Joseph Giglotto (Harmony Emge School District 175, At-large, Illinois, candidate 2025)

Joseph Giglotto

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Harmony Emge School District 175, At-large

Elections and appointments

Last election

April 1, 2025

Education

Associate

Southwestern Illinois College, 2008

Personal

Birthplace

St. Louis, Mo.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Information technology professional

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Joseph Giglotto ran for election for an at-large seat of the Harmony Emge School District 175 school board in Illinois. He was a write-in candidate in the general election on April 1, 2025.^[source]

Giglotto completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Joseph Giglotto provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on March 27, 2025:

• Birth date: August 27, 1987
• Birth place: St. Louis, Missouri
• High school: Belleville West
• Associate: Southwestern Illinois College, 2008
• Gender: Male
• Religion: Catholic
• Profession: Information Technology Professional
• Incumbent officeholder: No

Elections

General election

General election for Harmony Emge School District 175, At-large (4 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Harmony Emge School District 175, At-large on April 1, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Amanda DuClos (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Bryan Lockett (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Steve Dumond (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
	Submit photo	Joseph Giglotto (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
	Submit photo	Eric Sanders (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)
	Submit photo	Laura Shelton (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Giglotto in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Joseph Giglotto completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Giglotto's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Joseph T. Giglotto. I am a Cyber Security Specialist at the Defense Information Systems Agency. I am also the father of a talented 10 year old that attends Harmony in Dist. 175. I am an avid sports fan and enjoy time with my family and friends. I have been serving the public one way or another since I was 16, which is why I feel like I am the perfect School Board Candidate.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Prioritize Mental Health: Ensure access to mental health resources for students and families, recognizing that emotional well-being is essential for academic and further success. As a parent myself, I have had questions and concerns regarding my son and the digital age. This age has brought forth issues that need addressing. From social media and safe internet access to cell phones and tablets in the classroom. Together we can find an equitable solution that will have a lasting, positive impact on our students.
• Support Our Teachers: Advocate for resources and professional development that empower our incredible educators to inspire and guide our students. They lead and guide our children through their education, we need to do our absolute best for them. By building strong connections between schools, families, and the community by promoting transparency and collaboration in decision-making. You will have a voice in your children’s education.
• Enhance Educational Quality: Work toward innovative programs, both in the classroom and in extracurricular activities, that promote critical thinking, creativity, teamwork and real-world skills.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Ensuring public funding stays in public schools, and the curriculum that our children learn from.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My wife. She is the strongest person I know.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

None. I am a man of the people. I listen to the issues and fight for what the people need. There is no need to put any particular philosophy on it.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

You are there to represent the people. They elected you to do a job, and the single most important factor is to do right by your constituents. Complete honesty and transparency are tantamount to success in any endeavor especially being an elected official. Deliver on what you say, empty promises are just that. Collaborate and listen to the community.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My ability to help others. as stated previously I have served the public for the past 21-22 years.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Ensuring the best for the School District. Be that via teachers, curriculum, textbooks and technology and extra curricular activities. Being financially literate and responsible.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I was a man of my word and did my best by others.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I have brief memories of the fall of the Berlin Wall when I was 2. People standing on it and swinging sledgehammers. However the Flood in St. Louis in 1993 would technically be the first when I was 6.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a busboy at Fischers in Belleville. I was there for around 7 months. From there I worked at Charlie Gittos doing every job a restaurant has to offer, management included. I was there for 11 total years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Harry Potter series. I am not a big reader, but thse books pulled me in like nothing had before.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

A wizard in the Harry Potter Universe.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Halelujah by Panic at the Disco

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

My father was 44 when I was born. It was a struggle as I got older and his health declined. I never got to have those father son experiences.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

District oversight.

Who are your constituents?

The community of School District 175 as well as the City of Belleville.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

Make sure funding is spread as equally around as it can be. Listen to the people. They will tell you what they need.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

Going and reaching out to members of the community. I would reach out to the PTO, teachers, janitors and other staff directly to get their views and opinions.

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

Ensuring that the students understand the material. Not just by giving them a test. To me test scores are not a solid indication of learning as some students have test anxiety, or could simply not be having the best day at that time.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

We should certainly introduce training for what they will start to encounter as they grow up. That could be simply how to cook or garden. All children should be given any opportunity we can give them.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

Understanding the budget. Plan for the unexpected. Focus on the long-term. Save whatever money you can. Automation.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

Student safety is the most important issue. We need to ensure a positive partnership with the local police. Have the proper safety protocols in place. My background in Cyber Security makes me the best choice for this.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

Ensure proper time is taken for themselves. Do not overload anyone with work. Lead by example and never hesitate to help.

Tell us your favorite joke.

What kind of tea is the hardest to swallow? Reality

What existing district policies would you like to change, or what new policies would you like to implement?

I would implement a zero phone in the classroom policy and limit unsupervised screen/computer time. The teacher should have the tools available to immediately call or message parents in any event or circumstance.

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

Learn by doing. Children do not tend to sit still as we all know and no two children are the same. Allow them to be kids.

How do you feel like your school district handled the coronavirus pandemic? What, if anything, would you do differently in the future?

I was not in the school district during Covid, but i did hear great things.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district?

I am a parent myself. I will go out and meet whoever I can to build relationships.

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

Ensure they have the best tools at their disposal and set high standards for recruitment.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Absolutely necessary. If we cannot trust those in power, they do not need to be in power.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Giglotto completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• Illinois Family Institute
• Belleville News-Democrat

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