Gary Kunich

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Gary Kunich

Prior offices

Kenosha Unified School District Board of Education At-large

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Education

Associate

Community College of the Air Force

Bachelor's

Thomas Edison State University

Graduate

Regent University

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Air Force

Years of service

1986 - 2006

Personal

Profession

Communications director

Contact

Personal Facebook

Gary Kunich is an at-large representative on the Kenosha Unified School District school board in Wisconsin. First elected in 2014, Kunich won a new term in the at-large general election on April 4, 2017. Kunich participated in a candidate forum on March 16, 2017. Click here to watch a video of the forum.

Biography

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Kunich served in the United States Air Force until his retirement in 2006. He earned an associate degree in Public Affairs from the Community College of the Air Force in 2000. Kunich later received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Thomas Edison State University in 2004. He also holds a master's degree in digital media communications from Regent University. Kunich reported on educational issues for the Kenosha News for four years. He works as the communications director for the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Kunich's three children graduated from the Kenosha Unified School District.

Board membership

2016-2017

The members of the Kenosha Board of Education voted unanimously on 95.4 percent of their agenda items from April 25, 2016, to January 12, 2017. The voting data indicated that Tamarra Coleman, Gary Kunich, Mary Snyder, and Dan Wade were the governing majority, just as they were from April 2015 to March 2016. The other three members of the board—Mike Falkofske, Tony Garcia, and Rebecca Stevens—did not vote together consistently enough to be considered a minority faction.

2015-2016

The Kenosha Board of Education voted unanimously on 92.08 percent of its agenda items between April 27, 2015, and March 22, 2016. The voting data indicated that Tamarra Coleman, Gary Kunich, Mary Snyder, and Dan Wade were the majority faction on the board. The other three members of the board—Mike Falkofske, Kyle Flood, and Rebecca Stevens—did not vote together consistently enough to be considered a minority faction.

Elections

2017

See also: Kenosha Unified School District elections (2017)

Two seats on the Kenosha Unified School District Board of Education were up for at-large general election on April 4, 2017. In their bids for re-election to the board, incumbents Gary Kunich and Dan Wade defeated challengers Zak Jakobs and Mary Braun Modder.

Results

Kenosha Unified School District, At-Large General Election, 3-year terms, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Dan Wade Incumbent	30.24%	5,674
Gary Kunich Incumbent	28.83%	5,409
Mary Braun Modder	26.71%	5,012
Zak Jakobs	13.99%	2,626
Write-in votes	0.23%	43
Total Votes		18,764
Source: Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Stacy Busby, Executive Assistant/School Board Secretary, Office of the Superintendent, Kenosha Unified School District," May 4, 2017

Funding

See also: Campaign finance in the Kenosha Unified School District election

Kunich began the race with an existing account balance of $238.06 from his previous campaign. He reported $2,900.00 in contributions and $1,043.95 in expenditures to Kenosha Unified School District, which left his campaign with $2,094.11 on hand in the election.

2014

See also: Kenosha Unified School District elections (2014)

Gary J. Kunich ran against five other candidates in the primary election on February 18, 2014. The top four vote recipients advanced to the general election on April 1, 2014.

Results

General

Kenosha Unified School District,
At-large General Election, 3-year term, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Dan Wade	28.2%	6,858
	Nonpartisan	Gary J. Kunich	26.1%	6,346
	Nonpartisan	Mike Falkofske	23.4%	5,688
	Nonpartisan	Jo Ann Taube Incumbent	22.3%	5,423
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.2%	43
Total Votes				24,358
Source: Kenosha County Clerk, "Spring Election," April 1, 2014

Primary

Kenosha Unified School District,
At-large Primary Election, 3-year term, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Jo Ann Taube Incumbent	19.7%	1,917
	Nonpartisan	Gary J. Kunich	18.7%	1,826
	Nonpartisan	Mike Falkofske	18.1%	1,764
	Nonpartisan	Dan Wade	17.3%	1,688
	Nonpartisan	Robert Nuzzo Incumbent	13%	1,271
	Nonpartisan	Michael Kehoe	12.9%	1,255
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.2%	21
Total Votes				9,742
Source: Kenosha County Clerk, "Spring Primary Election," accessed February 18, 2014

Funding

Kunich reported $5,776.06 in contributions and $3,657.52 in expenditures to the school board secretary in his March 24, 2014, pre-election report, leaving his campaign with $2,156.54 on hand.

