Embattled president re-elected to Dist. 117 board

Despite being mired in controversy, incumbent school board President Wayne Sobczak held onto his seat on the Antioch-Lake Villa High School District 117 board Tuesday.

With all 33 precincts counted, Sobczak collected 2,864 votes, making him the second top vote-getter behind fellow incumbent board member Ron Vickers.

Vickers, a 56-year-old financial consultant, had 3,273 votes, unofficial vote totals show. Challengers Bart Winkler and Nick Ciko also earned seats on the board, garnering 2,624 and 2,551 votes respectively. Challenger Geoffrey Guttschow’s 2,421 votes were not enough to win him a spot on the seven-member panel.

Sobczak, a realtor and board member since 1997, was mired in controversy throughout the election due to his retirement from the troubled Antioch Rescue Squad in October.

The rescue squad was fined by the state for bad management practices in October, leading to Sobczaks retirement. However, Sobczak said he was made the “sacrificial lamb” by the state.