Residents of District 208,

“Why do you want to run for the District 208 School Board?”  Naturally I have been asked this question many times since I made my candidacy official, and every time I answer it becomes easier and easier to express my views and opinions on the matter.   Let me start by saying that I truly am a Bulldog.  The Riverside-Brookfield blood literally runs through my veins.  My mother, Suzanne, graduated from RB in 1952.  I am the youngest of five Duve boys who graduated from RB starting with my brother Jerry in 1974, Ron (’75), Russ (’79) and my twin brother and I in 1983.  Additionally my dad, John Duve, served two terms on the RB school board starting in the late 1970’s.  And to add more Bulldog blood into the mix, my wife Tina is a 1986 graduate of RB and we have two daughters currently attending the school.   So, I ask you; do you think I care about how well the school performs?  I answer back to you with a very definite and passionate, “YES”!   

Well I certainly seem to have the RB history on my side, but you might ask if this legacy makes me a viable candidate to be on the board.  A good question, but one that can be answered with evidence of strong credentials and common sense.   Let me first list what many consider to be the required qualifications for school board members:  (1) an expert in finances, (2) politically backed, and (3) the need to make a drastic change.   It is true that having a strong financial background may be useful when being a member of the school board.   The board is responsible for millions of your dollars and has an obligation to spend and use that money in the most efficient and prudent manner while still upholding its obligations to the students and residents of the district.  Having a CPA on the board might be handy if they ran the finance committee, but it is certainly not a requirement to being on the board.   Don't be misled by the cries of financial mismanagement and the need to have accountants on the board.  The school board has checks and balances and many eyes looking over the finances and I would be surprised if one person could make a substantial "discovery" that would make a difference to the financial situation of the entire district.  Additionally, electing an entire slate of 3 candidates based on just one person's expertise in the group is not thinking the situation through very carefully.  The best board is one that is a collection of diverse and independent thinkers, not a slate of 3 that have one common single-minded goal.  While I cannot claim to be a financial expert, I do have a business background from my DePaul MBA and know enough to ask the hard questions.  Working collectively as a team with business manager Chris Whelton and the other board members is the best way to attack the financial issues of the district.  Also, I know what it’s like to raise a family with just one income since I am doing just that today.  Let me assure you, it is not easy.  And as a board member, I know it won't be easy making the tough financial decisions for our community, but that is why the board needs to work as a team of independent thinkers.  You don't think I won't be tough on expenses?   YES I WILL!!

Many residents like to have a board member be politically backed by either running with a slate of other candidates, or to be supported by an organization.   While it is nice to be supported by others, this can also lead the board member into a difficult situation if their beliefs and goals differ, even slightly, from their "support organization".  The school board member needs to be the voice of the entire community and this becomes difficult if they are backed be a small elite group of supporters.   I am declaring myself a true independent candidate with no allegiance to any organization or slate of other candidates.  With this philosophy, I can truly be a voice for all the people of the district because I will make decisions based on what is best for all involved and not for those that helped me get elected.  I represent a collective voice and understand what the differences are between living in Riverside, North Riverside, and Brookfield and I am sympathetic to those differences.  I have lived in the district for over 44 years and plan to remain living here to see my grandchildren graduate from RB.  I was born in Brookfield and lived there until I married.  My wife and I loved the area so much that we moved to North Riverside and started our family.  After living there for 10 years, we moved to Riverside where we have been for the last 9 years.   I have enjoyed living in every one of these towns and have very fond memories of each location.  Each village has its advantages and disadvantages and I can relate to them and to the residents that live there.  As an independent candidate, I will be YOUR voice for the school board, no matter what village you live in.  If any organization, political or otherwise, has provided literature or has recognized me as a candidate they would like to support, it is with an understanding that I owe nothing to the party and they have chosen me because my qualifications, beliefs, and values represent something they would like to support even with no commitment from me to support them back.

While many candidates claim a need for positive change and “new blood", I cannot argue that these are valid needs as any candidate running for an election should have the requisite desire to make change, or why else are they running.   I too, would like to add “new blood” to the current board and I do want to make changes, but before we make these premature demands for change, I need to know the hard facts of any situation that is requiring this so called drastic change.  I don’t believe it is very productive to “make changes, just for the sake of making changes”.  I would bring a fresh, innovative, and open mind to the board.  I like to consider myself a very practical person who weighs in on all the facts and then makes decisions.  I guess it is part of my engineering training that has taught me to think before I act.  I excel in researching information and will work tirelessly to find the easy solution for the difficult problems.   However, I do have a creative and innovative side which allows me to be compassionate and caring too.  I consider this my "yin & yang" advantage:  a very focused and practical numbers guy yet innovative with a caring and compassionate heart.   I know I can bring positive energy to the school, and thus bring good things to you and your children as a member of the school board.

With kindest regards,

Eric J. Duve

02-17-09