Dussling: Voters must be happy with D214

Dan Petro — the newest member of District 214 school board — didn’t wait for the next board meeting to hang out with his new colleagues.

He joined Bill Dussling and Alva Kreutzer at Panera for coffee tonight, as they watched the election returns come in.

All three cruised to easy victories and secured four-year terms on the Northwest Suburban High School District 214 board.

The losing candidates are Audrey Collins, an independent insurance provider and Gloria Bowman, a chiropractor.

With 189 of 190 precincts reporting, Dussling leads all votes with 10,533 votes. Petro is coming in second with 9,230 followed by Kreutzer with 8,625 votes.

Collins received 6,363 votes while Bowman got 6,090.

Dussling and Kreutzer endorsed Petro, of Arlington Heights, who served on the Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 board for 12 years, retiring as president.

“It absolutely made the difference,” Petro said. “It was very nice of them to ask me to join them.”

Dussling said the turnout tells him voters are generally happy with District 214 and where the district is headed.

“My God, we haven’t had a referendum in 43 years, the budget is balanced and student performance is up,” Dussling said. “It’s tough to deny that. Voters know we hare good stewards of their money who watch out for their students.”

Dussling is the current board president and has been on the board for 13 years.

Kreutzer, of Elk Grove Village, has served as vice president of the board and has been a member for 12 years.

“I’m glad it’s over,” Dussling said. “Campaigning is really my least favorite part of being on the board but it’s something you have to do.”