Popular candidate for COD slot rejected
Three area attorneys are vying for the open spot on the College of DuPage Board of Trustees, a fact vexing some who say the most obvious candidate was overlooked.
Kim Savage, who ran during the last board election, captured some 29,000 votes, falling only 900 shy of gaining a seat on the board.
She's also spent 30 years working in higher education administration.
That would have seemed to have made her an obvious choice to replace Mary Mack, who resigned last month, citing the direction of the board and alleged intimidation tactics of some members.
A press release from prominent DuPage County Democrat Julia Kennedy Beckman blasted the fact Savage was overlooked.
"Despite the fact that many voters throughout the district sent letters directly to the board in support of Savage, the board chose to reject the overwhelming support she received in the election and in the selection process," Beckman said.
Both Trustee Kathy Wessel and Faculty Senate President Glenn Hansen initially suggested appointing the person who captured the highest votes in the 2006 board election. Wessel said Thursday night at a board meeting that trustees have been open and public in their process but declined to comment on her feelings regarding whether Savage should have been a finalist.
Hansen said he was disappointed Savage didn't make it to the list of three candidates.
While she apparently had support, Savage said she was neither questioned nor apparently considered for the spot. The only contact she had from the Glen Ellyn college about her application was a generic e-mail notifying her the trustees weren't interviewing her for the spot.
"It all happened behind closed doors," Savage said. "I don't know if I got zero votes, one vote or two votes. I really am disappointed."
The board this week announced the three candidates it plans to interview: Kory Atkinson of Roselle, Mark Baggio of Wheaton, and Mary Onken of Naperville. Board Vice Chairman Mark Nowak said 26 candidates applied, but the college has not released their names despite receiving multiple Freedom of Information requests.
"We're disappointed in the selection process. We don't know who applied or how many applied. I don't think it's that hard to do," Hansen said. "They certainly could just publish the list."
Nowak said he personally was looking for a candidate with a legal background, as past board member Diane Landry was a lawyer and her experience and viewpoint were invaluable.
Trustees plan to interview the three candidates privately Saturday between 9:35 and 11 a.m., and then will allow questions from audience members for 30 minutes before going into closed session for deliberations and a vote. The meeting is in room 2011 of the Student Resource Center.
According to resumes provided by the college, Atkinson is an attorney in private practice in Bloomingdale who in the past worked for well-known school law firm Franczek, Sullivan. He said he's attended numerous board meetings during the past year and already is familiar with board issues.
Baggio works with the law firm Ice Miller in the "business solutions group with an emphasis in general corporate representation and private equity and venture services."
Onken is a court mediator who owns her own consulting business specializing in mediation, arbitration and litigation management.