Mildred Palmer
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Mildred Palmer is an at-large representative on the Township High School District 214 school board in Illinois. Palmer won a first term in the at-large general election on April 4, 2017. Palmer ran as part of a candidate slate with fellow challenger Leonard Walker and incumbents Mark Hineman and Todd Younger.[1] All four of them won election to the board.[2]
Elections
2017
Four seats on the Township High School District 214 Board of Education were up for election on April 4, 2017. In their bids for re-election, incumbents Mark Hineman and Todd Younger faced challengers Frank Biga III, Richard Hamen, Kevin Lindell, Mildred Palmer, Benjamin Scherr, and Leonard Walker.[3] Hineman, Younger, Palmer, and Walker ran together as a candidate slate. All four of them won election to the board.[2][4]
Results
| Township High School District 214, At-Large General Election, 4-year terms, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Mildred Palmer |
18.90% | 8,694 |
| Mark Hineman Incumbent |
17.75% | 8,162 |
| Todd Younger Incumbent |
14.52% | 6,679 |
| Leonard Walker |
14.16% | 6,512 |
| Kevin Lindell | 10.73% | 4,937 |
| Benjamin Scherr | 9.70% | 4,463 |
| Richard Hamen | 7.78% | 3,577 |
| Frank Biga III | 6.26% | 2,879 |
| Write-in votes | 0.19% | 89 |
| Total Votes | 45,992 | |
| Source: Cook County Clerk, "Consolidated Election April 4, 2017 Summary Report," accessed April 19, 2017 | ||
Funding
School board candidates in Illinois were required to file campaign finance reports if they did one or both of the following:[5]
- 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.[6]
Palmer reported no contributions or expenditures to the Illinois State Board of Elections in the election.[7]
Endorsements
Palmer was endorsed by the Daily Herald and the local teachers' union.[8][9]
Campaign themes
2017
Palmer participated in a survey conducted by the Daily Herald in March 2017. Six of the survey questions and Palmer's responses can be found below. Click here to read the full survey.
Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?
| “ | This is my first time running for office. Over the years, I have been impressed by the progress of D214 and by the many programs and opportunities offered to the students. As a parent of current and past students in D214, and a property owner in the school district, I would work to continue the pattern of excellence at individual schools while seeking advancement of the entire school district. I strongly believe that the education my children have received has made them better prepared for life, and better people.[10] | ” |
| —Mildred Palmer (2017)[11] | ||
What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?
| “ | Like many parents, I know that my child is more than a test score or a number on a page. In District 214, we can be assured that our students are not simply measured in this rudimentary fashion. With the adoption of Redefining Ready, the school district has acknowledged the many varied ways in which students grow, prepare to be valuable parts of society and move to the next phase of their lives. By not only challenging students to push themselves through AP classes, dual credit, and to improve on test scores, but to explore career choices through an internship and or to learn about careers and themselves course work, community service and other clubs and extra-curricular activities, Redefing Ready is geared toward preparing the student as a whole, and not simply as a score. Taking a fluid approach to measuring success makes sense. I believe that this program will grow and change with the opportunities that are discovered and created along the way.[10] | ” |
| —Mildred Palmer (2017)[11] | ||
How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?
| “ | Curriculum is best left in the hands of the educators. My background is in law. I am a problem solver, a believer in logic and reasoning, and a proponent of letting the experts do their job. The role of the school board should be to advise on policy. I believe that the determination of curriculum should be left to the administration and the teachers.[10] | ” |
| —Mildred Palmer (2017)[11] | ||
What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?
| “ | As a taxpayer, I am thrilled to know that D214 balances its budget and has done so for the past two decades. This has been achieved without the need for a referendum since the building of Buffalo Grove High School over 45 years ago. As a business owner, I know that operating within a budget is a key to success. Although the future is not known, if predicted by the past I would hope and assume that D214 will continue to operate within budget without resorting to cuts to programs or curriculum and without the need to increases taxes or fees.[10] | ” |
| —Mildred Palmer (2017)[11] | ||
What role can and should school choice play in your district? If Congress or the state approves a voucher system or other means giving students broader choices among public and private schools, how will that affect your district? What is the appropriate response for the board of education of a public school system?
| “ | The concept of a voucher program has been discussed in many different forms with different repercussions to the schools involved. High School District 214 is considered to be one of the premier school districts in not just the State of Illinois, but in the nation. It has nationally recognized programs and students. Even if a voucher program were instigated, I believe most of the families in our district would choose to stay here to continue to avail themselves of the many opportunities within the district.[10] | ” |
| —Mildred Palmer (2017)[11] | ||
What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?
| “ | I want to be part of the continued success and excellence of High School District 214. Over my years of having students at Rolling Meadows High School, I have witnessed many changes in the district and have watched the march of excellence. In addition to increased opportunities and out of the box problem solving, the district has become more unified and focused. As a perennial volunteer at RMHS, I have personally seen the unification of students, parents, staff, teachers and the administration. It is important to me that the voices of the people who live, work and study in this district be considered by the board. I hope to be part of this dialog.[10] | ” |
| —Mildred Palmer (2017)[11] | ||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Daily Herald, "Four candidates running as slate for District 214 board," December 3, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cook County Clerk, "April 04, 2017 Consolidated General Election Search For Results," accessed April 4, 2017
- ↑ Cook County Clerk, "Candidate Filing for April 4, 2017 Consolidated Election," accessed December 20, 2016
- ↑ Daily Herald, "Four candidates running as slate for District 214 board," December 3, 2016
- ↑ 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: Hineman, Palmer, Walker, Younger for Dist. 214 school board," March 14, 2017
- ↑ Northwest Suburban Education Coalition, "School Board Candidate Endorsements," accessed March 29, 2017
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Daily Herald, "Millie Palmer: Candidate Profile," March 20, 2017
| Township High School District 214 elections in 2017 | |
| Cook County, Illinois | |
| Election date: | April 4, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: Incumbent Mark Hineman • Incumbent, Todd Younger • Frank Biga III • Richard Hamen • Kevin Lindell • Mildred Palmer • Benjamin Scherr • Leonard Walker |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
