WATCH: District 202 Candidate Forum

Candidates for the District 202 Board of Education took part in a Feb. 23 forum hosted by CAPE (Coordination of Administration and Parent groups for Educational efficiency) at Plainfield North High School.

Six candidates -- including three incumbents --are seeking four open spots on the the board in the April 4 consolidated election. Each spot carries a four-year term.

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The Feb. 23 event was moderated by Plainfield Township Trustee Matthew Starr, and candidates fielded questions from both Plainfield North High students and panel members Roger Bonuchi, former District 202 board president, and Larry Hug, a Joliet City Council member and secretary of the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence.

All six candidates took part in the 90-minute forum (in alphabetical order):

• Nabeeha Bakhrani, a senior at Plainfield East High School, who said her perspective as a student directly affected by board decisions gives her an "experience that would be a unique asset to the board of education."
• David Koch, an incumbent appointed to the board in 2015. The father of four and 27-year resident of Plainfield has worked as a teacher's aide and substitute in District 202 and said, "I want to make a difference in this community."
• Michael E. Robey, superintendent in Lombert Elementary School District 44 and former teacher, assistant principal and principal. Thanks to his background, "I've got a pretty good understanding of the inner workings of the school system," Robey said.
• William A. Slabich Jr., an incumbent and 14-year District 202 resident who describes himself as the owner of a small- to medium-sized business with a background in construction and budgeting.
• Robert C. Smith, retired Plainfield High School - Central Campus principal and father of five children who attended District 202 schools. "I know the workings of this district, I know the people and I want to give back," Smiths aid.
• Rod Westfall, another incumbent who has served on the board for the last 16 years through both periods of rapid growth and economic downturn. "I believe very strongly in public service," Westfall said.

WATCH: View the Feb. 23 candidates forum