U-46 teachers union backing 21-year-old board candidate
The Elgin Teachers Association is backing a 21-year-old challenger over two longtime incumbents in the race for one of three Elgin Area School District U-46 board seats.
"He's clearly done his homework," Union President Tim Davis said of candidate Kevin Echevarria, a 2005 Elgin High School graduate. "I think age to some extent is irrelevant. Do you have the interest, the time, commitment and energy to engage in the work?"
The 2,400-member union, Davis said, believes Echevarria has those qualities.
Along with Echevarria, teachers have chosen to back incumbent Dale Spencer and challenger Gary Percy, who are running together on a slate. The endorsements come a week after the union's political action committee interviewed candidates last week.
"I just went in there and told them how I felt," Echevarria said of earning the endorsement. "This is great."
The Elgin resident, who manages Elgin's Delicia Tropical Cafe, said he believes "It's time to give back."
"I believe in U-46," he added. "I think it has a lot to offer. We just have to make that known."
Spencer, a mortgage consultant from Bartlett, was chosen because of his track record of strong interaction with the community, Davis said.
"He's very knowledgeable, he makes a point of visiting school sites and talking with all constituency groups," he said. "He has a macro-vision of what's going on in the district."
Davis said Percy impressed the union with his knowledge of pending education legislation as well as his involvement in the community. Percy, an aircraft maintenance technician from Elgin, has been involved with the district's Citizens Advisory Council since 2004.
Union members endorsed them over incumbents Joyce Fountain and Donna Smith.
Fountain, of Elgin, has served on the board since 1993. Smith, a Hanover Park resident and currently the board's vice president, has served since 2001.
Davis said the ETA plans to make an official announcement about the endorsements closer to the April 7 election.