Miller, Roeckner, Alessio win in Dist. 300

During the previous election in Community Unit District 300, residents in the district voted for change, returning only one of the three incumbents seeking re-election.

On Tuesday, District 300 incumbents ruled the day. Board members Anne Miller and Karen Roeckner easily won re-election, according to unofficial vote totals. They will be joined by former board member Dave Alessio, who will fill the seat vacated by Mary Warren.

By electing Alessio and the incumbents, voters seemed to send a message that they valued experience - especially at a time when the school board is poised to make difficult decisions about the district's budget, choose a new superintendent and negotiate a new teachers' contract.

"I think the experience will be helpful because we know the economy will probably be the biggest problem facing the district," Alessio said Tuesday.

Miller said she was surprised by the results, in light of what appears to be strong voter anger over corrupt politicians, executive bonuses and a difficult economy.

"You never know how the voters are going to react," Miller said. "I'm amazed I was elected for a fourth term."

Miller, Alessio and Roeckner defeated three challengers: 27-year-old reform candidate Robert Lee, former Cambridge Lakes Charter School teacher Dorota Jordan and Algonquin mother Tracey Perez.

Jordan hoped to bring her knowledge of education - gleaned from her experience as a teacher - to the school board, and she said her profession would not prejudice her judgment in matters dealing with teachers and compensation.

Lee painted himself as a reformer and taxpayer advocate in the mold of board member John Ryan, but he was criticized by some opponents for what they said was his conservative agenda as well as for a theft he admitted committing seven years ago.

Perez, with a background in law and nursing, focused on college readiness and ethics while defending herself from Lee's charge that her ideas lacked specificity.

The candidates generally agreed the district should pursue a conservative teacher's contract when the current deal expires in 2010. They also endorsed the district's hands-off approach to the Cambridge Lakes Charter School.

That's where the similarities ended. Lee proposed measures to improve financial planning and ethics, while his opponents said the district already had safeguards in place.

Lee mounted the strongest challenge to incumbents, finishing in fourth place, but he was ultimately unable to over the incumbent advantage.