By Josh Bootsma
Background: The Lansing Journal made efforts to contact all candidates in the April 6 election to gather information to share with Lansing voters. Using a “candidate info form,” we asked the same questions of each local office seeker. Answers were prepared and submitted by the candidates. We will be sharing the info race by race in a series of “Voter Guide” posts.
LANSING, Ill. (March 2, 2021) – South Suburban College is a community college located in South Holland that serves 18 local municipalities. The college is governed by a Board of Trustees, all of whom are elected officials. The South Suburban Community College District is also known as District 510.
Why South Suburban College Board elections matter
Lansing is one of the largest municipalities served by South Suburban College, and the decisions the District 510 Board of Trustees makes have a significant impact on Lansing students seeking higher education there. South Suburban College offers students an affordable way to obtain a degree or certification—or take steps toward doing so—in one of its roughly 80 programs of study.
In recent months, South Suburban College has hosted a drive-thru COVID-19 testing facility, which started in June. Last month, the Athletic and Physical Fitness Center at the college started serving as a Cook County Public Health vaccination site. Cooperation at various levels of government, including at the District 510 Board, helped make these community services possible.
South Suburban College Board elections – Four candidates running for two positions
The individuals below are the names voters will see on the April 6 ballot for the South Suburban College Board elections. Trustees serve a six-year term. Four candidates are running for the two positions available on the board.
John Daly
Town of residence: Tinley Park
Education: St. Joseph’s Hammond, non degreed
Occupation: Retired Municipal Manager
Resumé highlights
- Life long resident south suburbs
- Life long public service volunteer
- Elected by the people since 1983
Most important issues: Helping our students and the community through purposeful, life-long learning, that achieves fairness and equity in economic opportunity—sustained opportunity that will also help enhance the future of the south suburbs.
Goals and promises: To keep on developing and executing policies and programs, designed to empower our students to take charge of their individual lives. To remain focused on the special duty we have to be fiscally accountable and responsible to taxpayers.
Janet Rogers
Town of residence: Harvey
Education: Masters Degree in counseling from Governors State University, Special Ed Endorsed, National Louis College, Undergraduate Degree from University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Occupation: Retired Culinary Arts Teacher, Currently working for South Cook County Mosquito Abatement District
Resumé highlights:
- An educator for education
- Works well with others/team player
- Academics has been a major part of my life coming from the South and coming from a family of 5 being the only one to graduate.
Most important issues: Systemic poverty in the south suburbs and the role South Suburban College must play in ending it. I believe this is the most challenging issue we face.
We need to continue pursuing educational initiatives with that objective in mind. Programs that empower our students to take control of their own futures, educational offerings that meet the needs of employer/clientele organizations and achieve economic sustainability in the south suburbs.
Goals and promises: As we pursue these objectives, we also need to be mindful of the current economic environment in the surrounding college community and keep a close eye to being fiscally responsible. Yet, meaningful educational programs can be costly and therefore, we must continue to think “outside-the-box” whenever possible; seek alternative sources of funding such as grants, private sector partners, endowments, state and federal support, etc.
My only promise is to begin each day with a commitment to actively take up these efforts—to help our students and the community through life-long learning and to never lose sight of the fact that we, the members of the South Suburban College Board, are responsible for other people’s money.
Max Solomon
No information provided
Albert Abney
No information provided
The District 510 elections will be held on April 6, 2021. South Suburban College’s main campus us located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL
Related
- Voter Guide: April 6, 2021 – Thornton Township elections (March 1, 2021)
- Voter Guide: April 6, 2021 – Bloom Township elections (March 1, 2021)
- South Suburban College website
- Everything you need to vote
The Lansing Journal will continue to cover local election news ahead of the April 6 elections. Lansing Journal subscribers receive an email every morning with all of the previous day’s headlines, meaning they won’t miss any election-related news. Consider joining the thousands of people who have benefited from balanced, trustworthy, community-building news and sign up today:
