One Newcomer, Two Incumbents Win OPRF District 200 Board Seats

A political newcomer and two incumbents captured seats on the Oak Park and River Forest District 200 school board.

John Phelan earned his first four-year term, while Sharon Patchak-Layman and Ralph Lee were re-elected to their second terms. Incumbent John Allen, Margaret Lattner Skiver and John B. Bokum, Jr. rounded out the field of six candidates running for three seats.

Phelan was attending the River Forest Public Schools District 90 board meeting — where — when he learned he was ahead at the polls. He followed the returns on his iPhone.

"I'm so excited about serving kids at my old alma mater. It still feels like I'm going home," said Phelan, who credited his victory to his long roots in the community. "I'm humbled and honored at my showing tonight."

Lee attributed his win to making good on the promises he set out during his
2007 campaign: making progress on closing the achievement gap, improving the
discipline system and putting the lid on escalating taxes.

"I played a leadership role and delivered on those promises with the help of my fellow board members," Lee said.

Patchak-Layman told Wednesday Journal she didn't know much about Phelan, the newcomer, but pledged to work together and keep her priorities in check. 

 "What I've always stressed is that public bodies need to be open to their constituents and that they need to be doing their business in public," she said.