'Historic Tribalism' In Hinsdale D86 Election

DARIEN, IL – Residents in the Hinsdale South High School zone voted differently from their Central counterparts Tuesday.

Burr Ridge resident Alan Hruby conducted a precinct-by-precinct analysis of the school board election in Hinsdale High School District 86. Three seats were up.

In all, Kay Gallo, a former school board president, was the top vote-getter with 26 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election returns.

Gallo was followed by Catherine Greenspon with 25 percent and Asma Akhras with 19 percent. Losing were Andrew Catton with just under 19 percent and Deborah Willoughby with 11 percent.

South's precincts were a different story. There, Akhras, who lives in Darien, led with 26 percent, followed by Greenspon at 22 percent and Gallo at 21 percent.

If the district were limited to the Central zone, Catton, who was seen as the most conservative candidate, would have finished third and been elected to the board. He led Akhras with 577 votes in Central. Meanwhile, Akhras received 772 more votes than Catton in South precincts.

Hruby's analysis of the 2021 election also showed different preferences in the South area.

"The D86 election once again reflected its historic tribalism," Hruby said in an email.

Hruby and others have long pointed to the disparity in course offerings at South and Central high schools, with South getting the short end of the stick.

South has about half the enrollment of Central, making it harder to provide as great of a course selection. Some, including Hruby, have suggested a boundary change to equalize enrollments.

Like the other candidates, Akhras dismissed the idea of a boundary adjustment, which is often seen as politically untouchable.

Akhras is set to be the only board member from the South zone. The only current one is Cynthia Hanson, who decided against running again. She expressed openness to a boundary change.

The new board takes office May 3.