Name: Veronica Noland Position for which you are a candidate: School District U-46 Board   Why are you seeking this position? Since first being elected to the Board in 2013, I have always served as an advocate for parents. I'm particularly interested in issues related to equity and the achievement gap, and specialized student services, especially as they affect our most marginalized families. These concerns have been magnified with the current pandemic.  I am proud of what our district has accomplished, but am also always open to how we can improve access and the diversity of our programming.  Every [...]

  Name: Emmanuel Thomas Position for which you are a candidate: School District 300 Board   Why are you seeking this position? I am running to remain a member of the District 300 Board of Education because I would like to continue to help my colleagues to improve student achievement across the board. Every child in District 300 is entitled to receive the absolute best education that the District can provide.  Prior to COVID, District 300 was developing several programs to offer students access to educational opportunities they will not find elsewhere.  I would like us to get back to [...]

  Name: Franklin F. Ramirez Position for which you are a candidate: Elgin Township Supervisor   Why are you seeking this position? I am seeking re-election as Elgin Township Supervisor because the good that we have started within the past four years needs to be continued.  We created the Committee on Seniors in response to the senior referendum that was on the ballot in 2017 and we created the Committee on Youth to engage the youth of our township so that they will understand and appreciate that civic duty and leadership are cornerstones to being apart of a community.  The [...]

  Name: Dustin Good Position for which you are a candidate: Elgin City Council   Why are you seeking this position? After this unprecedented year we are going to need leaders who not only know the ins & outs of Elgin, and how to grow our tax base, but we are going to need people who are experts in empathy and compassion. In the last year, my wife and I lost three jobs over the course of one weekend. I unfortunately came face to face with COVID-19 last June and have yet to fully recover. I know firsthand the struggles [...]