Politics & Government

NLSD122 Candidate Bio: Patrick Martino

Patrick Martino, of New Lenox, is running for a 4-year term on the New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education.

Running for a 4-year-term on the New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education is Patrick Martino, of New Lenox.   

Get to know Martino:

Martino's educational background:

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I am a graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelors of Science with a Major in Communications and Minor in Psychology

Martino's Occupation and Employer:

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Project Program Manager - Partner Channel - XO Communications - Providing  national program management analysis and recommend and develop strategic programs to grow and retain revenue within the $263 million dollar Partner Channel Business Unit.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

School Funding issues are my biggest focus.  The State of Illinois has abdicated their financial responsibilities for funding education. We as a board will need to focus our energies to work with the administration to scrutinize how every dollar is spent to ensure that we are keeping our curriculum and technology up to date along with hiring the very best teachers to ensure that all children of the district are getting the very best education possible. We will have to look for alternate sources of revenue. We cannot continue to look to the tax payers to continue to foot the bill. This must be accomplished with minimal impact to the school children as they only get one chance at an education. Good schools help to make good communities and everyone will benefit as New Lenox grows.

Why Are You Seeking Office?

I am running for re-election to continue to ensure that New Lenox Schools maintain the  high educational standards which the community has come to expect in a financially responsible manner.  I want to make sure that every student has the chance to fulfill their potential and be prepared for success in high school and beyond. 

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

While stepping up and serving the community is extremely important and rewarding experience. It carries with it a great deal of responsibility. Part of the responsibility is to remember that everyone should have a voice and that everyone should have an opportunity to provide their knowledge and point of view in support of our community.  I believe that this is best accomplished by term limits and that no one in any elected office should be elected to more than (2) full terms and when re-elected this will be my second term and I will not seek a third.

How will you lend stability to the board?

As an intelligent professional I understand that there are differences in opinions and it is these differences that help to drive better results.   I am very skilled at working with people respecting differences in opinions and not letting these  differences stand in the way of accomplishing what needs to be done.

How will you work to balance the budget?

I will work with my fellow board members to ensure that we thoroughly review the district’s budget and find ways to reduce costs while maintaining the high educational standards New Lenox has come to expect from District 122. 

How will you represent all taxpayers in the district?

The next four years we will face challenges in school funding all as a direct result of the State again not living up to their responsibilities and trying to push the costs for education onto the backs of the local communities.   This cowardly act by the State is reprehensible and as a Board we will have to continue to look for new non taxpayer revenue streams as we have the past four years to ensure that we do not sacrifice our children’s and communities future.

There are eight candidates running for 4-year terms. 

The incumbents for the 4-year term are: 

  1. Patrick Martino, incumbent
  2. Deborah Kedzior, incumbent
  3. Sue Smith, incumbent
  4. William Pender, who was initially appointed in August to fill the remaining  two years of a term left by resigning Member Sue Gillooley.

The four newcomers are:

  1. Thomas Hottinger
  2. Philip Adair
  3. Gregory Loock
  4. Rhonda Starklauf

The candidates running for a 2-year term are:

  1. Kathy Miller (incumbent)
  2. Todd Hyatt (write-in candidate)

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VOTER INFO: To see your sample ballot, check if you are registered and find your designated polling location, go to the Will County Clerk's Precinct Lookup page. 


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