Brad Paulsen
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Brad Paulsen is an at-large representative on the Community Unit School District 200 school board in Illinois. First elected in 2013, Paulsen won a new term in the at-large general election on April 4, 2017.
Elections
2017
Four seats on the Community Unit School District 200 school board were up for general election on April 4, 2017. Incumbents Brad Paulsen and James Mathieson were successful in their re-election bids. Newcomers Rob Hanlon and Ginna Ericksen also won seats on the board. Candidates Harold Lonks, Thomas Hudock, Neil Harnen, and Marcus Hamilton were defeated in the election.[1]
Results
| Community Unit School District 200, At-Large General Election, 4-year terms, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Ginna Ericksen |
15.41% | 7,792 |
| Brad Paulsen Incumbent |
14.80% | 7,485 |
| James Mathieson Incumbent |
14.02% | 7,091 |
| Rob Hanlon |
12.51% | 6,325 |
| Marcus Hamilton | 11.26% | 5,696 |
| Harold Lonks | 10.80% | 5,463 |
| Neil Harnen | 10.75% | 5,435 |
| Thomas Hudock | 10.46% | 5,289 |
| Total Votes | 50,576 | |
| Source: DuPage County, Illinois, "Election Summary Report," accessed May 1, 2017 | ||
Funding
School board candidates in Illinois were required to file campaign finance reports if they did one or both of the following:[2]
- Accepted contributions or made disbursements in an aggregate amount of more than $5,000 during the calendar year
- Accepted contributions or made disbursements in an aggregate amount of more than $5,000 during the calendar year for communication via television, radio, or internet in support of or in opposition to a candidate, political party, or public policy
The first campaign finance deadline was February 27, 2017, and the second campaign finance deadline was April 3, 2017.[3]
Paulsen reported no contributions or expenditures to the Illinois State Board of Elections in the election.[4]
Endorsements
Paulsen was endorsed by the Daily Herald and the local teachers' union.[5][6]
What was at stake?
2017
Issues in the election
Referendum
In addition to choosing four school board members on April 4, 2017, citizens of the Community Unit School District 200 also voted on a $132.5 million referendum. Preliminary vote returns show that the measure was defeated, with 8,871 opposed (54.42 percent) and 7,427 (45.57 percent) in favor of the referendum.[7] The school district asked for the funds to pay for a new early learning center and for facility improvements.[8]
The referendum question appeared on the ballot as follows:
| “ | Shall the Board of Education of Wheaton Warrenville Community Unit School District Number 200, DuPage County, Illinois, alter, repair, equip and improve the sites of the District’s elementary and high school buildings, including, but not limited to, improving secure entrances, roofs, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, library learning centers, and a technology lab; build additions to, alter, repair, equip and improve the sites of Edison, Franklin and Monroe Middle Schools; build and equip a new building to replace the District’s early learning center; and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $132,500,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?[9] | ” |
| —Community Unit School District 200 (2017)[10] | ||
If passed, the referendum would raise property taxes in the district by $180 per year for owners of median income homes, which were valued at $322,300 in 2017.[8] Candidates who ran in the school board election had differing opinions on the referendum. School board challengers Marcus Hamilton, Neil Harnen, Thomas Hudock, and Harold Lonks voiced opposition to the referendum, while incumbents James Mathieson and Brad Paulsen and challengers Rob Hanlon and Ginna Ericksen said they supported the referendum.[11]
The candidates who opposed the referendum said it was too expensive. They questioned whether some of the projects included in the referendum were necessary and whether they were tied to student achievement. Instead of building a new early learning center, Hamilton suggested the district reconfigure an existing building. "There's no reason why we can't do something different and still meet the needs of the district and not spend that kind of money," said Hamilton. "I think that's true of many of the schools."[11]
Those who supported the referendum said it would equalize learning opportunities across the district. Ericksen said students at one middle school had better facilities than students at a different school due to when the buildings were constructed. "It's truly not fair to have to be a science student at Franklin versus a science student at Hubble," she said.[11]
Supporters also said the referendum was based on two years of community input.[11] A community survey conducted before the school board voted in January 2017 to put the referendum on the ballot showed 51 percent of respondents either favored or strongly favored a referendum that would cost an additional $225 per year in property taxes for owners of $320,000 homes. When asked if they would support an increase of $200 per year, 54 percent of respondents were in favor, and 58 percent of respondents were in favor of an increase of $175 per year.[8]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ DuPage County, Illinois, "Election Summary Report," accessed April 5, 2017
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "A Guide to Campaign Finance Disclosure," accessed January 5, 2017
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election and Campaign Finance Calendar 2017," accessed January 5, 2017
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate Disclosure Search," accessed April 4, 2017
- ↑ Daily Herald, "Endorsements: Ericksen, Hanlon, Mathieson and Paulsen for Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200," March 9, 2017
- ↑ Northwest Suburban Education Coalition, "School Board Candidate Endorsements," accessed March 29, 2017
- ↑ My Suburban Life, "Wheaton-Warrenville District 200 voters defeat $132.5M referendum," April 4, 2017
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 mySuburbanLife.com, "Wheaton-Warrenville District 200 approves putting $132.5M referendum on April ballot," January 11, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Community Unit School District 200, "Investing in Our Future," accessed March 13, 2017
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Daily Herald, "District 200 school board candidates split on $132.5 million referendum," March 7, 2017
| Community Unit School District 200 elections in 2017 | |
| DuPage County, Illinois | |
| Election date: | April 4, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: Incumbent, James Mathieson • Incumbent, Brad Paulsen • Rob Hanlon • Harold Lonks • Thomas Hudock • Neil Harnen • Marcus Hamilton • Ginna Ericksen |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
