South Cook News

Board of education contests statewide are gaining plenty of attention, especially after J.B. Pritzker donated $500,000 to the Democratic Party of Illinois, drawing fire from both sides of the aisle, with foes claiming it is an effort to promote an extreme liberal agenda that includes teaching critical race theory and inappropriate sex education.

According to the Illinois Review, candidates who were not supported by the cash from the governor’s coffers were viewed as extremists. The funds were used to pay for mailers targeting 74 Board of education candidates and pay for campaign messaging for 84 candidates in 17 counties statewide. 

Patti Thanos, a candidate for the Orland D135 Board of Education, was angered by Pritzker’s move. 

“The Governor was born with a $3.5 billion trust fund and feels entitled to use that money to attack hardworking everyday people like me,” she said in an interview. “He is funding those that are calling me and my running mates extremists because we support traditional schools and values." 

The Review also maintained that many of the districts receiving an infusion of campaign cash are now teaching critical race theory, which it said focuses on race superiority and claims the United States is essentially a racist nation.

“Pritzker wants to force his woke ideals on those that do not have his resources in order to control us,” Thanos said. “That is unacceptable and why people need to stand up against it and vote against Pritzker’s candidates.”

Some candidates from the 2021 election cycle claimed they didn’t expect the personal attacks in a campaign for a seat on a local board of education in contrast to teachers’ unions, and Thanos said it was more of the same this election cycle.

“The unions, like JB Pritzker, have attacked me and my running mates personally,” she said in the interview. “Ultimately, they receive their money from taxpayers and use it to push their extreme agenda. My husband is a union member and we are appalled and offended by their behavior. The only way to send the message is for voters to support me and others like me who the unions oppose."

During a press conference in early March, according to the Review. Pritzker targeted grassroots conservative organizations in the state that recruit a board of education candidates as “anti-LGBTQ” and racist.” He singled out activist Shannon Adcock for targeted comments, the news outlet noted. From her perspective, Thanos noted that her husband is a union member and they found their behavior unbecoming.

“The only way to send the message is for voters to support me and others like me who the unions oppose,” she said.