Kerlin Walsh, Sullivan Elected MVCC Board Trustees: Election Results

PALOS HILLS, IL —Eileen Kerlin Walsh and Tracy Sullivan appear to be headed to become the newest trustees on the Moraine Valley Community College Board. Both women were competing against 10 others for two open seats.

Cook County polls closed at 7 p.m. Early voting and vote-by-mail ballots are included in the total. Provisional ballots and late arriving vote-by-mail ballots are not included, according to the Cook County Clerk's Office. All results are unofficial.

Kerlin Walsh garnered the most votes, with 9,804 (18.18%). Sullivan picked up 9,556 (17.72%).

Here’s how the other candidates scored in the MVCC race:

Adam D. Downs - 4,379 (8.08 %)
Yusuf Vidal - 5,428 (10.08%)
Daniel Casey - 7,097 (13.14%)
Carl R. Kunz - 5,050 (9.1%)
Aseal Tineh - 984 (1.84%)
Brian O’Neill - 4,994 (9.25%)
Joseph H. Zotto - 3,137 (10.99%)

Palos Heights resident Dan Casey hoped to return to the MVCC Board. He is a BP executive. He was involved in the collective bargaining negotiations with the college’s unions while a board member. He’s running with Eileen Kerlin Walsh.

“As trustee, my focus will be to work with the administration to expand certificate programs in these areas that will be funded by industry,” Casey said in the Patch candidate questionnaire. “These alternative sources of revenue will offset the rising costs of the college while meeting the growing labor need in these industries.”

Eileen Kerlin Walsh, of Oak Lawn, is an attorney and president of Kerlin Walsh Law. She’s taught at and consulted in the Moraine Valley’s paralegal studies program, as well as hired MVCC students as interns for her law office.

“I believe we can recalibrate costs and distribute precious funds more fairly, resulting in lower taxes, higher wages for adjunct faculty and lower tuition for MVCC families,” Kerlin Walsh said.

Justice resident Yusuf Vidal is chief of staff for State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid. He’s been endorsed by Chicago Federation of Labor, Cook County College Teachers Union, International Union of Operating Engineers 150, International Union of Operating Engineers 399, Cook County Board Commissioner Donna Miller, Mayor of Palos Hills Jerry Bennett, and many others.

“I believe the most pressing issue facing colleges across the state is preparing for the 21st century economy,” Vidal said. “While the economy has changed, our workforce training and education has yet to keep up. ‘Earn and learn’ models like apprenticeships are crucial to preparing students for the workforce, while not forcing them to take on the burden of student debt.”

Adam Downs, of Oak Lawn, is a retired member of the military.

“I am focused on ensuring that we maintain fiscal discipline,” Downs said. “Additionally, I would have taken a different approach on COVID-19 compared to the person seeking re-election. Moreover, I want to ensure that we maintain local control over our community whereas many of my opponents do not.”

Orland Park resident Tracey Sullivan is an associate vice president at Governors State University, focusing on procurement compliance with statute and supplier diversity. If elected, she looks forward to reviewing and discussing enrollment trends at MVCC in comparison to other similar institutions.

“I believe in relationships and shared governance,” Sullivan said. “I will bring an unmatched knowledge of higher education to the Board. Simply put: I love Moraine, as a destination for high school students, adults and businesses. My candidacy differs from others because of my extensive knowledge of higher education topics, problems, and solutions.”