32 candidates apply for Naperville District 203 board vacancy

More than 30 candidates have applied to fill a Naperville Unit District 203 school board seat vacated last month by Janet Yang Rohr.

Sitting board members are expected to conduct interviews starting next week, with the goal of appointing a replacement by March 1, board President Kristin Fitzgerald said. The chosen candidate would serve out the remainder of Yang Rohr's term, which ends in 2023.

Yang Rohr resigned from the post Jan. 12, a day before she was sworn in to her new role as state representative for House District 41. The Naperville Democrat unseated GOP incumbent Grant Wehrli in a tight race last fall.

The school board has 60 days to fill the vacancy, for which 32 people submitted a letter of interest and resume, District 203 officials said.

Three applicants - Amanda McMillen, Thomas Andrew Binkowski and Christi Helm - have also filed to run in the April 6 election, where nine candidates are vying for three open seats on the school board.

Others seeking to replace Yang Rohr include Jennifer Rado, Richard Kolasa, Nisha Kakodkar, Deepak Kumar, Neal Alexander, Joanna Cook, Kathy Zhang, Melinda Wong, Joe Cranston, Alice James, Tracey Gorrell, Heidijo Elyea, Troy Golden, Diana Torres-Hawken, Anthony Casey, Chris Forte, Amanda Mullarky, Jason Feller, Tamkin Anwar, Joe Wanner, Jeffrey Walker, Jon Ruberts, Kelly Miksa, Laura Zeman, Steven Cieckiewicz, Gus Kartsonas, Kendra Panek, Kay Burdi and Rajan Barad.