campaign info:

• Position sought: School board member Dist. 229, 2-year term.
• E-mail address: jmel23@comcast.net

personal info:

• Age: 40

• Family: Tracy (wife); sons, Ryan , 14, and Peyton 4; daughter, Jessica 12.
• Education: St. Laurence High School; American Airlines Maintenance Academy, certified A&P mechanic.

• Occupation: Home remodeling contractor.
• Previous elected positions: None.

• Applicable experience qualifying you for the position: I’m will be a parent next year of a Dist. 229 student. I run my own company and do it well. I serve on the boards of the Outlaws Association (youth football) and Westdie Baseball (youth baseball). 

candidate questions:

What is the primary reason you are running for this office? I'm a concerned parent. I'm worried about my son's and daughter's education, and the future of Oak Lawn Community High School. I want to be involved in their education.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? There is nothing that I can do personally; it takes four votes to persuade people one way or the other. I'd like to figure out the budget and how we go about fixing it.

What sets you apart from the other canididate? I'm running against one person. I met him once or twice. I'm a layman. I speak to a lot of people in Oak Lawn and talk to other concerned parents in Dist. 229. I listen a lot and take it in. I make my decisions from there.

How long have you lived in Oak Lawn and Dist. 229: I've lived in Oak Lawn since 2000. I grew up at 86th and Lawndale in the St. Dennis Parish.

What's your favorite thing about Dist. 229? When I first moved here I did like the school districts. Teachers do care and they helped my own kids. Teachers take their own time and pull them aside and talk to them like they’re human beings.

What is the biggest problem in Dist. 229? Last few meetings I’ve been at it looks like a money problem and that's going to be a battle. I can't truly fix it myself, but it's a money thing. I was shocked by the $2.5 million projected deficit. My question is: didn't the board see this coming?