Courtney, Finan, Espinoza, Riske Poised To Win District 99 Seats

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Katie Courtney, April Finan, Christopher Espinoza and Michael Riske were poised to win the four available seats on the Community High School District 99 Board of Education, according to unofficial election results from the DuPage County Clerk's Office Tuesday.

Espinoza was the only incumbent board member set to retain his seat. He and Courtney, Finan and Riske, ran under the Together 4 Learning platform.

Here's the vote count for each candidate in the election, with 100 percent of precincts reporting in DuPage County, per unofficial results.

• Gregory Harris: 5,463
• Dawn Nelson: 5,773
• Christopher Espinoza: 8,818
• Michael Riske: 8,090
• Katie Courtney: 10,012
• April Finan: 9,341

Below, readers can learn more about Espinoza, Riske, Courtney and Finan.

Christopher Espinoza

Christopher Espinoza was first elected to the District 99 board of education in 2021.

On his campaign page Wednesday, Espinoza called the election results "a win for teachers, support staff, CMG staff, taxpayers, community members who value public education, and most importantly—the students."

He added, "This was the easy part, now we get back to the board table to do the real work for the residents of District 99."

Michael Riske

A CPA, Michael Riske has been a Downers Grove resident since 1998 and has two children who attend District 99 schools, according to his campaign profile.

Per his campaign page, Riske feels "that every student deserves access to the tools they need to learn and flourish. His vision is that the educational prospect for students be tailored to best assist them personally in discovering and honing their passion and place."

Katie Courtney

Katie Courtney is a teacher who has lived in Downers Grove for the past 17 years.

On her campaign profile, Courtney writes, that she plans to "work tirelessly to ensure that our schools are inclusive, resourceful, and focused on all students' needs, helping them academically and personally thrive."

April Finan

Dr. April Finan is a veterinarian who owns and operates Finan Animal Hospital in Downers Grove.

Finan's campaign profile states, "She believes in fostering strong partnerships between schools, families, and the broader community to build a brighter future for all."