Precinct 7 Candidate Bios

(Biographies are provided by the candidates)

Village Nominating Committee

Greg Alperstein,   I recently moved to Glencoe for its exceptional school system and public amenities, and you’ll often find me spending my weekends at our local parks with my family. If elected to the VNC, I will bring valuable skills as a seasoned management consultant, including conducting candidate interviews, developing complex operating strategies, and applying governance structures. As an immigrant from South Africa and naturalized US citizen, I am deeply passionate about civic participation and the democratic process. My love for Glencoe and commitment to enhancing our community make me an ideal candidate for the Village Nominating Committee.

Chris Cohen,   Selected as Caucus member 4 times in 37 years. Vice-chair once. Current Municipal Citation Adjudicator. Currently, preside over objections to Nomination Papers for public office at Chicago Electoral Board and Cook County Electoral Board. Current Chair Illinois State Bar Administrative Law Section Council. Criminal defense counsel in 200 cases for indigents. Pro bono volunteer advocate for asylum seekers in Texas & Chicago. Retired federal official. Former Chicago Alderman. Retired Illinois Administrative Law Judge hearing unemployment compensation appeals.

School Board Nominating Committee

Melissa Mitchell,  As the parent of a kindergartener, I want to join the nominating committee to play a role in shaping my child’s D35 experiences, and those of her peers. I’ve built a 20+ year career in the K-12 policy/ governance world and I want to use my expertise to support the work of the D35 board, leadership, teachers and staff. I understand what’s required of school board members. I also understand the unique blend of experiences, talents and temperaments required to build effective school board teams – ones that are able to maximize the opportunities and tackle the challenges districts face today.