third open seat by only a little more than 200 votes over Katherine Jee Young David.

Here's a look at the unofficial election results, according to the Cook County Clerk's Office. Election officials have up to three weeks to certify results. Candidates with the highest vote totals are in bold:

Four-Year District 211 Board Seats

All 147 precincts reporting; 18,318 votes

• Ralph T. Bonatz: 14.86% (7,318)
• Katherine Jee Young David: 16.07% (7,917)
• Robert J LeFevre Jr.: 17.67% (8,706)
• Jean Forrest: 14.67% (7,225)
• Anna Klimkowicz: 20.2% (9,951)
• Edward M Yung: 16.53% (8,144)

image via Patch archive

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