CLC board candidates touch on top issues

Tuition affordability and the reliability of state and federal funding are among the issues most concerning candidates running for the College of Lake County board.

Five candidates are seeking two, 6-year seats on the CLC board. Voters will select from the pack April 5.

Philip Carrigan Jr. of Waukegan is the lone incumbent in the election. Also in the hunt are Rich Voltair of Round Lake Beach, Chelsea Schopper of unincorporated Ingleside, Jeanne Goshgarian of Round Lake and Lynda Paul of Gurnee.

All of the candidates responded to Daily Herald questionnaires and listed what they consider to be their number-one issue.

Voltair, an assistant professor of public policy who made an unsuccessful run for state representative as a Democrat last November, said keeping CLC affordable to students tops his campaign issue list. Schopper, Carrigan and Paul also listed affordability as their top issue.

“Board members will need to be creative and have thoughtful insight, vision and be fiscally responsible,” Paul said.

CLC trustees, citing concerns about state funding, last month voted to boost tuition from $106 to $109 per credit hour.

Goshgarian, an attorney and former Round Lake Area Park District commissioner, said her top concern is “looking for ways to address the shortfall from declining support at the state and federal levels.”

Schopper is a special education resource teacher at Meadowview Elementary School in Grayslake and a professional figure skating instructor.

Paul is president and chief investment adviser of Sound Money Management Inc. Carrigan is a retired scientist.