Heated 3-Way Write-In Contest Builds In OLCHS Dist. 229 Board Race

OAK LAWN, IL — Once again, the Oak Lawn Community High School Dist. 229 school board race has found itself short a candidate, leaving one seat open for a write-in contest. Three candidates are vying for the write-in spot, including Anas Khraiwish, Ben Bush and perennial write-in candidate, Kenneth Yerkes, otherwise known around the village as “Dr. Y.”

The D229 school board write-in contest has sparked tart exchanges among the candidates and criticism from residents on the Oak Lawn Talk of the Town Facebook page. In 2023, when Dist. 229 came up short a candidate for the school board race, Vernon Zumhagen beat out two other write-in candidates with 68 votes.

Yerkes is a dentist of over 40 years with a practice in Oak Lawn. He says he has a State of Illinois High School Teaching License with a Middle School endorsement. Yerkes plans to enter teaching full-time in 2026.

Regarding teaching critical race theory, or CRT, at OLCHS, Yerkes said that an executive order by President Donald Trump prevents federal money from being spent on teaching critical race theory and DEI ideology, which exemplify reverse discrimination and race-baiting.

“It is my belief that the essence and philosophical basis of CRT and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are rooted in cultural Marxism,” Yerkes said in his Patch candidate survey.

Bush works in procurement. He has a son who is a junior at OLCHS, his daughter will enter the high school next year. If elected, Bush says his number one goal is student success.

“This is my first opportunity to give time and effort to a public board position, but I am committed to student success for every class that passes through the high school,” Bush said in his Patch candidate survey. “I have children at this school, and that gives me even more incentive to do the job right. I am committed to students, rather than what my next [elected] position would be.”

Khraiwish says he is most concerned about students nationwide, who are less optimistic about the future.

“It is a sobering and frightening reality. We can blame it on a lot of things, but the truth is it’s very complicated,” Khraiwish said in his Patch candidate survey. “I would like to help restore a sense of optimism for our future generations as much as I can, and the way I think it would be most effective is through self-reliance and more opportunities for real-world experience before graduation.”

The results of the Dist. 229 school board write-in candidates won’t be known until Thursday.

The polls will be open on election day, Tuesday, April 1, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents will have to go to their regularly assigned precincts to vote.

Voters can find their voter information here, including what’s on their respective ballot and where to find their precinct. Check back with Oak Lawn Patch after the polls close at 7 p.m. for the results.