Candidate Pulls Out Of Hinsdale D86 Race

HINSDALE, IL – Terri Walker, who filed to run for a second term on the Hinsdale High School District 86 board, has withdrawn from the April 1 race.

That leaves six candidates vying for four four-year seats on the board. They are Warren Ali, Andrew Catton, Mary Satchwell, Liz Mitha, Bobby Fischer and Baron Leacock. In December, Jenny Gannon left the race.

Jeff Waters is now the only incumbent running this year; he is the lone candidate for the two-year seat.

A human resources executive, Walker teamed up with fellow Hinsdale resident Debbie Levinthal in the 2021 race. They both won.

During the meeting after that election, Levinthal backed Walker for board president in 10 ballots before Walker prevailed.

Months later, Walker and Levinthal parted ways, with Walker backing then-Superintendent Tammy Prentiss and Levinthal joining the minority opposition.

In 2023, an anti-Prentiss majority took office, ousting the superintendent soon afterward and giving her another year's salary of $277,000.

A turbulent year followed, with a succession of five acting superintendents. During this time, legal bills surged. Walker questioned the costs over the summer, while other members defended them.

A couple of months later, the law firm, Chicago-based Robbins Schwartz, terminated its ties with the district, calling the district "unreasonably difficult."

Since July 1, Michael Lach has been superintendent.

Walker couldn't be reached for immediate comment Monday.