Election: Today's hot races in the Northwest suburbs
School board races in Palatine Township Elementary District 15 and Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 join mayoral races in Des Plaines and Wheeling as the most hotly contested Election Day decisions awaiting voters in the Northwest suburbs Tuesday.
In District 211, a controversial agreement with the federal government to allow a transgender student limited access to a girls locker room, as well as district policy allowing transgender students to use the bathrooms of the gender with which they identify, sparked the candidacies of three newcomers running as a slate.
Running mates Ralph Bonatz, Katherine Jee Young David and Jean Forrest also have taken positions on property taxes, contract negotiations and the use of 60 acres of vacant land in Schaumburg that distinguish them from incumbents Robert LeFevre Jr., Anna Klimkowicz and former board member Edward Yung.
District 15
In District 15, the 11 candidates initially focused on the business decisions leading up to the failed $130 million referendum last November, but also weighed in on the district's transgender policy, which includes privacy stalls in every bathroom and locker room, as well as private bathrooms and changing rooms in its junior highs.
The nine candidates seeking four 4-year terms on the board include a slate of newcomers made up of Michael Smolka, Frank J. Annerino, Anthony Wang and Lisa Beth Szczupaj; independent newcomers Adam Bauske and Asad “Sid” Aman; and incumbents Peggy Babcock, Gerald Chapman and James Ekeberg.
Vying for a two-year seat are Barbara A. Kain, who's also a member of the slate, and independent candidate Dave Border.
Des Plaines
Though particular issues have played a part in the Des Plaines mayoral race between incumbent Matt Bogusz and 6th Ward Alderman Malcolm Chester, much of it comes down to Bogusz's governing style.
Chester has criticized Bogusz for being less hands-on a mayor than his predecessors.
Bogusz's term also has been rocked by his disagreement with aldermen receiving city health insurance — which he called a “selfish perk” — as well as his veto of city funding for polygraph testing as part of a council-supported investigation into the leak of documents to the Daily Herald after the probe had already cost $30,000.
Wheeling
In the Wheeling village president race, first-term incumbent Dean Argiris has touted the village's progress of the past four years while defending himself against criticism of his use of a village credit card and vehicle.
He is challenged by two opponents who also point to their government experience.
Pat Horcher served 16 years as a village trustee before leaving office in 2011 and has positioned himself in the race as a reformer.
Mike Kurgan cites his 16 years as a Wheeling Park District commissioner as evidence of his ability to complete projects and improve communication among the village's various taxing bodies.
• More information on candidates and issues all races, including news stories and answers to candidate questionnaires, is at dailyherald.com.