Carlson loses re-election bid in District 15

In the end, three of the most controversial candidates emerged victorious in the Palatine Township Elementary District 15 school board race.

With all precincts reporting, unofficial totals showed newcomer Margaret "Peggy" Babcock was the top vote-getter with 7,347 votes. Incumbent Tim Millar finished second with 5,804 votes followed by retired teacher Rich Bokor with 5,612 votes.

For the fourth spot on the board, Mark Bloom, a stay-at-home dad, edged incumbent Nancy Carlson 5,555 to 5,310 votes.

Vicki Wilson, Matthew Taylor and Steven Miller rounded out the eight candidates.

Babcock, 56, pledged to move past what has been a contentious election marked by virulent attacks on Internet blogs and videos.

"We need to present a united front and set a positive tone," Babcock, a homemaker, said, adding that her top priority is to get all schools to meet Adequate Yearly Progress as defined by the No Child Left Behind legislation.

Campaigning partners Babcock and Bokor, who ran unsuccessfully in 2007, were pegged as union lackeys ready to hand the teachers a lucrative contract and corner the district into a tax increase referendum.

Millar's history of abstaining from issue votes was questioned, as well as his decision to enroll his special-needs child in private school.