Candidates will compete for seats on the D86 board, village board and library board
Hinsdaleans will cast consequential votes in several contested local races when they head to the polls next spring.
The Hinsdale High School District 86 Board race has the most crowded field in the April 1 consolidated general election with eight candidates vying for four four-year seats.
Terri Walker of Hinsdale is the sole incumbent running. She is joined by challengers Warren Ali, Andrew Catton, Bobby Fischer, Jenny Gannon, Baron Leacock and Mary Satchwell of Hinsdale and Liz Mitha of Darien. Mitha and Satchwell have announced they will run in collaboration as the “Unite 86” slate.
Current board member Jeff Waters is uncontested for the two-year term that will finish out the unexpired term of former board member Kay Gallo, who resigned in the fall of 2023.
Peggy James, elected with Walker and Waters in 2021, is not running again. James said she is happy with the work accomplished in the last four years, including in the areas of fiscal responsibility and board transparency.
“I think I’m leaving it better than when I got there, and I’m ready to pass the torch,” James said. “(The progress) can be built upon in a way that continues to benefit our district.
“It’s been an opportunity that I’ve really cherished to support out community, our district and, most importantly, our students,” she added.
Abed Rahman and Heather Kartsounes, appointed following the resignations of Debbie Levinthal and Kay Gallo, respectively, have decided not to run.
Hinsdale Village Board
Four candidates are vying for three open seats on the Hinsdale Village Board. Incumbents Neale Byrnes, Michelle Fisher and Matthew Posthuma will share the ballot with newcomer Carlos Aparicio.
Greg Hart is uncontested for village president to replace Tom Cauley, who is stepping down after a record-setting four terms. Cauley said he made up his mind not to run “a long time ago” but kept it to himself. He revealed that he considered not seeking a fourth term in 2021 but that the pandemic discouraged would-be successors.
“I couldn’t get anybody to really take an interest in it,” Cauley remarked. “At the time I started my fourth term I knew that would be my last.”
Hinsdale Public Library Board
For the four seats are open on the Hinsdale Public Library board, incumbents Kimberly Kiyosaki and Chun Ye will be joined on the ballot by Dennis Garcia, Jayesh Hines-Shah and Carissa Kapcar.
Dick Munson, elected in 2021, and Lucy Zhou, elected to a two-year term in 2023, are not seeking reelection.
“Hinsdale is very lucky to have such a great public library that offers a diverse array of programs and resources to the community. It has been an honor to work with the great staff and trustees,” Munson said.
District 181 Board
There’s no ballot battle in Community Consolidated Elementary District 181, with incumbents Bill Cotter and Grace Shin along with fellow Hinsdale resident Adam Creighton East poised to assume the three open seats.
Michael Martin is not running for reelection after one term. Martin said that was always his plan, but admitted stepping away was not an easy decision.
“I thought about re-running quite extensively,” he said, citing a desire to have more time for his family as a decisive factor. “I went in with the intention of doing four years and I’m sticking to that.”
Martin, who is serving his second year as board president, identified the forthcoming introduction of district-wide all-day kindergarten and the procurement of a permanent administration center as two of the most gratifying accomplishments during his tenure.
“Our fiscal management is the strength of the district,” he said, crediting his board predecessors for establishing a solid foundation. “We only have the ability to (make those investments) because previous boards had earmarked money for it.”
Martin praised Superintendent Hector Garcia, the administrative team and his board colleagues for their talent and dedication.
“It’s been a very enjoyable experience, especially with the relationships I’ve built with other board members and administrators,” he said.
— Pamela Lannom contributed
to this story