Endorsements

Kunich did not receive any official endorsements for his campaign.

Campaign themes

2017

Kunich highlighted the following statement on his campaign website:

“	I am one of seven members on the Kenosha Unified School Board, which will be the top-performing, urban school in the state, and I'm running for re-election for one, final, three-year term. In the coming months, you will be hit with a barrage of Facebook posts, from people trying to make political points, or to get their candidates elected. I am happy to cut through the hyperbole and answer your questions directly. I only ask for respectful dialogue, and then, agree or disagree with my positions, you can make a decision to vote for me or not, and I will respect that decision. When you go to the polls April 4, I hope you will ask yourself, "Did he do the job? Did he do what he said he was going to do? And did it help run this district more effectively and smoothly?" I believe the answers to all three questions are: "Yes," and hope you will give me one more chance to represent common sense, level-headed, impartial decisions on the board. I will not seek or accept an endorsement from the KEA teacher's union. This isn't about being Democrat or Republican, left or right, or pro-union or anti-union. It's about having an impartial voice on the board to make decisions in the best interests of EVERYBODY in the district. Four years ago, the School Board broke the law, behaved unethically and cost taxpayers an additional $1.65 million, but teachers only saw pennies of that. The board micromanaged the administration, and was known more for fights and squabbles detailed on the front page of the Kenosha News. I ran to change that. Dan Wade ran to change that. And we changed it. Please help us to continue that mission. I am proud of the work we've done together. We've hired one of the best superintendents in the nation who is committed to making us excellent. We've kept taxes level, while creating a beautiful stadium, track and more with the athletic referendum. Graduation rates have risen. Despite challenging budgets, we've been able to provide teachers a pay raise or stipend each year. Because of my direct work, teachers received their stipend before Christmas, when another person's actions would have delayed it until May. We cannot go backward to where we were. We can't go back to the fights and micromanagement. If we do, it will bankrupt this district and drive an excellent superintendent away, and we will all suffer. I've no doubt some people will post on here in attempt to slam me, create a controversy that doesn't exist, or score points for "their" candidate. Look through the hype. Look at the facts, and make the decision on how you want your School Board to look. Thank you for trusting me on this job for the last three years. I hope you will trust me for three more. And then, that will be my final term. No more campaigns. It will be time for someone else to step up. Thank you.	”
—Gary Kunich (2017)

2014

Kunich's campaign website listed his campaign themes for 2014:

