Letters to the Editor: Residents Voice Support for Candidates

Marjie Sandlow, a tireless worker for District 113

has been a member of the District 113 Board of Education for the past five years and is currently Vice President of the Board. Marjie is an outstanding leader and a tireless worker. Marjie, a Harvard MBA and former management consultant, brings extensive knowledge, skill and energy to the task of keeping our District one of the top in the state. She has consistently worked to improve our schools in a fiscally responsible manner.  If we want to continue the excellence that we expect from our schools, we need to elect the top people for the School Board. Marjie Sandlow is one of those people. She is endorsed by the Pioneer Press and the independent .  I strongly support her candidacy for re-election to the District 113 Board and urge you to vote for her on Tuesday.  

Being a member of our high school's school board is a volunteer position.  For Marjie, it is a seven day a week commitment.  She works daily with school administrators, staff, faculty and community members, and is highly effective in identifying issues and finding practical and efficient solutions for our schools.  Our community will be very well served by having Marjie continue in this leadership position.

Please join me in supporting Marjie at the polls on April 5.

Larry Silberman
Highland Park City Councilman 

Current board member supports Sandlow and Smith

Please join me in voting to re-elect and to the District 113 school board.  I serve on the board with Marjie and Michael and I have seen first-hand the outstanding work they do on behalf of our high schools.  In the past four years, Highland Park and Deerfield high schools have continued to achieve top 10 academic rankings among Illinois high schools.

During Marjie and Michael's term, the fiscal reports reflect balanced budgets without reductions in curriculum or programs. District 113 has maintained a AAA bond rating and a strong balance sheet while facing reductions in state funding and increases in major educational expenses such as special education.  Marjie and Michael are dedicated to educational excellence for all students as they continue to lead efforts in academics, cultural diversity, the arts and athletics. 

I have complete confidence and trust in Marjie Sandlow and Michael Smith to continue their leadership roles as District 113 school board members. 

Ken Fishbain

No hidden agenda for caucus endorsed candidates

As mayor, I strongly urge you to elect  the following District 113 candidates to the board of education: , , and . These individuals represent the very best our district has to offer.

Marjie Sandlow and Michael Smith have served on the board over the past few years while our schools and their most important product--our young adults--have flourished. Academics, art programs, special education and athletics have been enhanced under their leadership. Facilities have been improved, the relationship with faculty and staff has been strengthened and fiscal stewardship has been maintained.

This sort of progress will only be furthered with the addition of Steve Narrod and David Small.

Steve is a lifelong resident and previously served on the first Board of North Shore District 112. In this capacity, he was involved in consolidating the operations of three districts into one and oversaw several major physical improvements to buildings and grounds.

David Small has served in leadership roles on the District 113 Foundation and the Giants Club indicating a genuine commitment to our kids. David is also a prominent businessman with a national reputation and is an adjunct professor of business at his alma mater, the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
 His background and experience will benefit of not only the schools, but our entire community as well. 

As a mayor I have  had the opportunity  to personally interact with each of these outstanding individuals on issues such as increased funding for military dependents, environmental sustainability, the arts, athletics, teen safety and opportunities for community service education. No hidden agendas here. Just decent, honest and capable people wanting to provide all of our kids with an excellent education.

I am confident that, with your help, we can elect to the District 113 Board of Education David Small, Marjie Rosen  Sandlow, Steven Narrod and Michael Smith.

Mike Belsky
Highland Park Mayor 

As a Deerfield High School alumnus and a resident of the community for 38 years, it's exciting to see the discourse regarding the . It all sounds great and the numbers are "immaterial" if the "proposed" work  gets done as budgeted--assuming a passed referendum. The primary questions that I hope the candidates for [District] 113 are mulling are: "Are we doing enough for the teachers, and does an outstanding physical plant make for the best teacher?"

Please do not loose focus. From a historical perspective, way way back in the 1970s and early 1980s at DHS [Deerfield High School] we had 3,000 students, over 90 percent went on to universities, and we had nationally ranked football and cross country track teams year after year. Let's not forget about teachers and leaders at any expense.

Two nice fellows that are running seem to be most qualified to represent the [District] 113 board,  an HP [Highland Park High School] grad and fine person and  a DHS dad and aspiring board leader. Message, these issues deserve more than sound bites and politicization regardless of preference. Best of luck to all working for the betterment of the community.

