Politics & Government
Eileen Kerlin-Walsh, Moraine Valley Community College Board
Eileen Kerlin-Walsh is one of ten candidates running for the Moraine Valley Community College Board of Trustees in the April 4 election.
OAK LAWN, IL — Eileen Kerlin-Walsh is running for the Moraine Valley Community College Board of Trustees. There are 10 candidates running for two open seats in this race. Both terms are for six years.
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The consolidated election is April 4.
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Read Kerlin-Walsh's answers to the Patch candidate questionnaire.
Your name: Eileen Kerlin Walsh
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Age (as of election day): 57
Town/city of residence: Oak Lawn
School district: I live in District 123/229. I am running for MVCC District 524
Family: I grew up on a small farm in Ireland, one of 12 children, came to US in 1989, fell in love with the American Dream.I am married to my darling Tom, have 4 boys, (Tomas, James, Oisin and Edward), aged 13 to 21 years and an Aussie Doodle named Bran.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? If yes, please explain. No, I am a first-generation politician.
Education: Depaul 1994, Loyola Law School 1998
Occupation: Attorney/President Kerlin Walsh Law
Campaign website or Facebook or other social media: Eileen Kerlin Walsh for MVCC Trustee
Previous or current elected or appointed office:
Gained administrative expertise serving on Oak Lawn Children’s Museum Board, Irish American Heritage Center’s Planning and Development Board and recently serving as President of Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce.
The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are the selection of a new president, the upcoming negotiation of the collective bargaining agreements with the college’s unions, the rising costs of the school / tuition. Here is what I intend to do about them.
I have direct experience tackling these issues with a track-record of success. I have my own successful law practice that I built from my dining room table. I have navigated my practice successfully through Covid 19 . I have also led the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce through the challenges of Covid 19 shutdowns. I share a platform with my running mate Dan Casey, together we have ideas to manage growing costs including generating alternative sources of revenues to alleviate the burden on taxpayers, reduce the costs for students; all while meeting the commitments to workers. The college should be in a position to increase jobs while reducing (net) costs.
What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have been deeply connected to MVCC for 20 years, including teaching traditional age students and returning adults, mentoring through MVCC Job Resource Center, placing interns with my office, hiring from the Job Resource Center, presenting at staff development education programs and most recently, serving on Paralegal Advisory Board to develop hugely successful Paralegal Certification Program.
I love the MVCC students and taught them for free. After the childcare center was paid for minding my young children while I taught, I owed MVCC money! I am a highly qualified candidate who seeks this position to maintain the integrity of the Board, keep the student at the center of all Board decisions.
If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?
There has been a failure to keep the MVCC student and family at the forefront of every Board decision.
Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:
1) I will serve as an effective liaison between national and local employers, community and political leaders and MVCC families.
2) I Will keep access to higher education open to all MVCC area families, regardless of income and background.
3) I Will keep MVCC student best interests at the heart of all fiscal policies and hiring decisions.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I have always been a driven, blue sky thinker and high achiever. In the last 20 years I have built a million-dollar law practice, taught at MVCC, served on several Boards, raised my boys, created a motivational program, developed a legacy letter program, hosted a TV show, written a book and nurtured a happy marriage, within the same 24 hours we are all given. See websites, below
Why should voters trust you?
My 20-year connection to MVCC, teaching, volunteering, mentoring, building new programs, etc, while no one was looking, speaks volumes to my love for and loyalty to MVCC families and having their best interests at heart.
If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?
Our nationwide search would result in a qualified, committed new President under whom MVCC will flourish and grow. Tuition will not be raised under my watch. Costs will be recalibrated so that bright, enthusiastic, well prepared young faculty will not owe MVCC money after their week’s work!
What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?
I believe we can recalibrate costs and distribute precious funds more fairly, resulting in lower taxes, higher wages for adjunct faculty and lower tuition for MVCC families.
What are your views on critical race theory and whether it should be taught in the college?
It is the goal of my running mate Dan Casey and I to advance the mission of MVCC. This will be achieved by offering a quality education and by providing the necessary skills for workers so they can provide for themselves and their families, while advancing towards their dreams. We need to stay laser focused on this mission.
How would you enhance the physical safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors?
MVCC’s dedicated police force do a wonderful job keeping the campus safe. When incidents occur, we can perhaps improve response by investigating quickly and reporting with transparency.
Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?
As indicated in response to CRT question above, advancing MVCC mission and keeping each individual student’s success at center of all policy and fiscal decisions is a rising tide that will raise all boats.
What are your thoughts on how the college handled the COVID-19 pandemic? Like all our schools, MVCC had to pivot and navigate the new reality. After the first 6 weeks or so, MVCC had extended their on-line offerings to continue student education with little impediment. They did great.
How can the college enhance or improve curriculum that supports job growth in burgeoning industries, such as cybersecurity, green energy and artificial intelligence?
I am proud to have supported MVCC Job Resource Center, (JRC), for the last 15 years, under the capable hands of Dr. Pamela Payne, Marie Harrell and Tamima Farooq. The JRC is on the cutting edge of technology, green energy and AI. Courses and certification programs are developed in direct correlation with society advances and employment trends, as monitored by the JRC.
With inflation and the rising cost of post-secondary education, what ideas do you propose to avoid raising tuition costs to keep MVCC affordable?
As indicated earlier, we can recalibrate the budget and shift fiscal priority to make tuition stable, predictable and affordable for MVCC families.
When it comes to student achievement, what is the college doing well and what needs to be improved? How can those improvements be made?
I share my running mate Dan Casey’s response; The college directionally is performing well in these areas, however expanded certificate programs will generate additional revenues and grant the skills necessary for students to thrive in new areas of the economy that are positioned for explosive growth. We have to evolve our thinking about community college.Lo
Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family? No
The best advice ever shared with me was:
“A promise made is a debt unpaid”
Wise words from Robert Service classic poem of the Yucon, “The Cremation of Sam McGee” A beloved poem from my childhood and recently shared with me by financial advisor SeanO’Shea.
My promise to serve faithfully as Trustee, as an effective liaison, to keep tuition affordable and keep student’s best interests at the heart of all board decisions, is my debt unpaid to MVCC students.
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