ECC board race attracts political newcomers
Six people filed for three open seats on the Elgin Community College board of trustees. Risé Jones, who was recently appointed to fill John Dalton’s seat, will try to maintain her position and trustee Clare Ollayos will push for re-election against a diverse pool of challengers.
Two 6-year seats are up for election as is one 4-year seat — the remainder of Dalton’s term, which he cut short after being elected as a judge in November.
Nadia BlancDaley, of South Elgin, is running for the 4-year seat against Art Sauceda, of Bartlett.
BlancDaley got an associate degree from ECC before going to Loyola University. She said the community college provides necessary job skills to people who can then find better jobs.
“I’m all about increasing the tax base and the best way to do that is to have more people working,” BlancDaley said.
BlancDaley, originally from Haiti, made an unsuccessful bid for Kane County Board in November then shifted her sights to ECC as a way to have an impact on the community. She was one of six applicants for the appointment to Dalton’s vacated seat.
Sauceda is a retired accountant and has never run for office before. He said he wants the community college to continue offering an affordable, useful education.
“Our community needs that and they’re off to a great start,” Sauceda said. “I want to be part of that continuing project.”
ECC’s current board of trustees appointed Rise Jones to fill Dalton’s seat in December. Jones, of Elgin, is the co-founder of the youth arts organization Hamilton Wings and works as an evaluator offering professional development services. She will run for a 6-year seat.
Angela Causey, of South Elgin, has never run for office before but wants to get more involved with local education. She is the founder and senior pastor of Outreach Fellowship Christian Center in East Dundee and also works as a family self sufficiency specialist for the Housing Authority of Elgin.
Elías Palacios lives in unincorporated St. Charles and is originally from Peru. He works as a psychologist at Elgin Mental Health Center.
The newcomers will take on Clare Ollayos, of Elgin, who has been on the ECC board since 1995. She served two years as board chairman and three years as vice chairman and is a chiropractic physician in Elgin.
Voters will have a chance to decide among the candidates in the April 9 election.