2 incumbents win in Naperville Dist. 203

Two Naperville Unit District 203 school board members will return for new terms along with a pair of newcomers after their Tuesday election victories.

With all 85 precincts reporting, unofficial results show incumbents Susan Crotty and Jackie Romberg and challengers Jim Dennison and Dave Weeks winning 4-year terms on the board.

Romberg received 5,182 votes followed by Dennison with 4,768, Crotty with 4,676 and Weeks with 4,399.

On the board's plate in coming months will be working with new Superintendent Mark Mitrovich; $114.9 million in ongoing facilities projects; and a budget that will become increasingly tight if no changes are made.

Facilities and budget issues are among Romberg's priorities. She is a community volunteer and former financial consultant who was appointed to the board in 2007.

"I think I'm very visible in the community, I think I hear the community and I'm just grateful they've entrusted me with letting me continue my work on the board," she said.

Dennison served as co-director of the school district's Build the Future 203 referendum committee and is director of marketing for a manufacturing company. He said his campaign appealed to a broad spectrum of residents and he will meet with those who didn't support him to discuss their concerns.

Crotty, the current board vice president, is a residential greeter for the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and a professional organizer. Facilities are among her priority for the next four years as well as keeping up with changes on the horizon.

"The future is going to be much different," she said. "When you look at the budget, the makeup of the students, the world, so many things are going into uncharted (territory) and you can't count on things you counted on."

Weeks is a certified financial planner and is active in the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.

"I've got a lot of ideas I talked about in the campaign," he said. "Now I need to see which ones are doable immediately and set a priority."

Nancy Drapalik led those who weren't elected with 3,340 votes. Other candidates included Michael DelCiello, Steve Deutsch, Lynn Hodak, Patti Mathewson and Merle Siefken.