As the board of trustees election draws closer, key college stakeholders have decided to back candidates they feel will change College of DuPage.

Last month, the college’s faculty association endorsed three candidates: Sandra Pihos, Deanne Mazzochi and Dan Bailey. The full-time faculty union used a democratic process in selecting their candidates, according to Bob Hazard, the chairman of the faculty political action committee.

“We invited all the candidates to fill out questionnaires and come in for interviews,” Hazard said.

After the interviews, Hazard says the committee decided which candidates would best represent the college.

“They are all strong in their own way,” Hazard said.

The endorsements came in light of the faculty association’s release of their 14-page resolution, which detailed the reasons for the association’s vote of no confidence in college President Robert Breuder. Breuder responded days later with a 34-page document highlighting his achievements at the college.

“Change is going to happen whether it is good change or bad change,” Hazard said. “We believe that [the faculty-endorsed candidates] are the best for a positive change.”

The committee decided not to rally around incumbent candidates Nancy Svoboda and Kim Savage, two trustees they have previously endorsed.

“It was a very difficult not endorse them both,” Hazard said. “I know them both and like them, but we need a change.”

Deanne Mazzochi was also endorsed by current Trustee Kathy Hamilton. Hamilton, who has been censured by her fellow board members, endorsed three candidates in what has been branded as the “Clean Slate.”

The Clean Slate also features candidates Frank Napolitano and Charles Bernstein.

“By endorsing these fine individuals, each with stellar qualifications to contribute to COD’s repair, I am giving our district a solution to the current problem,” Hamilton said in a news release.

Aside from the endorsed candidates, there are six other candidates running for election: Matt Gambs of Naperville, Claire Ball of Addison, Roger Kempa of Darien, Joseph M. Wozniak of Naperville, and David Carlin of Naperville. 

COD trustee elections will be held April 7 and open to registered voters in community college district 502.