Endorsements: Grosso, Lamb, Juby. Egan for Geneva Unit School District 304 school board
Geneva Unit School District 304 has five strong candidates running for four 4-year terms. All make persuasive cases for their election in answers to online questionnaires and in endorsement interviews. The four incumbents running for re-election have been doing their jobs well. They provide a good balance in perspective, interests and experience, both on the board and in their life experiences.
The incumbents are Bill Wilson, running for his fifth term; Mark Grosso, running for his third term; David Lamb, running for his second term; and Leslie Juby, who was on the board, then voted off, then voted back on after a two-year absence.
The fifth candidate is Taylor Egan, who ran in a large field two years ago, and came in just behind the incumbents, who were re-elected. Her reaction to losing was only to become more involved in the schools. She has been involved in the Geneva Academic Foundation as vice president and co-president, the Geneva 304 Communication Task Force as the community liaison and school representative on the Geneva Coalition for Youth. She has attended many meetings of the Geneva Learners Group, and served as assistant coach for her daughter's Geneva feeder basketball team.
Egan argues that as the only candidate with young children in the school system (a fifth-grader and a second-grader), she brings an important view to the table. And she believes her volunteer activities have given her an expanded, well-rounded viewpoint on school issues. As a stay-at-home mom, she has time for service.
We agree, and we believe Egan has earned the job.
The problem is which incumbent not to endorse. It's with a heavy heart that we don't support Wilson, who we've endorsed in the past. He has the experience, passion and interest to still be a good board member, but we also find that he's had four terms in which to make an impact, and with such a solid newcomer, voters have an opportunity to inject some new blood onto the board.
So we endorse Egan, Grosso, Juby and Lamb with confidence that Geneva voters will not be disappointed in the caliber of their board members whoever is elected.