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James Gaffney
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James Gaffney was an at-large representative on the St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 school board in Illinois. First elected in 2003, Gaffney won a new term in the at-large general election on April 4, 2017.
Elections
2017
Four seats on the St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 Board of Education were up for at-large general election on April 4, 2017. Incumbents James Gaffney and Edward McNally and newcomers Heidi Fairgrieve and Carolyn Waibel won seats on the board. Candidates Lara Kristofer, Eric Missil, and Denton Morris were defeated in the race.[1]
Results
| St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, At-Large General Election, 4-year terms, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Edward McNally Incumbent |
19.25% | 3,479 |
| Carolyn Waibel |
16.62% | 3,003 |
| James Gaffney Incumbent |
16.18% | 2,923 |
| Heidi Fairgrieve |
13.76% | 2,487 |
| Lara Kristofer | 12.83% | 2,318 |
| Denton Morris | 12.09% | 2,184 |
| Eric Missil | 9.28% | 1,677 |
| Total Votes | 18,071 | |
| Source: Kane County Clerk, "2017 Consolidated Election Contest Results," accessed May 1, 2017 | ||
Funding
Gaffney reported no contributions or expenditures to the Illinois State Board of Elections in the election.[2]
Endorsements
Gaffney was endorsed by the local teachers' union.[3]
2013
| St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, At-Large General Election, 4-year term, 2013 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Corinne M. Pierog Incumbent |
16.8% | 2,961 | |
| Nonpartisan | Edward McNally |
15.8% | 2,775 | |
| Nonpartisan | Steven L. Spurling Incumbent |
15.2% | 2,671 | |
| Nonpartisan | James Gaffney Incumbent |
13.7% | 2,416 | |
| Nonpartisan | Nancy A. Muzzey | 11.9% | 2,086 | |
| Nonpartisan | James P. Conro | 11.2% | 1,961 | |
| Nonpartisan | Richard A. Leidig, Jr. | 7.7% | 1,357 | |
| Nonpartisan | Michael A. Vyzral Incumbent | 7.7% | 1,356 | |
| Total Votes | 17,583 | |||
| Source: Kane County Clerk, "Cumulative Report — Official: Kane County — April 9, 2013 Consolidated Election — April 09, 2013," accessed March 19, 2015 | ||||
Campaign themes
2017
Gaffney participated in the following survey conducted by the Kane County Chronicle. The questions provided by the Kane County Chronicle appear bolded, and Gaffney's responses follow below.
Why have you decided to run for election/reelection in the St. Charles School Board race?
| “ | The school district is entering into another phase of its existence, especially in education, leadership, building improvements, demographics, and the maintaining of quality teachers and staff due to retirement. Having for the past years worked on and having knowledge about these district matters, I have a continued responsibility to maintain a finanicial taxing stability.
What project most needs to be completed in St. Charles School District 303? And how would you work to ensure the project is actually finished and done well? Declining Enrollment. There is really no remedy; the board must deal with it as it is happening. Each year as D303 goes forward there will be new challenges with student enrollment & school population issues. With that said, I can only say I will do my best in making decisions which may affect schools' attendance. I will continue to make sure all students in D303 receive the best possible education, period.[4] |
” |
| —James Gaffney (2017)[5] | ||
What experience and/or strengths would you bring to the board if elected/re-elected?
| “ | I bring to the district my 35-plus years’ experience as a business owner, specializing in the construction industry. I was an IBEW electrician who became a business owner. My past consists of building and exterior utility construction, bargaining/employee negotiations from both sides of the table; finance, bonding, taxing structure, and bidding procedures. I understand the financial market, how it works, and what the tax-paying public expects from its elected representatives.[4] | ” |
| —James Gaffney (2017)[5] | ||
Are you generally in favor of increasing school spending, lowering school spending or maintaining school spending – keeping in mind that such decisions can affect local homeowners and the taxes that they pay? Please explain your answer.
| “ | Maintain Spending. I am an advocate of not spending more than you make. When I say maintain spending, we as taxpayers must understand that costs will go up, but as a board member, it is my responsibility to maintain a cost base not extravagant but prudent. The nuts and bolts are, as a board member, I have not (to date) been in favor of a tax referendum. I have worked with other board members, staff and bargaining representatives to understand we must maintain a stable budget, while we meet the expectations of the students and public.
I take great pride in being one of the individuals who has worked to make this a great school district, the best in northern Illinois. I will also add that I, along with the others, are maintaining the lowest taxing rate in Kane County. In the year 2018 on your tax bill for the year ending 2017, you will see a tax decrease of approximately $600 for a home with/an assessed value of $300,000. This will be an ongoing tax credit for years to come. Taxes in D303 are going down.[4] |
” |
| —James Gaffney (2017)[5] | ||
What types of new technologies (computers, other devices/software) or styles of learning (such as blended learning) should the district focus on and/or implement in coming years?
| “ | The district has been focusing on the implementation of Project Lead the Way for the past six years or so. This concept of teaching teaches our students the fundamentals of engineering early on in their career. These fundamentals include robotics, automation, flight and space, and architecture, just a few of the modules involved. The objective is to utilize technology to spark student creativity, which is essential for our students whether they go on to college or directly into a trade/career. This year we began implementation of this curriculum as low as kindergarten. This program is how we hope to leverage the purchase of technology and channel student interest into productive uses. To put it in a nutshell, it is not the device we always need to focus on, but the skills students need to become productive citizens ready for society.[4] | ” |
| —James Gaffney (2017)[5] | ||
What differentiates you from the other candidate(s) running for this seat?
| “ | Really don’t know the other candidate well enough to comment on them. I can only speak to my attributes. I bring experience. I have a vast knowledge on how the school district functions (including curriculum, finance, construction and structure). My past history shows I put the needs of the student and taxpayer first, along with meeting the needs of the staff, teachers, and support personnel.[4] | ” |
| —James Gaffney (2017)[5] | ||
Outside of politics, what are some of your other interests?
| “ | I enjoy family and retirement, along with working with others and helping them out. I own a hot rod, enjoy tinkering with cars and car shows. I also enjoy all types of target shooting. It is a passion.[4] | ” |
| —James Gaffney (2017)[5] | ||
Why should people vote for you in this race?
| “ | I am a lifetime resident of St. Charles. As a board member, my only concern is St. Charles and its students. I have strived to make sure every student wthin the D303 district is educated to the best of their abilities, and that we as a community make sure all our graduates become useful participants in our society. I want to continue to hire the most competent educators, support personnel, and to always maintain a safe environment for our students. I believe that we must maintain a balance between the cost of quality education and the cost to the taxpayer, but at the same time maintain a stable real estate market as we go forward. We all must understand that there are cuts/adjustments that can be accomplished, but there are other costs that are outside the control of the board, and these costs must be accepted/understood to maintain the quality of education the community expects of the board.[4] | ” |
| —James Gaffney (2017)[5] | ||
See also
- St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, Illinois
- St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 elections (2017)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Kane County Clerk, "2017 Consolidated Election Results," accessed April 5, 2017
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate Disclosure Search," accessed April 4, 2017
- ↑ Northwest Suburban Education Coalition, "School Board Candidate Endorsements," accessed March 29, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Kane County Chronicle, "2017 Election Questionnaire: St. Charles School Board candidate James Gaffney," March 1, 2017
| St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 elections in 2017 | |
| Kane County, Illinois | |
| Election date: | April 4, 2017 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, James Gaffney • Incumbent, Edward McNally • Heidi Fairgrieve • Lara Kristofer • Eric Missil • Denton Morris • Carolyn Waibel |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
