‘Three for ECC’ win board race
The slate calling itself “Three for ECC” prevailed in the race for three open seats on the Elgin Community College board.
With nearly all precincts reporting, board President Eleanor “Ellie” MacKinney, longtime Trustee John Duffy and slate mate John Dalton were elected to the board. Robin Lisboa and Richard Geary rounded out the field.
“I think it’s a wonderful affirmation from the community,” MacKinney said. “We have a responsibility and a commitment from the community to help prepare people for jobs. In this economy, it’s absolutely essential.”
Although Dalton was not an incumbent, he said his slate’s victory could be construed as an endorsement of the current board’s vision.
“I think the college is moving in the right direction,” Dalton said. “I think the average voter is well aware that ECC is a real gem.”
Dalton entered the race after the incumbents approached him to replace Phyllis Folarin, who decided not to seek re-election.
MacKinney received the most votes with a tally of 11,524. Dalton received the second highest vote total of the bunch with 10,463. Duffy’s third-place finish in the vote totals amounted to 10,189.
Voters in Kane, DuPage and Cook counties all cast ballots.
Lisboa, a former ECC administrator who ran for the board in 2009, said her experience in education made her the most qualified candidate. She is an administrator for the Illinois State Board of Education.
Geary, a groundskeeper at Harper College, has been attending ECC board meetings for years and wanted to get more involved. He said his experience at Harper would help him make decisions on the ECC board.
Even as the dust settles from Tuesday’s election, the current board is in the middle of trying negotiations with ECC’s faculty union.
“I’m really eager to have a settlement with (the faculty union),” MacKinney said.
The faculty union has been critical of the current board for authorizing raises for ECC President David Sam while they are asking instructors to freeze their pay. Board members defended the hike saying Sam was being paid less than other area college presidents.