Marc P. Brown

Vote yes on District 113 referendum

I support the because I trust the District 113 Board of Education. As a past board member in District 113 for 16 years, I know the time and dedication members commit to their community service. After a thorough and comprehensive community engagement process, the board voted 7-0 to place this issue on the ballot.

Each member of the board believes this measure should pass because the infrastructure and building improvements are needs, not wants. This board, like those before them, are fiscally conservative and proactive in terms of managing tax dollars.

The district has maintained our AAA bond rating, a very rare accomplishment in the nation. Less than 130 other school districts in the nation can boast this fiscal achievement. This board has earned our trust. Our students deserve our support. I will vote YES on April 5.

Diane Rochester

Rotering sees the big picture

has the characteristics necessary to be our next mayor of Highland Park.  I have known Nancy for years and her education and experience at all levels of business and public service virtually guarantee her success.  Nancy followed her years at Edgewood and Highland Park High School with a BA in economics from Stanford, an MBA from Northwestern and a JD from the University of Chicago.  She brings us business experience gained at a major Chicago law firm and at General Motors; experience on city commissions and on our City Council; and Nancy has the many strengths it takes to be an excellent mother of four, a PTO president, and creator of an environmental education program involving over 1,200 school children.   

In this challenging economy our city faces now and in the near future, we need leadership that sees the "big picture" and approaches problems with both objectivity and creativity.  We need a mayor who can lead the council to well advised decisions on major community issues.  We need a mayor and a City Council who appreciate and inspire the staff and who keep a welcome mat out to current and prospective members of our entire population, to our entire business community, and to the local governments that look to the city for intergovernmental cooperation. 

Nancy Rodkin Rotering is the best qualified candidate to be our next mayor.

Brett Cutler

Olian, an advocate for the city

has demonstrated to me, as no other public official has ever done, that she cares about Highland Park -- the entire city. 

I had a retail store for more than 20 years before retiring, the last six of those years in Highland Park. I met Terri shortly after opening in Garrity Square. She came in to say hello, see the store and find out how she and the city could support us. She came in many more times, always supportive and welcoming of ideas. At the same time, she came up with Late Night Highland Park and spearheaded development in the central business district, she made it clear she is well aware that our city's business community does not stop at Green Bay and Central. 

Terri is a forward thinking administrator and a long-standing advocate for our city; she will make a great mayor. 

Suzette Greb

Rotering pushes back against unnecessary spending

I'm not a typical student. Most of my friends aren't too involved in the Highland Park mayor's race, let alone any of the City Council races. But I think it's critical that all Highland Park students who are of voting age, both at Highland Park High School and away at college, vote in Tuesday's election.

Voters have a very easy choice to make on Tuesday. Nancy Rotering is a caring, thoughtful, intelligent and analytical leader. She has worked, and will continue to work, to secure a strong financial position for Highland Park. She's pushed back against unnecessary spending items from the budget, like health care for council members. She's fought for the environment, and for public access to open spaces in Highland Park. Nancy has consistently risen above the drama that quite frequently permeates the council. I'm confident that when Nancy Rotering becomes mayor, Highland Park's city government will be much more efficient and transparent.

Many students will leave Highland Park after college, but some will return to raise families here. With a remarkable park system, great schools and lively culture, Highland Park is an ideal place to have a family. Nancy Rotering will work to ensure that the prospects for Highland Park's future remain strong.

Max Ellithorpe

Olian celebrates unity

As director of Neighbor to Neighbor, an organization dedicated to building bridges between the less fortunate families living in our community and those who are more firmly established here, I have had the privilege of working with Terri Olian in her capacity as City Council member a number of times.  On each of those occasions, I have been consistently impressed by the compassion with which she speaks with families who are struggling to find their financial footing, and the commitment with which she speaks on their behalf.

Her determination to work with social service professionals, educators, health care workers and other advocates in seeking solutions to the myriad issues which challenge these families daily has made it evident to them, as it has to me, that she values the critical contributions they make to this community, and wants them to understand that it is their home, too.  At a time when divisiveness and discord seem to be the norm in towns and cities across this country, it is clear to me that Terri Olian envisions herself as mayor of a community where unity is celebrated, and where all families understand that their dreams matter.  We would all be fortunate to see her vision become a reality. 

Laura Distelheim
Director, Neighbor to Neighbor