Politics & Government

D86 Election: 'Friends' Slate Promises Transparency, 'New Brand of Collaboration'

Challengers Victor Casini, Ed Corcoran and Claudia Manley all won spots on the District 86 Board of Education Tuesday after a contentious campaign.

Claudia Manley called it “unbelievable.” Ed Corcoran was “elated.” Victor Casini said it was “a pleasant surprise.”

Following the election of all three “Friends for District 86” candidates Tuesday in the race for District 86 school board, Manley, Corcoran and Casini all said the sweep was unexpected, but also symbolic.

“I think it sends a message that the platform that we ran on resonated with District 86 citizens,” Casini said. “Namely, fiscal responsibility, transparency and community involvement.”

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Corcoran agreed that the community showed its support for the substance of the “Friends” slate’s platform. He also said he thought voters reacted to the group’s campaign approach.

“We tried to have a positive campaign, talking about what we’re going to do, and not working on exposing things,” Corcoran said.

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Corcoran submitted a letter to Patch on Monday highlighting issues he took with the content of two mailers sent in support of the “Building on Excellence” slate of Dennis Brennan, Kay Gallo, DeeDee Gorgol and Roseanne Rosenthal.

After a contentious spring race, Manley said the community can expect a “new brand of collaboration” among its board members.

“Along with Victor and Ed, we’re going to work collaboratively with anyone and everyone on the board,” Manley said.

Corcoran said, “We ran on a platform of transparency—to improve the atmosphere on the board. We want to continue that idea, start the process, and listen and learn from the existing board members.”

Casini, Corcoran and Manley were elected along with Gallo, the lone winner from the “Building on Excellence” slate. Gallo said she was disappointed that her four-candidate slate place only one winner, but she said she’s relieved the campaign is over.

“It’s all known. This is all known, and we’re moving on from here,” Gallo said.

She said she and the new board members may not see eye-to-eye on everything, but they all share the same intentions to make District 86 the best it can be.

“That ultimate goal is all the same,” she said. “Now we just have to find our own path together to get to that goal.”

Manley said she and Gallo crossed paths several times during the campaign and commended the incumbent’s campaign.

“She was a real trooper in terms of working for her election,” Manley said. “She very much deserves what she earned.”

Casini, Corcoran, Gallo and Manley are expected to be sworn in at the first Committee of the Whole meeting of the new board on May 6. They will join sittings board members Michael Kuhnm, Jennifer Planson and Richard Skoda

“There was much more to this campaign than I expected when I started and it surprised me for a volunteer school board position,” Casini said, referring to the time commitment, passion and contention of the race. “

But it’s over, he said, and he’s now looking forward to getting to work at maintaining the high standards District 86 has for its schools.


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