Genoa-Kingston school board candidate forum to be held in February

GENOA – With five candidates competing for four open seats on the Genoa-Kingston Community School District 424 board April, a local union has stepped up to host a candidate forum.

That forum will be hosted from 6 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 3 inside the Genoa-Kingston High School auditorium, and the public is welcome. The Consolidated Election is April 1, and will see voters cast ballots for municipal leaders, township and school boards, among other races.

Genoa-Kingston Education Association President Sam Coates, an instructional coach with the district, said the group is holding the forum to give community members a chance to hear from each of the candidates.

“We are looking for candidates who are able to carefully consider the perspectives of all stakeholders in their decision making,” Coates said. “We know that the policies set by our school board will impact generations of students in Genoa-Kingston community, and as educators we believe that all stakeholders should work together to decide what’s best for our students.”

Coates, as well as other members of the union will moderate the candidate forum.

All five candidates – David Cleveland, Amber Eberly, Dean Gudeman, Aidan Simmons and Jake Wesner – have been invited to attend the forum and so far four have accepted, Coates said. None of the candidates are currently on the district’s school board.

Board president Matthew Krueger, board vice president Gordie Leahy, board member Lisa Havener and board member Mark Bradac all have terms ending in April, and have not filed to run for another term, according to the education association.

DeKalb County reported a 14.59% voter turnout rate in the April 2021 Consolidated Election. That figure is one of the reasons Coates said union officials decided to hold the Feb. 3 candidate forum.

“One of our other goals in hosting this, other than giving community members a chance to learn about the candidates, is we know that with local elections not nearly as many people vote,” Coates said. “So by hosting this we’re encouraging all G-K residents to vote in the April 1 election because we know that each vote holds even more power in these small, in these local elections.”