District 113A Board Candidate Withdraws From Race, Remains on Ballot

The race for the of Education has unofficially narrowed to nine candidates after Lemont resident Jennifer Hunt announced the suspension of her campaign Tuesday.

In an e-mail to Patch, Hunt confirmed she would no longer be pursuing one of the four District 113A School Board positions up for election April 5. However, since Jan. 27 was the last day to withdraw candidacy, her name will remain on the ballot.

Hunt released the following statement Tuesday night:

"At this time I am unable to continue my campaign for District 113A School Board. This decision was made after weeks of contemplating whether I could give 100 percent of myself to the school board if elected.

I am very involved with my two young daughters and their activities, which takes up a lot of my time. I am also involved in helping out with school activities. I did not think it would be fair to the community and school district, if elected, to just go through the motions.

This would have been a commitment that I would not have taken lightly. My name will remain on the ballot because logistically it can not be removed."

With Hunt no longer in the race, the field of candidates for the District 113A School Board narrows to nine:

• Cynthia (Cindy) Kelly
• Duane Bradley
• Laura Reigle
• Al Malley
• Andy Taylor (incumbent)
• David Molitor
• Sue Murphy (incumbent)
• Michael Aurelio
• Janet Hughes (incumbent/write-in)

Lemont resident Louis Emery, a plaintiff in filed against District 113A administrators and board members in December, from the race Jan. 27.

Current Board Member Janet Hughes, also a plaintiff in the lawsuit, filed paperwork Jan. 31 to run as a write-in candidate in April. She was after the District 113A Electoral Board upheld two objections claiming she failed to properly bind her documents, which is required under state law.

Board President Lisa Wright, Vice President Kevin Doherty and Board Member Karen Siston will remain on the board.