Challengers Nichols, Kirberg Nab School Board Seats; Bonuchi Re-Elected

Plainfield School District 202 board member Roger Bonuchi won re-election to the board and will be joined by two newcomers: Greg Nichols and Kevin Kirberg.

Unofficial voting results from Will and Kendall counties show Nichols capturing 2,943 votes; Bonuchi 2,926; and Kirberg 2,058. All 70 precincts in Will County and all four precincts in Kendall County were counted.

Seven candidates were vying for three seats in the District 202 School Board race, which promised at least one new face as board President Stuart Bledsoe did not seek re-election.

Incumbents Bonuchi and David Obrzut were seeking new terms and were challenged by Nichols, Kirberg, William Dargan Jr., Tommie Van and Anthony Scala.

The teachers union endorsed and financially supported candidates Dargan, Kirberg and Van, which generated some controversy since the school board would have to vote on a new teachers' contract this year.

The new board will be seated April 26.

Reached Tuesday evening, Nichols said he was “shocked, surprised and filled with gratitude” as he was surrounded by family and friends who worked on his campaign. He said he hoped voters recognized that he was trying to approach the district in a business sense and wanted to take a “good hard look at the organization in the district.”

A six-year member of the school board, Bonuchi said he felt gratified after the results.

He said he felt a key issue in the race was that four candidates were not supported by the teachers union and did not take money from it. He said the union endorsement was a major issue when he was knocking on doors.

“I didn’t take any money for my campaign,” he said, adding that the three men endorsed by the union are “good, decent and honest people.”

Obrzut, who is completing his first term on the board, was not re-elected. Bonuchi commended his fellow board member, saying that his ouster was “unfortunate.”

“Dave has protected jobs, students,” Bonuchi said. “He has made good decisions on the board. His board service has been admirable. I’ve admired Dave for standing up for his beliefs.”

Kirberg, who has been active in the district’s C.A.P.E. organization, a member of the district’s Foundation for Excellence and a PTO president at Freedom Elementary School, narrowly edged out Dargan, beating him by a mere 25 votes.

He said it was about as close as it could get as he awaited the final election results at the Front Street Cantina in downtown Plainfield.

“I’m very excited,” Kirberg said. “This to me is a natural progression in the service I’ve provided to the district. I will do everything I can to look at every piece of data I have before me and do whatever is in the best interest of the kids. It’s those futures we have to protect.”

He said he had hoped there would have been a greater voter turnout.

Will County reported that there was an 18.82 percent voter turnout with 14,799 ballots cast for the district race in Will County and 625 ballots cast for the district race in Kendall County.

Final results of Will and Kendall counties show Nichols with 2,943 votes; Bonuchi 2,926 ; Kirberg 2,058; Dargan 2,033; Van 1,906; Scala 1,869; and Obrzut with 1,689.

Dargan said that although he came close, he still plans to be involved with the district.

“I wish everybody the best of luck,” he said.