North Cook News

Moms for District 211 candidates were basking in the glow of a successful appearance on an AM 560 radio show last week until they were met with an alleged political attack a few days later on social media.

“I cried for a couple of hours because I couldn't believe the lies,” Palatine-Schaumburg High School school board candidate Kristen Steel told North Cook News.

The District 211 School Board voting and other Illinois municipal elections took place earlier this week. 

Steel alleges that after appearing on 'Morning Answer' along with Jessica Hinkle and Robi Vollkommer to promote their candidacy, fellow candidate Tim McGowan announced online in a paid advertisement that the trio of women is funded by big money and conservatives.

“None of it’s true,” Steel said in an interview. “We are funding our own campaigns independently but we have been lumped together. Tim has a few people on his team working in the background who called Jessica transphobic and they put out that she had filed for bankruptcy. They posted her financials with an address. These and others are just very horrible things.”

According to documents obtained by North Cook News, McGowan’s news release stated:

“Don’t let right-wing dark money gain control of our public schools. Three of my opponents are being supported by an ultra-conservative, racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic hate group, the Illinois Family Institute.”

The Illinois Family Institute (IFI), a traditional Christian organization affiliated with the American Family Association, denied allegations that it is a racist, anti-Semitic, or homophobic hate group.

“He's a liar and no one who brazenly lies should be serving on any school board,” Laurie Higgins, cultural issues writer with IFI, told North Cook News. “There is no evidence that we are racist or anti-Semitic because we’re not. Disapproval of homosexual acts does not constitute either an irrational fear or a hatred of persons. We have blacks on our board of directors. Holding conservative beliefs about the morality of volitional, homosexual acts and marriage is not a phobia.”

McGowan did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

“Tim has proven on several different levels in several different instances, examples, and occasions that he will say things that are not true in order to either get ahead or to prove a point or just to flat out slander people,” Steel added.

As previously reported in the Cook County Record, McGowan was sued by former Palatine High School teacher Jeanne Hedgepeth after she was terminated because he allegedly posted a video to Facebook on June 15, 2020, which falsely accused her of racist acts.

“It’s problematic because our district doesn't need divisiveness,” Steel said. “We need a change in order to bring us together. We need a change in order to make sure that our students have every opportunity for success. We don't need somebody on the board who will increase divisiveness in the community.”

On his campaign-related Facebook page, McGowan states, "I'm a father, small business owner, community activist, longtime Palatine resident and 2006 graduate of William Fremd High School. I'm looking forward to working with my neighbors to build a better D211 that serves the needs of all of our students. Together we can create an accountable, community-focused and equitable D211."