District 214 establishment slate extends winning streak

An establishment slate extended its winning streak in local elections for the Northwest Suburban High School District 214 board on Tuesday.

The top vote-getters for four available 4-year seats on the board were Millie Palmer with 8,453 votes, incumbent Mark Hineman with 7,964, current board Vice President Todd Younger with 6,510 and Lenny Walker with 6,346, according to unofficial returns.

All are part of the Supporters of District 214 slate, which has been undefeated in local elections since forming in 2007 to oust board member Leslie Pinney following a book banning controversy. Longtime board member Bill Dussling helped recruit Palmer and Walker, after incumbents Mimi Cooper and James Perkins decided not to seek re-election.

Other unofficial results showed Kevin Lindell with 4,825 votes, Ben Scherr with 4,353, Richard Hamen with 3,496 and Frank Biga III with 2,800.

The four candidates not on the slate admitted they faced an uphill battle. Those on the slate maintained they'd be independent if elected.

Hineman, an engineer from Mount Prospect, was first elected in 2009 as part of the slate and will be starting his third term.

Younger, a commercial banker from Arlington Heights, is a six-year incumbent.

Palmer, an attorney from Arlington Heights, is a parent volunteer with athletics and dance programs at Rolling Meadows High School.

Walker, a senior executive at Kennicott Brothers Wholesale Florist from Wheeling, is president of Wheeling High School's parent-teacher organization.

Lindell, of Mount Prospect, made his second run for the board after losing two years ago. Hamen, a Prospect Heights alderman from 2007 to 2011, lost a re-election bid for alderman and a campaign against Elaine Nekritz for state representative. Biga, of Arlington Heights, made bids for the library board in 2009 and 2011. Scherr, a Buffalo Grove sports writer, was making his first run for office.