'Limp Wrist': Elmhurst D205 Hopeful Takes On Critics

ELMHURST, IL – Social media has few rules and many zingers. Elmhurst's online discussions are no different.

Tom Chavez, an Elmhurst conservative leader who is running for the local school board, often writes on Facebook.

He is a critic of the Elmhurst School District 205 board, noting York High's dropping test scores and questionable credit card spending.

Chavez took part in the Facebook discussion last month attached to Patch's story, "Elmhurst D205 Hopeful Opposes DEI; Others Back It." Chavez was the opponent.

At one point, Chavez called an ideological foe "emasculated."

"I mean look at his limp wrist in his profile pic," he said.

He called the man "a real tiger on his keyboard, but he's never had the guts to stand in front of the community at a school board meeting and advocate for anything."

In a Facebook discussion about a Patch story in December, Chavez took a personal shot at Superintendent Keisha Campbell. He speculated on the thesis for her doctorate in education. In the spirit of openness, he said Campbell should release it.

Another commenter shot back, "Why? Like you could comprehend it."

Chavez replied, "I bet a 3rd grader could. But I'd love to take a crack at it."

In March 2023, Chavez released text messages from Elmhurst resident Guido Nardini, who was running for City Council at the time. Nardini, a progressive, won.

In a private text exchange, the two men discussed a photo of three women holding a campaign sign for Chavez at the United Center in Chicago.

"Did you really bring your own campaign sign to the United Center? Oh, honey, you're the cutest," Nardini said to Chavez.

Chavez wrote back, "I didn't, but one of my fans did. Did you like it? Is this in your yard?"

Later in the discussion, Nardini wrote, "I grew up in this town."

Chavez, who was in his first run for school board, responded, "Who cares. Means nothing. You act like that entitles you to something."

Nardini said he cared.

"I'll be damned if c–s––s f– up my town," he said.

Chavez, who released the conversation to Patch shortly after, said it showed Nardini's approach to others.

"So, this guy wants to be an alderman, where he must collaborate with people he doesn't agree with all the time and find commonality," Chavez said in a text message at the time. "I don't think that can happen if this is what he thinks about everyone that has a different opinion than him."

He added, "What's more troubling is that he doesn't have the common sense or self-control to understand that this type of harassment to another candidate directly in front of an election is irresponsible."

Asked about his recent comments, Chavez questioned whether it was news.

"I mean really. It’s the same old playbook from the same old people. Let’s not talk about the real issues, and try to distract with nonsense," Chavez said in a text message.

He accused his online opponents of never talking about test scores, policies or finances. This is while the "district on many levels circles the drain," he said.

As for the man he called "emasculated," Chavez said the commenter was a "constant antagonist for the radical left" and an "outspoken advocate for everything that's wrong in D205."