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Harper's board expected to appoint newest trustee June 17

Harper College's board of trustees has until the end of next month to choose from 14 applicants vying to succeed Laurie Stone, who resigned as the panel's longest-serving member.

Trustees are currently sifting through resumes of the 14 and expect to start interviewing all or some in closed session next week, said Maria Coons, the administration's liaison to the board overseeing the Palatine community college.

Some familiar names in Northwest suburban politics are among those hoping to secure the temporary appointment to the board.

Scott Lietzow, a former Harper College student trustee who graduated in May 2014, lost a bitter March 2014 primary contest for Elk Grove Township Republican committeeman. Lietzow, of Arlington Heights, is the district representative for U.S. Rep. Bob Dold, a Kenilworth Republican.

Another hopeful, Richard Rosen, currently a Wheeling Park District commissioner, previously served on the Wheeling Township Elementary District 21 school board.

And Lenard Henderson is district director for state Rep. Fred Crespo, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, and a Hoffman Estates planning and zoning commissioner.

Harper's board has 60 days from Stone's resignation to fill her seat, or until June 28. But trustees expect to swear in their pick June 17, Coons said.

The board's choice will fill Stone's seat until the April 2017 election. The seat would be up again in April 2019, when Stone's term would have expired.

After almost 15 years on the board, Stone announced she was voluntarily stepping down to pave the way for "new ideas, new leadership, new opportunities" and to help get Harper's free tuition plan off the ground.

Stone sits on a special committee tasked with recruiting businesses to support the Promise Scholarship through sponsorships or priority hiring of graduates.

Who's applied for vacant Harper board seat

Margaret Basch

Gary Caby

Kathleen Doherty

George Gill

Derrick Hamilton

Lenard Henderson

Mary Insprucker

Scott Lietzow

Richard Rosen

Sabeeha Shariff

Mary Patricia Stack

Devi Vallabhaneni

Thomas Wischhusen

Timothy Wolfe

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