Summit Hill 161 Challengers, 1 Incumbent Projected To Win: Results

FRANKFORT, IL — Four newcomer candidates and one incumbent are the projected winners of an unexpired two-year term and four 4-year terms on the Summit Hill District 161 Board of Education, according to unofficial results.

Melissa Ryan is the projected winner of a 2-year term with 1,876 votes; and Amy Berk, Adrian Chavez, Patrick Oliphant and Ronnie Petrey are the projected winners of the four 4-year terms.

Note that election results below are unofficial. The Will County Clerk's Office certifies election results on April 22.

As of 10:30 p.m., with 100 percent of precincts reporting

• Board Member, unexpired 2-year term (vote for one)
  • Katie Campbell (incumbent) - 988 votes
  • Melissa Ryan - 1,876 votes
• Board member, four-year term (vote for four)
  • Stefanie McCleish (incumbent) - 1,193 votes
  • Amy Berk (incumbent) - 1,898 votes
  • Adrian Chavez - 1,705 votes
  • Patrick Oliphant - 1,806 votes
  • Ronnie Petrey - 1,489 votes
  • Jim Martin (incumbent) - 977 votes
  • Cicily Gant - 842 votes
  • Bill Curtin - 1,238 votes

The Summit Hill race was slightly crowded and contentious, in part due to a December 2023 vote by the Board to close two of the District's schools. Several challengers ran against incumbent candidates after the decision.

The school district boundaries pull students from parts of Frankfort, Frankfort Square, Mokena and Tinley Park.

The incumbent candidates McCleish, Martin and Campbell ran with newcomer Gant as "Citizens for 161 Excellence." The group said it has established long-term fiscal stability, is student-focused, and has expanded the voice of the community by adding student board members and designing the parent guardian academy.

Incumbent Berk ran alongside newcomers Chavez, Oliphant, Petrey and Ryan. The group "represents all areas of the district geographically," according to the candidates. The group includes two educators, a CPA, engineer and food service business professional.