Massive field competes in Oakton board race

Thirteen candidates are vying for three seats up for election April 2 on the community college board serving Evanston.

Oakton Community College serves 15 other communities from Wilmette to Rosemont from campuses in Skokie and Des Plaines.

Board members Joan W. DiLeonardi and Ann E. Tennes are retiring at the completion of their six-year terms, while Kyle Frank is running for another term.

Theresa Bashiri-Remetio of Park Ridge is a financial analyst with U.S. Cellular. She earned an associate degree in business from Oakton Community College as well as master’s degrees in higher education administration and business administration from Northern Illinois University. She served as a student trustee at Oakton 2012-13 and was elected to a two-year term as a trustee in 2013. League of Women Voters profile.

Robert A. Boron of Northbrook is an attorney. He received a law degree from DePaul University and was admitted to the bar in 1977. He served 14 years on the Glenbrook District 225 school board, including 10 years as vice president, until 2017.  LWV profile.

Gail Bush of Evanston is a professor emeritus of education at National Louis University. She earned a doctorate in educational psychology from Loyola University Chicago. She has served as trustee of the Evanston Public Library and as president of the Illinois Library Association. LWV profile.

Allan H. Cohen of Glenview is retired. He earned a doctorate in chemistry from Northwestern University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago. He serves on the governing council of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Children’s Hospital and as a trustee of Rosalind Franklin University. LWV profile here.

Alexandra Eidenberg of Wilmette is president of The Insurance People. She earned a master’s in arts management from Columbia College Chicago. She is a board member of the Small Business Advocacy Council, Wilmette Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Women Business Owners. She was defeated in the primary for the U.S. House of Representatives 4th district in 2014 and in the primary for District 17 in the Illinois House of Representatives in 2018. LWV profile.

Kyle Frank of Skokie is an attorney. He earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University. He has served on the Oakton Board of Trustees since 2013 and is running for a second term. He is also a member of the Glenview Chamber of Commerce. In 2012, running as a Republican, he lost a race to represent the 17th District in the state House. LWV profile.

Candidates, clockwise from upper left, Richard A. Geline, Michele Hays, R. Razz Jenkins, Havee Makedon, Marie Lynn Toussaint, Cynthia Veremis and Wendy B. Yanow.

Richard A. Geline of Glenview is an orthopedic surgeon. He earned his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin. He has served as president of the Illinois State Medical Society and the Chicago Medical Society as well as chairman of the board of the Illinois State Medical Society. LWV profile.

Michele Hays of Evanston is a community advocate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in drama at Thomas More College in Kentucky. She has served as PTA president at Chute Middle School and chairman of the board of Puerta Abierta preschool. LWV profile.

R. Razz Jenkins of Des Plaines is an actor and retired human resources professional. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University. He has served as a trustee of Valparaiso University and president of the university’s alumni association. He has also been a member of the boards of SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local and the Midwest Advisory Board of Actors Equity Association. LWV profile.

Havee Makedon of Des Plaines is a substitute teacher. He earned a master’s degree from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany. He has been involved in community organizing in Des Plaines. LWV profile.

Marie Lynn Toussaint of Evanston is a criminal defense attorney. She earned a law degree from John Marshall Law School. She is the present of the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti and co-founder of the Haitian American Lawyers Association. LWV profile.

Cynthia E. Veremis of Des Plaines is a human resources director. She earned a degree at DePaul University School for New Learning in human resources. She has been president of the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce board of directors. LWV profile.

Wendy B. Yanow of Evanston is a consultant in adult education. She earned a master’s degree in education from National Louis University. She has been a volunteer teacher at the Dorothy Stang Popular Education Adult high School in Chicago and is an anti-racism community facilitator and activist. LWV profile.

A community forum for OCC candidates, sponsored by the Organization for Positive Action and Leadership, will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, at Chute Middle School, 1400 Oakton St.

Many of the OCC candidates also participated in a meeting Feb. 13 at the Firehouse Grill for all candidates on the April ballot in Evanston. Here’s a video of that session from Dan Coyne.