“	Taxes Taxpayers need someone who represents them and spends our money wisely. I was the first one to raise the flag about the $37.5 million CDO investment that was costing taxpayers an outrageous amount of money. I spoke up when the actions in November cost this district more than $1.65 million without teachers or classrooms seeing a penny. Our children need innovative ways to learn, without wasting money. I will be a good steward of our tax dollars. Open Meetings and Citizen Comments Your School Board needs to be accountable to you! No more deceitful meetings behind closed doors. The board needs to strictly follow the law on open meetings. You deserve to hear our thoughts and discussions in open. You deserve to have your voice heard with citizen comments that won't be shut down. And you deserve to hear from the board members, who should respond to citizen comments in an open forum, instead of hiding behind a podium, afraid to speak. The current board president wanted to shut down ALL citizen comments. The vice president, who is up for re-election, brought up issues for a vote that were not on the agenda. You deserve better! Respect I will respect all the citizens of Kenosha, and will not ram through meetings with barely any notice to our community. I will respect the law and the viewpoints of others on the board, even if they are in the minority.. I will respect our teachers. Most importantly I will respect the process of representing this community. I'll take input from special groups, but I will not cow-tow to them. Honesty The Board first tried voting on an issue that would cost taxpayers $1.65 million without putting it on the agenda. Then they said the meeting would take place Nov. 26, but then rushed it through at a Nov. 14 meeting on barely 24 hours notice! That's not being fair and honest with citizens, and teachers and classrooms won't see a penny of it. When people ask questions, they don't answer. That is not being honest or accountable. I will always tell you the truth and nothing but. Teacher Pay Our teachers deserve good pay, and should be allowed to be in a union. They deserve to be represented by a strong union. But they should have a choice, and not be forced to do something they don't want to do by a very small minority of people. Reducing the School Hours Three school administrators begged the board not to reduce school hours by a half hour Two teachers spoke up at the last Board meeting and said it was a bad idea. They said this will drastically reduce times teachers are on hand in schools looking after our children, and will cause massive changes to lunch hours and other schedules in numerous schools. They said it would be dangerous and affect children safety with a ratio of 600 children to one adult at certain times of the day. This decision is currently on hold as the Board faces a lawsuit over signing of a contract against legal advice. Aren't our children more important than forcing this through without citizen comment? Superintendent I've not always agreed with Superintendent Michelle Hancock, and have not been afraid to tell her so. I think it was a waste of money to redecorate the Education Support Center when that money could have been better used in the classroom. Honors classes never should have gone away, and I think there should have been better communication with teachers and Kenosha citizens. But now, because of the Board's antagonistic actions toward the Superintendent THEY hired then forced from the district -- you, the taxpayer, are on the hook for her half-million-dollar retirement package. Think of how teachers and classrooms could have used a half million dollars to teach our children. If there were issues with the superintendent, it was the Board's responsibility to provide oversight. The Board did not do this. In order for our next superintendent to be successful in Kenosha, that person must meet the three C's: Communication, Collaboration and Common Sense. I want to be on the Board that helps choose the next Superintendent, along with citizens of Kenosha, to keep moving us forward. Accountability This Board hired the superintendent, told her drastic changes were needed and she started implementing a transformation plan, based on the strategic plan the Board had put together. But when people raised concerns, those same Board members acted as if they had nothing to do with the plan they created and voted for! When I make a decision, I will be accountable for that decision. I will not lie to you. The recent curriculum audit showed deficiencies in this plan because it has too many steps and didn't clearly articulate goals. This gives us a chance to look at this plan, see what works and see what can be fixed for the betterment of all our students. Achievement gap While some board members have put politics and special interests above the needs of our children, we've done nothing to close the achievement gap. It's time this School Board quits micromanaging and helps work on solutions to help all of our children achieve greatness. If they can do it at Milwaukee College Prep, we can do it here! The future I strongly support ideas to increase physical education for students and to give them more access to the arts. I would love to see us offer another charter school in the future that focuses on the creative and performing arts, just like the one I attended in Pittsburgh Public Schools. I also want to look into more healthier breakfast and lunch alternatives that don't cost taxpayers additional money. Studies show that our kids perform better when they are eating healthy and have options in their education! Graduation rates We need to continue coming up with innovative ways for all of our children to learn. Every child learns differently. I would like to expand our options with different learning opportunities such as Indian Trail Academy, LakeView and other innovative methods. If we come up with different, creative options, demand the best of our children and hold them accountable, while working with the community, we will help them graduate. We need to listen to our teachers, give them the tools to do the job, then get out of the way and let them teach.	”
—Gary J. Kunich (2014)

See also

• Kenosha Unified School District, Wisconsin
• Kenosha Unified School District elections (2017)
• Kenosha Unified School District elections (2014)

External links

Suggest a link

• Kenosha Unified School District
• Office website
• Campaign website
• LinkedIn profile