David Schaafma’s writing marketing campaign for a spot in Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education arrived brief when Schaafma concluded 919 votes behind the fourth place Josh Gertz within the battle for the fourth place within the elections of the college council of April 1.
The counting of the writing votes was revealed on April 16 on the web site of the electoral outcomes of the Cook County.
Gertz ran on an inventory with Nate Mellman whereas Schaafma ran with what turned an inventory of Fred Arkin, Kathleen Odell and Audrey Williams-Lee. Schaafma’s defeat was the one defeat in what in any other case had a fantastic success on April 1 for progressive activists in Oak Park.
According to Tallies launched on April 16, Schaafma acquired 4,603 written within the votes whereas Gertz acquired 5,522 votes. The newcomer Odell led the sphere with 9,691 votes in response to nonetheless unofficial yields whereas Williams-Lee got here second with 9,278 votes and Arkin Third with 8,817 votes. Mellman acquired 5,361 votes, with 161 votes behind his racing associate Gertz.
Schaafma, 72, entered the race as a writing candidate in what was largely an effort to maintain Mellman and Gertz exterior the college council after Mellman and Gertz managed to knock on the candidate Tania Haigh from the vote as a result of he didn’t current a type requested together with his names.
The race was full of life and intense with clear ideological variations between the 2 lists. Gertz and Mellman have questioned a number of the insurance policies that Oprf has carried out lately because the honors for the entire Curriculum of Freshman. Gertz, a 37 -year -old lawyer who lives in Oak Park, will carry some ideological variety to the OPR’s college council.
“I’m excited to make a distinction to go on and have an effect on politics,” Gertz mentioned after the writing votes have been counted.
Gertz acknowledges that it might have a distinct imaginative and prescient on some issues in comparison with different members of the Council, however nonetheless hopes to make the distinction.
“Even minorities can have a powerful influence on insurance policies sooner or later,” mentioned Gertz. “And I hope we’re all professionals and do what’s finest for varsity, college students and the largest neighborhood.”
The college council marketing campaign was intense and, generally, acrimonious, if not among the many candidates however amongst their respective supporters. Mellman, who final 12 months led a grievance in opposition to three Oprf lecturers with forgiven anti -Semitism, was a lighting rod, whereas Gertz had a low key and calm presence within the countryside boards.
Schaafma mentioned he was happy with his marketing campaign and receiving so many writings within the votes.
“I’d say that 4600 votes are fairly good,” mentioned Schaafma after the writing votes have been revealed.
He knew he went into the countryside that working as writing put him in nice drawback.
“I’m grateful for all of the assist I’ve had,” mentioned Schaafma. “It was unbelievable for me to work with a group that I realized to understand, admire, love. I favored to be a part of a progressive swept within the latest elections. I met many great individuals who I believe are dedicated to progressive causes, many individuals I love and I can solely want the board of administrators elected solely.”
Schaafma’s writing marketing campaign was helped by being a part of the coalition record that joined Odell, Williams-Lee and Arkin who was supported by progressive activists. The title of Schaafma was on all of the indicators of the marketing campaign for the record and on the entire literature on the countryside. The literature of the marketing campaign and social media posts have typically been accompanied by directions on the best way to categorical a vote writing for Schaafma. Supporters additionally discovered artistic methods to show folks the best way to write his title.
“We made our greatest try,” mentioned Schaafma. “We have devised many enjoyable and helpful methods to persuade folks to jot down within the vote. There was a created tune, a rap tune.”
At the tip of the marketing campaign, some supporters of Gertz and Mellman attracted consideration to a few of Schaafma’s social media to counsel that he was in solidarity with the assault of Hamas in Israel in 2023 and even accused Schaafma, who was as soon as married to a Jewish girl, of being anti -Semitic. But Schaafma mentioned he thought that the most important issue for him arriving from 4,000 to five,000 votes to his racing companions was the problem of being a writing candidate.
“It is tempting to assume that a number of the issues which have been mentioned within the final week might have had a fantastic influence,” mentioned Schaafma. “But I really feel like the largest impediment has lastly proved to be the autumn of my marketing campaign (it was) the truth that it was a writing vote. It is nearly unprecedented. People advised me to not do it, to attend two years.”
Some voters on the day of the elections didn’t even know that there was a writing candidate within the race and due to this fact didn’t vote for Schaafma regardless of the vote for his racing companions.
Schaafma, professor of English training on the University of Illinois Chicago, mentioned he wished to develop into extra energetic in Oprf affairs and assist his classmates within the college council.
“I can be energetic on the committees and attempt to assist their trigger as a lot as potential,” mentioned Schaafma.
He can be considering of working once more for the college council in two years.
“He is tempting, I’ve to say,” mentioned Schaafma.
Schaafma mentioned that whereas he has some regrets for the general marketing campaign, it was a great expertise.
“It has develop into very adverse from either side, however I need to say that general I felt excited by collaborating on this course of above all given what is occurring on the nationwide section that’s so discouraging,” mentioned Schaafma.
And he was form in his feedback on Gertz.
“I believe he is a great man and I want him each good,” mentioned Schaafma. “I really feel like when the elections have completed you don’t do what Trump does, who’s beginning to hit the folks you might have overwhelmed or the folks you assume you might have overwhelmed. Gently grant and love that individual properly and that is what I’m doing.”
Schaafma mentioned that, whereas he wished to win, he noticed a sure worth in what Gertz might result in the college council.
“It provides a barely completely different perspective and that is what a marketing campaign did and that is what folks mentioned about Mellman and Gertz and I believe for these individuals who thought that everybody thought in the identical manner and we have been becoming a member of a desk that was virtually considering in the identical manner, that we have been staring in rubber.
The new members of the Board of Directors will most likely be sworn on May 1st after the outcomes have develop into official.
Bob Skolnik is a contract journalist for Pioneer Press.
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