Oakton Community College Election Results: 3 New Members Elected

SKOKIE, IL — Three new trustees were elected to the Oakton Community College board for six-year terms on the northern Cook County public body in the April 2 election. Gail Bush, Marie Lynn Toussaint and Wendy Tanow received the most votes among the 13 candidates competing for the seat, according to unofficial results.

Nearly half a million residents live within the borders of Oakton Community College District 535, which extends across 16 municipalities in northern Cook County, including Des Plaines, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Park Ridge, Rosemont, Skokie, Wilmette and Winnetka. The two-year college was founded in 1969 and was originally located in Morton Grove. It now has campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie, as well as 240 off-site locations where it offers more than 2,500 classes across 80 areas of study.

Board President Joan DiLeonardi will not seeking a fourth term of the board and board member Ann Tennes is not running for a third term. Skokie attorney Kyle Frank sought a second term on the board as the lone incumbent.

OAKTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD APRIL 2, 2019 ELECTION RESULTS:

Below find descriptions of each candidate, including information and website links for those who submitted statements to the Cook County Clerk's Office.

Theresa Bashiri-Remetio

• Student trustee, 2012-13, Oakton trustee 2013-15.
• Second generation Oakton alum
• Senior financial analyst
• " As a student, working mother and middle-income taxpayer, I understand the importance of fiscal responsibility and how important decisions made in the Board room impact a community’s and a family’s finances." Bashiri-Remetio said she knows the importance of listening and responding to stakeholders, and her experience as a student, taxpayer and former board member brings a perspective she hopes to share with the board. Read more...

Gail Bush

• Maine Township High School District 207 board for 10 years
• Dual faculty and administration positions at Dominican University and National Louis University
• Past president, Illinois Library Association, past trustee Evanston Public Library board
• "While it is the fundamental responsibility of the college to impact student lives through education, it is also inspiring and empowering to experience this journey along side each other, it is the human story told every day at Oakton Community College." Bush said she wants to improve the intake process, review the communities sense of safety around issues of identity and equity and work on increasing enrollment from Evanston, a largely underserved area of the district. Read more...

Allan H. Cohen

• Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Governing Council
• Board of Trustees at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
• 2017-18 Leadership Glenview participant
• "As my work activities diminished I have been leveraging my skills and experience in management, finance, business development, science and board governance in service to the community and they complement those of other Oakton trustees." Cohen said he wants to focus on strengthening student services, teaming up with other taxing bodies for economies of scale and strengthening to Oakton Education Foundation. Read more...

Alexandra Eidenberg

• Small business owner, community activist in support of issues including ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, pregnancy accommodations, gun control and higher minimum wages.
• Past board member, Small Business Advocacy Council
• Awarded by Arise, Open Communities, LiftUPLift and eWomenNetwork
• From her grandfather, the founder of Columbia College Chicago, Eidenberg "learned the importance of community and diversity and how to create opportunities through relationship building between staff, faculty and students." Read more...

Richard A. Geline

• Past president, Illinois State Medical Society, the Chicago Medical Society
• Past staff, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
• Geline's past work "has given me extensive experience with organizational structure, committee work and most important sound budgetary management. I believe this background will easily translate to effective service as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Oakton Community College." Geline said he hopes to strengthen existing partnerships, develop academic advising and encourage outreach to seniors and underrepresented areas within the district. Read more...

Michele Hays

• Founder and administrator, Back On Their Feet, chair, Brummel Park Neighbors and Hands Across Howard, past member, Evanston Police Chief's Advisory Council
• Child and sibling of college professors, wife of Evanston firefighter and Oakton grad
• "I believe that Oakton Community College is a grossly undervalued resource, especially for workforce development programs but also as a gateway to 4-year institutions, and I think I can bring it more attention, increase participation, and uncover and help remove barriers to access." Hays said her ability to bridge different experiences has led to success connection those in need to available resources. Read more...

Marie Lynn Toussaint

• Attorney, co-founder, Haitian American Lawyers Association, president, Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti
• "My focus has been supporting programs that meet the changing needs of our growing senior community. As a senior myself, I understand and can relate to the needs of individuals in this age group." Toussaint said she wants to heighten awareness in areas of Medicare, estate planning and increased technology skills to support seniors. Read more...

Cynthia E. Veremis

• President, Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and Industry, past president, Brown Street Condominium Association, member Des Plaines Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee
• Nearly 50 years with Lufthansa Airlines subsidiary LSG Sky Chefs, has human resources oversight over 6,000 employees.
• Veremis "believes companies are willing to invest in their human resources, especially as they compete for talent. Oakton needs to leverage those demands by expanding their role in the business community. She also believes the school should create and market programs to address needs of our youth, enabling them to lead fulfilling and successful careers." Veremis said she will work to understand community needs, remove barriers for student success and focus on adding value and reducing costs. Read more...

Wendy B. Yanow

• Former manager, Learning Center at Oakton's Skokie campus
• Taught graduate courses on adult learning, helped adult learners complete high school diplomas, active in antiracism work in and outside of Evanston
• "Educational resources in any institution are finite. An equity assessment requires that hard questions be asked about the distribution of resources and a balance maintained in the benefits afforded to different constituencies. OCC has a recent and strong focus on anti-racism and equity work. I want to ensure it continues to have the resources and support needed to broaden and deepen that work." Yanow said she would treat all faculty with dignity and respect, prioritizing their contributions on par with keeping the budget healthy and periodically taking a look at the ratio between administrators and educators. Read more...

The following candidates are also running, but they did not submit statements to the clerk's office. Information and links to candidate questionnaires was provided to the Evanston League of Women Voters

• Robert A. Boron
  
  • Attorney
  • Past board member, Glenbrook High Schools District 225, vice president of youth programs, Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook.
• Kyle Frank (incumbent)
  
  • Attorney
  • Past member, Glenview Chamber of Commerce
• R. Razz Jenkins
  • Actor, retired human resources professional
  • Past trustee, Valparaiso University, board member, SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local, board member, Midwest Advisory Board of the Actors Equity Association, youth commissioner, City of Des Plaines
• Havee Makedon
  • Substitute teacher, community organizer in Des Plaines

Selected Endorsements

• Bashiri-Remetio, Boron and Veremis received the endorsement of the Daily Herald editorial board.
• Bashiri-Rometio, Geline and Veremis received the endorsement of the Journal & Topics Newspapers staff.
• Bush, Jenkins and Yanow were endorsed by faculty unions through the Oakton Community College Faculty Association PAC
• Hays, Toussaint and Yanow were endorsed by the Evanston-based Organization for Positive Action and Leadership (OPAL)

Oakton Community College District 535 Map: