Linkimer rejoins St. Charles school board, booting incumbent McConnell

There were six new faces seeking spots on the St. Charles Unit District 303 school board Tuesday. With declining enrollment challenges and a superintendent search looming, voters opted for familiarity and experience.

Former school board member Lori Linkimer joined incumbents Kathy Hewell and Nick Manheim in victory Tuesday night. Linkimer's win pushed incumbent Judith McConnell off the board.

Unofficial results with all 46 precincts reporting ranked the candidates in the following order of top vote recipients:

Hewell received 3,597 votes, Linkimer received 3,227 votes and Manheim finished with 2,154 votes. That was just enough to fend off fourth-place finisher Jennifer Reeder, who received 1,987 votes.

McConnell, who shared many of Reeder's views, received 1,973 votes. Rick Leidig received 1,926 votes in his second consecutive failed run for the board. Lowell Yarusso received 1,235 votes.

Steve Bruesewitz did not actively campaign, but the St. Charles Democratic Party member still received 1,103 votes. Coming in last was former school board member Mike Vyzral with 1,027 votes.

Decisions stemming from declining enrollment, such as redrawing attendance boundaries or closing schools, may be decided by the crop of school board members elected Tuesday.

Superintendent Don Schlomann will also retire in two years. The new school board will determine his replacement.

Common Core implementation, student testing and the district's annual property tax increases played major themes throughout the campaign. Tuesday night's winners supported recent tax increases and expressed at least lukewarm support for Common Core and its testing.