Voters, not money, decided District 204 election
We've all been told money can't buy love or happiness. Apparently some school board races can be added to that list.
Indian Prairie Unit District 204 teachers union officials recently disclosed that they donated more than $32,000 to support a slate of four candidates in Tuesday's race in addition to the roughly $11,000 the candidates said they spent of their own money.
But in the 13-person race for four school board seats, that $43,000 landed the union-supported candidates - Jerry Huang, Doug DiFusco, Eric Hepburn and Donald Muscato - in sixth through ninth place.
Meanwhile the top four finishers, who ran independently and included two incumbents, spent less than $5,000 combined.
Despite her group's large donation and support of other candidates, union President Val Dranias said Wednesday the union intends to work with all board members to "ensure the children of 204 get the education they deserve."
"It's an election and it's over so we're all moving on," she said. "No question. We'll all be able to work together."
Top vote-getter Susan Rasmus spent $2,000, more than any other winner, and estimates half of it involved in-kind donations. The other $1,000, she said, paid for her signs, banners and the $75 entry fee into Naperville's St. Patrick's Day parade.
Rasmus said she initially was concerned she wouldn't be able to compete with the slate's spending, but was relieved she didn't have to.
"That sends an incredible message that, no, money can't buy everything. And that's refreshing," Rasmus said Wednesday. "I'm extremely thankful to have gotten a nice personal donation to get me started. After that, very little had to come from my own pocket."
Second-place finisher Cathy Piehl made her own buttons from recycled materials and her nephew designed her Web site. Between her 150 signs, 1,000 brochures and three months to rent the Internet domain, Piehl said she spent $1,200 to get elected to her first full term. She was appointed to the board in September to fill a vacancy.
Piehl paid out of pocket initially but said donations received through her Web site nearly covered her costs.
"You can have all the money in the world but if you don't spend it wisely, you can't beat the power of four active PTA moms," Piehl joked Wednesday. "Seriously, though, it's nice to see money didn't have a lot to do with the race. Next time I hope to be able to run on my reputation from a full term and not spend as much."
Third-place finisher Dawn DeSart said she and her husband agreed she would not spend more than $1,000 on her campaign. And she didn't until Tuesday when her $350 victory party tab put her over.
With $891.62, DeSart purchased her name tag, a professional portrait, candidate business and walk cards and her Web site. She said she was appalled when she learned how much money the teachers union spent to support the slate of four candidates and the $11,000 those candidates paid from their own pockets.
"If that king's ransom is being spent to better the district, why not donate it to fund a new reading curriculum or science program?" she asked. "That just seems like such a huge waste to flush down the toilet by throwing it at four candidates. I'm very happy the voters saw through that."
Rasmus agreed, noting that the $11,000 spent by the slate of four would nearly cover the Nancy Young Elementary PTA's entire fundraising budget for a year.
Incumbent Christine Vickers spent the least of the four winners. Her expenses totaled roughly $840, with all but $80 paying for campaign signs. The remaining $80 funded her campaign Web site.
"We all spent very little so I'm very happy to see money has no place in a volunteer election like this one," Vickers said. "Our constituents are looking at your character, values and morals, not your war chest."