Reform Party Endorses Illinois Local Candidate for Local School and Library Board Seats

The Reform Party of the United States has endorsed a local candidate in Illinois who is running for both a library board trustee position and a board of education seat in the state’s upcoming consolidated elections.

In a brief statement on Saturday, Chair Nicholas Hensley announced the party’s support of Veronica Sparksman in her campaign for both a seat on the Sherrard Community Unit School District 200 Board of Education and a trustee position on the New Windsor Public Library District board. Sparksman is simultaneously running in both nonpartisan races, which will be voted on next week.

According to the party, Sparksman is running as one of two candidates in a two-seat race for the New Windsor Public Library District board, effectively guaranteeing her a spot in the absence of a write-in effort. Meanwhile, county records show she is one of eight candidates competing for four seats on the Sherrard CUSD 200 Board of Education. Local media indicates that Sparksman previously ran as a write-in candidate for the same school board position in 2023, which at the time was a three-seat race.

In Hensley’s statement, the party pointed to close results during the 2023 race for the Sherrard CUSD 200 Board of Education, noting the winner was decided by fewer than 100 votes. The party also praised Sparksman for her approach to outreach, adding she is the only candidate running radio ads and one of just two candidates to attend a recent voter forum.

Speaking with Independent Political Report on Wednesday, Sparksman confirmed that she actively sought the Reform Party’s endorsement and appreciated its support.

Sparksman stated that she has followed the party since 2020 and considers herself a member of its “Jesse Ventura faction.” She further characterized the endorsement as a reflection of her commitment to taxpayers. Illinois will hold its statewide consolidated elections on April 1.