Joliet Junior College Board Deadlocks on Vice Chair, Seat Stays Vacant

Joliet Junior College | August 12, 2026

Article Summary: The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees failed to fill its vacant vice chair post on Aug. 12, rejecting all three nominees in a series of split votes, two of them 3-3 ties. A motion to table the item first failed 2-4.

Vice Chair Vacancy Key Points:

Trustees Alicia Morales, Elaine Bottomley and Diane Harris were each nominated; each vote failed, leaving the office unfilled.

A motion by Trustee Maureen Broderick to table the reorganization failed 2-4, with only Broderick and Harris in favor.

Three trustees initially passed rather than voting during the roll calls before returning to cast ballots.

No election of a board secretary was required, as no vacancy exists in that office.

JOLIET — The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, ended its first regular meeting of the academic year without a vice chair, after nominations for three sitting trustees each failed on the floor of the Board Room at 1215 Houbolt Road.

The item, listed on the agenda as “Board Re-Organization to fill the Vice Chair Vacancy,” was the only contested piece of new business at the meeting, which Chair Nancy Garcia Guillen opened at 5:30 p.m. and adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Six of the board’s seven voting members were present; Trustee Michelle Lee was absent. Newly appointed Trustee Tim Bradley attended his first regular meeting and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The reorganization item arrived before the board at a moment of leadership transition. Garcia Guillen told trustees it was her first full meeting as chair, and President Dr. Clyne Namuo referred during his report to the former chair having left the board. Earlier in the meeting, trustees argued over how the former chair’s departure should be recorded in the June 24 minutes. The materials provided for the Aug. 12 meeting do not state how or when the vice chair’s office itself became vacant.

Three Votes, Three Deadlocks

Before nominations opened, Broderick moved to table the entire item, seconded by Harris. That motion failed, with Broderick and Harris voting yes and Bottomley, Bradley, Garcia Guillen and Morales voting no. The minutes record separately that Student Trustee Byron McCullum did not favor the motion.

With the item still live, Garcia Guillen nominated Morales for vice chair. Bottomley nominated herself. Broderick nominated Harris. A motion by Broderick, seconded by Harris, to close nominations passed with all six trustees in favor.

Each of the three roll calls then failed:

On Morales: ayes from Bradley, Garcia Guillen and Morales; nays from Bottomley, Broderick and Harris. The minutes record that McCullum was in favor. Bottomley initially passed when her name was called and was polled again at the end of the roll call, casting the no vote that produced the 3-3 tie.

On Bottomley: ayes from Bottomley, Bradley and Garcia Guillen; nays from Broderick, Harris and Morales. Morales and Garcia Guillen both passed on the first call before returning to vote. McCullum abstained.

On Harris: ayes from Broderick and Harris; nays from Bottomley, Bradley, Garcia Guillen and Morales. McCullum abstained.

“So, technically, all the three motions fail,” a trustee said after the final tally, with the chair confirming the board had no vice chair at that time.

A related agenda item, 4.3, provided for the election of a board secretary “if needed.” Garcia Guillen said no vote was required because there is no vacancy in that office.

Experience Against Opportunity

After the votes, Morales was recognized to explain her position.

“I respect every trustee’s right to seek a leadership position,” she said. “However, I believe that experience, institutional knowledge and demonstrated service should also be important considerations.” Morales said she has served on the board for 11 years, including as chair of the finance committee and previously on the policy committee and as chair of the president’s evaluation committee. “There is a value in gaining experience on the board before stepping into one of its leadership positions,” she said, adding that she would “continue to be an effective board member with or without a vice chair title.”

Broderick responded that she had served six years as vice chair and has been on the JJC board since 2015, with 28 years of experience on school boards overall. She also said she had held positions with the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, including president, vice president and treasurer for two terms, as well as serving as an Illinois Central ACCT coordinator. “I think qualifications are there,” she said.

Harris, who was nominated by Broderick, declined to press the matter and suggested the board postpone leadership appointments to its next meeting so trustees could review their own conduct.

“Not only are the students watching, but the public, our voters, our constituents are watching,” Harris said. “And if we have seniors on the board that are constantly disagreeing, that does have a negative effect.” She asked colleagues to watch the recording of the meeting and “determine, is my behavior warranted to be vice chair.”

Broderick also disputed the agenda’s use of the word “reorganization,” telling the board that the term should be reserved for specific circumstances and that an item should instead name the particular office to be filled.

No further action was taken on the vacancy, and no date was set for the board to take the item up again.