Ellis, Kerr, Ward, Costello, Holt win seats on Elgin U-46 board

Incumbent Traci Ellis and newcomers Susan Kerr, Jeanette Ward, and Phil Costello won four 4-year terms on the Elgin Area School District U-46 board Tuesday, while Cody Holt snatched the unexpired 2-year term. It was one of the most hotly contested races in Kane County with eight candidates vying for four full-term seats, and two candidates contesting the 2-year seat.

With all precincts in Cook, DuPage and Kane counties reporting, unofficial vote totals show Ellis garnered 5,925 votes, Kerr received 5,780 votes, closely followed by Ward with 5,778 votes, and Costello with 5,657 votes.

Trailing were Ed Novak of Bartlett collecting 5,572 votes, Lawrence Bury of Bartlett with 4,811, incumbent Jennifer Shroder of Elgin with 3,565 votes, and Arisleyda Taylor of Streamwood with 3,419 votes.

Holt, 23, of Elgin, the youngest candidate also garnered the most votes at 6,146, handily beating Kai Rush, 37, of Elgin, who received 4,929 votes.

A 2010 Larkin High School graduate, Holt works in financial services and previously ran unsuccessfully for the Elgin City Council. He has been outspoken about the district overburdening taxpayers.

Ellis, 52, of Elgin, an assistant director at Northern Illinois University completing her first term on the board, said the state's school funding formula is broken.

Kerr, 58, of Bartlett, a member of the U-46 Citizens Advisory Council for about 20 years, said the district needs to spend more per pupil than it does now.

Ward, 41, of West Chicago, a parent volunteer, has been critical of the district's standards-based grading system. She also advocates pushing back against Common Core and the state's new standardized test, PARCC.

Costello, 59, of Bartlett, a certified public accountant, has served on the board of ChildServ and Homes for Children Foundation P.A.D.S. He said the district's needs to tighten its belt and not wait for relief from the state or federal governments.