A wire-thin race for Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 school board election unfolded Tuesday, but incumbent Lorena Gasca retained her seat.
With all 23 precincts reporting by 8:30 p.m., Gasca garnered 24.41% of the vote. Newcomers Nicholas A. Caputo (22.7%) and Patrick Williams (18.7%) rounded out the remaining two seats.
Incumbent Ryan VenHorst (16.3%) was not re-elected. Neither was Eric West (17.7%), who was running on a slate with Williams.
All results are unofficial until approved by Cook County.
Though Gasca retained her seat, she felt somewhat bittersweet.
“I’m so disappointed in the low voter turnout,” she said. “I was really hoping for more people to get out. Local elections matter.”
Nevertheless, Gasca – the board vice president for the past two years – was pleased about retaining her seat and is looking forward to her next term.
“The first four years, the learning curve was a lot and I’m looking forward to implementing the lessons I learned and using more data,” Gasca said. “The data piece is very important.”
Caputo has had a rough go over the past week, as his father passed away, with the funeral earlier in the day Tuesday.
“It’s been an emotional day for me, but it’s been very humbling,” he said. “I’m very honored, I’m very encouraged, I’m very grateful.”
Gasca said the new board will be installed April 29, and between now and then, Caputo will be working hard.
“I think the first thing that I always try to do is study and learn,” said Caputo, an attorney by trade. “You have to learn and listen and do your homework.”
VenHorst was disappointed in the outcome, but said the board has a bright future.
“I’m happy with the work I’ve done, but I really don’t quite have the framing of the words without more thought,” he said. “I think the outcome will be fine. It’s functional.
“I have faith in the board as a whole, and I’m happy to have served.”