Schilling, Vickers, Grote, Coughlin elected to District 70 board

A mix of experience and new perspective will be coming to the Libertyville Elementary District 70 school board.

Voters selected from eight candidates for four, 4-year terms in a quiet campaign lacking any urgent or controversial issues.

Wendy Schilling, 54, an assistant Cook County public defender, was re-elected to a second term, and Tom Vickers, 53, an attorney who has served as board president the past two years, was re-elected to a third term, unofficial results show.

With all 19 precincts reporting, Schilling polled 1,785 votes while Vickers earned 1,715 votes.

They were joined at the top of the ballot by two newcomers, banker Mark Grote, 41, who had 1,320 votes, and Chris Coughlin, 49, who is in sales, who had 1,266 votes.

Also running were Josh Gordon, 41, a marketing executive, who had 1,214 votes; attorney Tim McGrory, 46, who had 947 votes; Adam Phillips, 53, who owns a medical courier business, who had 501votes; and Kellen Ronald Merchen, general manager of Neumann's Cigars & More, who had 437 votes.

With stable finances and a school expansion program in progress, District 70 is not facing immediate issues.

However, an influx of students from proposed or potential housing developments could have an impact on school building considerations and the teachers' contract ends at the end of the 2017-18 school year.

Vickers said he wasn't motivated to run by a particular issue but wanted to continue providing community service for stakeholders and work for the continued success of students.

Schilling's three children are out of elementary school and she said she ran four years ago to represent the interests of those who do not have students in District 70.

Coughlin said he was prompted to run after participating in the district's strategic planning process. He advocates greater transparency regarding available financial information and introducing foreign language instruction at an earlier age.

Grote grew up in town and said he wants to use his skills to provide "thoughtful oversight" on the board. A member of MainStreet Libertyville and the David Adler Arts and Music Center, Grote said the school board represents a "natural progression" of community service.