Leonard Walker
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Leonard Walker is an at-large representative on the Township High School District 214 school board in Illinois. Walker won a first term in the at-large general election on April 4, 2017. He ran as part of a candidate slate with fellow challenger Mildred Palmer 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]
Walker reported no contributions or expenditures to the Illinois State Board of Elections in the election.[7]
Endorsements
Walker was endorsed by the Daily Herald and the local teachers' union.[8][9]
Campaign themes
2017
Walker participated in a survey conducted by the Daily Herald in March 2017. Six of the survey questions and Walker'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?
| “ | Our family has lived in the District 214 community for over 23 years. Since 2011, I have served the Wheeling High School Community as PTO president and as a board member of the school's Choral League. I am a proud parent of D214 students and would like the opportunity to serve the entire district. My children and many others are better prepared for the unpredictable future thanks to the education they received through the district's high schools. I want to have all district students receive the same excellent education provided to my children.[10] | ” |
| —Leonard Walker (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?
| “ | Redefining Ready is an amazingly innovative way to measure students. It was developed and introduced by D214 and is gaining acceptance across the country. It not only takes into account the state mandated standardized test (SAT) but also values other high school experiences (AP and Dual Credit courses and internships. Redefining Ready very clearly describes and outlines what it means to be college and career ready based on extensive research: 2.8 GPA (students who graduate with a 2.8 GPA are more likely to be successful in college), 90% attendance, community service, declared career pathway with coursework in a career pathway. Since we are in the first year of this new district measure I would not change anything. Once we have a couple of years of data to evaluate Redefining Ready we should then decide whether or not it needs to be refined.[10] | ” |
| —Leonard Walker (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?
| “ | The district has outstanding leadership and highly qualified administrative staff. Over time they have provided a challenging curriculum for students one that fully prepares them to be successful beyond graduation. The high ratings of our schools at the state and national level prove that our curriculum for student education is at the highest level. The board should oversee to ensure the curriculum is appropriate for student success.[10] | ” |
| —Leonard Walker (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?
| “ | History shows D214 has had balanced operating budgets for 20 years. Operations are cost efficient and the budget is monitored to maintain student education and associated programs at a high level. The last tax referendum was 46 years ago when Buffalo Grove High School was built. I don't foresee an upcoming referendum.[10] | ” |
| —Leonard Walker (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?
| “ | We have some the best choices for students within our district high schools; I believe students and their families will stay within the district to maximize the educational opportunities in our schools, the extracurricular activities offered and the district's proven ability to prepare students for college and careers.[10] | ” |
| —Leonard Walker (2017)[11] | ||
What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?
| “ | We have some the best choices for students within our district high schools; I believe students and their families will stay within the district to maximize the educational opportunities in our schools, the extracurricular activities offered and the district's proven ability to prepare students for college and careers.[10] | ” |
| —Leonard Walker (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, "Leonard "Lenny" Walker: 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 |
