Seven candidates compete for College of Lake County seats

Seven candidates are running for two seats on the College of Lake County Board of Trustees. The election will take place on April 1, with the new board scheduled to meet on April 22. The candidates include Dawn Abernathy, Trustee Jesus Garena, Janet Gibson, former Trustee Vaseem Iftekhar, Trustee Torrie Mark Newsome, Riaz Yussef, and Francine Zodda. Each candidate brings diverse experience and perspectives to the race. Francine Zodda is a first-time candidate. She has a background in early childhood education and has been involved with the Wauconda Area Chamber of Commerce. Riaz Yussef has served as the chief information officer at Harper College for 15 years and focuses on the benefits of education. Torrie Mark Newsome is the current board chair, having been appointed in 2000 and elected in 2021. He is also a professor and emphasizes his commitment to supporting students. Vaseem Iftekhar, a former trustee, seeks to return and is focused on fiscal management and strategic planning. Janet Gibson has served on various local boards and wants to use her educational background to help the college. Jesus Garena, who was appointed to the board last November, aims to enhance educational opportunities and believes in education's transformative power. Dawn Abernathy has experience as a village trustee and prioritizes keeping the college innovative in its approach to education. The candidates have various ideas for increasing student enrollment. They suggest improving publicity, focusing on career training, and exploring innovative learning options. Some mention the importance of working with local businesses to understand workforce needs. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) remain key issues for the candidates. While some support initiatives to enhance DEI, there are concerns about funding and potential community tensions. The candidates agree on the importance of listening to community opinions and following state and federal regulations. Ultimately, the election will determine which candidates will guide the college's direction and address these pressing issues.