The time to file petitions to run for office in the upcoming local elections came and went, but no one filed a petition for one Rockford school board seat.
There were no petitions filed in time for those to be listed in the primary elections for the Rockford School Board Subdistrict A seat. That’s according to the Winnebago County Clerk’s office.
However, those who want to file as write-in candidates for the seat for the April 4th election have until the beginning of February to do so. If no one files to run for office, then someone is appointed for the position.
“I’m hoping this is a temporary situation, and I really believe that and convinced that we’ll get it taken care of and filled quickly,” Rockford school board president Ken Scrivano said.
Scrivano says if no one runs for the seat, it wouldn’t be the first time that has happened. He says if no one files as a write-in candidate, it would take about two or three weeks after the election to appoint somebody to the vacant seat.
“It’s unfortunate that no one went through the process of getting petitions and signatures like we all normally have to do when we go through the election process and whatever, and we’ll just go on and move ahead and make sure that we get the position filled.”
Incumbent Lisa Jackson will not run for re-election. Rockford Subdistrict A serves one of the poorest areas of the city.
There are 28,000 students within Rockford public schools. More than 4,000 employees work for the district as well.