Third winner in Dist. 220 still unknown

The question of who will fill the third available seat on the Barrington Unit District 220 board could take up to two more weeks to answer.

Only three votes separate candidates Richard Burkhart and Tom Antoine Wednesday, with early, provisional and absentee ballots yet to be totaled among the district’s four counties.

Ballots counted since Tuesday night allowed Burkhart to creep from two votes behind to three ahead of Antoine. As of Wednesday afternoon, Burkhart had 2,414 votes to Antoine’s 2,411.

The two top vote-getters in the race were incumbent board President Brian Battle and newcomer Joseph Ruffolo. They will be seated at the May 3 board meeting.

But Cook, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties have until April 19 to complete their counts of outstanding ballots, said District 220 spokesman Jeff Arnett.

“We will watch it closely every day,” he added.

Perhaps making the wait more bearable for the candidates is that they were running mates on a slate with write-in candidate James May. Both Burkhart and Antoine indicated their willingness to wait, as there is really no alternative.

May has received 81 votes, making him an unlikely spoiler in the showdown between his two running mates.

The winner will join a board that is just weeks removed from making $2 million in budget cuts. Both Burkhart and Antoine said they would support reopening the district’s contract with its teacher’s union in hopes of cutting its personnel costs.