Eric Leys
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Eric Scott Leys (born December 7, 1979 in Arlington Heights, Illinois), is an American politician. He is currently a member of the Board of Education (a non-partisan, elected office) for Maine Township High School District 207 in Cook County, Illinois.
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[edit] Political Activities
Leys has served as a Director of the Maine Township, Illinois Regular Republican Organization during the 2004-2005 term. Leys has served in various capacities in the Republican Party and in various roles in Republican campaigns dating back to 1994. In 2004, Leys attended the Republican National Convention in New York City as part of the Illinois Delegation Host Committee. Leys was also part of the Illinois Republican Party Delegation to the 55th Presidential Inauguration of President George W. Bush in January 2005.
[edit] Board of Education Service
Leys was elected to his first term on the Maine Township High Schools Board of Education in 2001 in a six-way race. In April 2005, Leys was re-elected to a second term. Upon reorganization of the board following the April 2005 Consolidated Municipal Elections, Leys was unanimously elected President of the Board of Education. Leys is one of the youngest elected officials in the State of Illinois.
Leys is a 1998 graduate of Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Illinois, one of three large suburban high schools governed by the District 207 Board of Education. In addition to Maine West High School, District 207 also includes Maine South High School and Maine East High School, both in Park Ridge, Illinois.
[edit] State Senate Speculation
On July 1, 2005, state Senator David Sullivan surprised the local political establishment in Chicago's heavily Republican-dominated northwest suburbs in announcing that he would not seek reelection in 2006 and in fact would resign within the following months. Political maneuvering began immediately with Leys named prominently among a crowded field that included local committeeman Mark Thompson, Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia, Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder, and Elk Grove Township Clerk Cheryl Axley.
The Chicago Tribune reported on September 6, 2005 that Leys was one of three "favorites" to succeed state Senator David Sullivan, who had announced his resignation effective September 12, 2005.
On September 17, 2005, Republican committeemen of the 33rd State Senate District met, and Cheryl Axley received the appointment.
[edit] Future political prospects
The appointment of Cheryl Axley to the state Senate seat notwithstanding, local newspapers such as the Daily Herald and the conservative online publication the Illinois Leader continued to suggest that Leys would be a candidate in the 2006 Republican primary for the state Senate seat. The Journal & Topics local newspaper had reported on September 14, 2005 that Leys formed an exploratory committee to investigate a potential candidacy for the Illinois State Senate.
It was widely reported (see: Des Plaines Journal, Mount Prospect Times) in October 2005 that Leys had agreed to withdraw his candidacy for Illinois State Senate for the March 2006 Republican Primary in order to support newly appointed Senator Cheryl Axley.
Leys' present term on the Maine Township High Schools Board of Education expires in April 2009.
