Rob Lee, a candidate for the Community Unit District 300 school board, admitted Monday he stole about $300 from a friend of a former roommate while he was a student at Colorado State University seven years ago.

Lee, of East Dundee, came forward with the theft because he said voters had a right to know.

"I'm asking voters to trust me with a $200 million annual budget," Lee said. "I think they have a right to know this."

Lee said he was 20 years old, short on cash and ashamed to ask his parents for money when he committed the theft.

"That's not an excuse. That's not even a reason," Lee said. "It was the wrong choice."

When the theft was reported to police, Lee said he admitted his crime, returned the money, paid court-imposed fines and performed between 40 and 60 hours of community service.

Lee, who is running on a platform of accountability, said the episode taught him financial responsibility and that "the right decision isn't always the easy decision."

The school board candidate said he hoped voters would recognize he had taken responsibility for his actions and learned from them - but added that he would accept if he lost the election because of it.

While calling Lee's theft "egregious," fellow school board candidate Tracey Perez applauded Lee for admitting his mistake.

"I think it's good that he came forward, especially since he's pushing an ethics campaign," Perez said. "I think we all make mistakes."

Perez said she would not call on Lee to withdraw from the race but that voters should decide whether Lee's theft should disqualify him from the board.

Lee, a member of the district's Community Finance Committee, is one of six candidates seeking three 4-year seats on the school board.