Indian Prairie District 204 candidate Michael Crockett bows out

The field of candidates for four open seats on the Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school board has gotten a little smaller.

Candidate Michael Crockett announced late this week he is dropping out of the contest, although his name still will appear on the April 7 ballot.

His departure leaves a dozen candidates tussling for the four 4-year terms in the district that covers portions of Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield and Bolingbrook.

In a letter circulated this week, Crockett announced he's throwing his support to a slate of four candidates that features Eric Hepburn, Don Moscato, Jerry Huang and Doug DiFusco.

In his letter, Crockett also specifically encouraged voters not to vote for candidate Michael Strick, who shares some of his views.

"If you are thinking of voting for Mike Strick or me, I believe that it may split the vote and allow a candidate sympathetic to Mark Metzger to get elected, or re-elected, as the case may be," Crockett wrote.

Metzger, who recently stepped down as president but remains on the school board, still has two years left on his term and is not up for re-election this spring.

Reached by phone Friday, Strick said he first learned of Crockett's letter when another candidate showed it to him at a candidate event on Thursday.

"I was like, wow, I can't believe he actually put my name in there like that," Strick said. "I'm not cool with it at all and I don't know where he gets off speaking for my campaign. Sorry pal, I'm in this race until the end."

Crockett, meanwhile, said he decided to back out because he was "running a redundant campaign" against the four men he now supports.

"We have basically two issues in mind, which are the financial stability of the district and the need for strong leadership," Crockett said. "And I believe those guys will be willing to stand up and ask the tough questions necessary to move the district forward."

Crockett said he feels no ill will toward Strick and means him no disrespect. He said he was merely trying to help voters narrow their choices.

"(It's the) same thing with Mike Strick in that he's also running a redundant campaign because I think his message is closer to mine or these other guys," Crockett said. "Really though, the bigger message here is why vote for me or Mike when you can vote for these other guys?"

Other candidates still in the race are incumbents Cathy Piehl and Christine Vickers and challengers Mark Rising, Janey Wagner, Yuming Huang, Dawn DeSart and Susan Rasmus.