Why Am I Running?

My primary focus for running is to make sure that all students in District 65 are taken care of and that no student feels left out or forgotten during this difficult financial period; to help provide stability for the students of District 65.

Another focus will be leaning on my almost 20 years of construction engineering experience to bring my unique perspective and experiences to the challenging issues facing the school district. I have spent most of my career negotiating with various owners, users, and contractors to develop solutions that all stakeholders believe in. It is my experience and belief that working together finds the best solution to the problem.

I understand that having great schools is not just about having great ideas, it’s about understanding the long-term impact and cost of every decision.

About Me

I am a single dad with 50% custody of my 5-year-old daughter and she attends Oakton Elementary School. I will always be a dad first and foremost.

Growing up, my schooling experiences were not always positive. Due to a period of homelessness and our family moving regularly, sometimes in the middle of a school year, instead of spending time in school making lifelong friends, I was forced to start over and over. Additionally, school academic standards were completely different from one school to the next, sometimes creating a gap that I often struggled with. I regularly felt there weren’t resources I could count on to help me bridge that gap.

Elementary School was spread out between Ohio, California, and Montana, with several schools in each state. High School was split between Montana and Wisconsin, and was three different high schools. I can honestly say that I did not spend more than 2 years in the same school.

I barely graduated from high school and instead of continuing my schooling, I worked full-time second shift in a warehouse.

I went back to school in my 20’s, first at a technical college, finally graduating with my mechanical engineering degree when I was 30 years old and moving to Chicago.

I share my past because I know firsthand the consequences of not having a stable school environment and I will work as hard as I can to make sure that during this difficult financial period, we continue to provide stability for Evanston students.

I am now an engineer in the commercial construction industry, having worked in mechanical design, project management, and as an owner’s representative, in India, China, Mexico City and obviously Chicagoland experiencing different viewpoints, cultures, and values. I have almost 20 years of experience working with various types of owners, users, contractors, and engineers, having to negotiate solutions that stakeholders all approve on various types of projects including hospitals, medical office buildings, courthouses, research and testing labs, universities and schools.

I started working in Evanston over 10 years ago and moved to Evanston’s 9^th Ward 4 years ago. Even with the challenges I faced, I still consider myself fortunate to be able to own a home in Evanston and be able to provide for my daughter.

Meet Me

February 26^th, 2025 (6pm) – Robert Crown – 1801 Main St, Evanston, IL 60202

If you cannot make the public events that I am attending, I am also happy to meet with you. I work in downtown Evanston and can usually meet for a quick lunch during the week or after work on Mondays or Tuesdays. Email me to set up an appointment.

My email address is: steckmand65@gmail.com

Donate

This is my first time running for anything and I’m fortunate enough to be able to self-fund my campaign. Any donations that you would like to make to me, I would prefer be made to the D65 One Fund (PTA).

However, if you’re determined to donate to my campaign, I am extremely grateful. Please send a check addressed to:

Friends of Randy Steckman
1433 South Blvd.
Evanston, IL 60202