Politics & Government

D86 Election: Gorgol 'Would Hate to See the District Go Backward'

The board member who lost her bid for reelection last week said she's concerned some of the goals put in place during her four years won't be realized.

DeeDee Gorgol said she’ll feel a little down after her last meeting as a District 86 board member in May.

“It will be sad,” Gorgol said. “You make a group of friends and have a common interest and goal and it will be sad because … I’m afraid maybe some of the goals we were putting out there won’t be realized.”

Gorgol and Board President Dennis Brennan are current board members who failed in their bid for reelection last week running as part of a slate that also featured current board member Kay Gallo and Roseanne Rosenthal. Gallo was the slate’s only winner, as the “Friends for District 86” slate of Victor Casini, Ed Corcoran and Claudia Manley swept the other three open spots.

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Gorgol said the results of the election were disappointing, but she’s very glad Gallo has a spot on the board.

“There are still three strong members on the board that share my thoughts and my beliefs on how things should move forward with the district,” Gorgol said of Gallo, Michael Kuhn and Jennifer Planson.

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Gorgol is proud of the work she did during her four years on the board. The installation of turf fields at both schools and the recent improvements that included air conditioning and new, more secure entrances are among the accomplishments that she’ll remember most and that she hopes the community remembers most.

With regard to the “Friends” slate that had a strong showing after a contentious campaign, Gorgol said Corcoran has appeared to be levelheaded and well intentioned to her, but Casini and Manley have not.

“I’m hoping that’s not true,” Gorgol said. “I just would hate to see the district go backward instead of moving forward.”

Would Gorgol consider another run in 2015? She said if things go well over the next two years, she’d be fine passing the torch for good. But she didn’t close the door.

“A lot will depend on what happens over the next two years,” Gorgol said. “If things go downhill and I can't stand it, then I’ll have to step in again.”


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