IL-9 Congressional Candidate Comments at D65 Board Meeting

I have avoided covering the local congressional race — covering elections is really difficult journalism work and education is not a hot topic this cycle. However, Mr. Andrew gave a comment at the D65 board meeting on Monday night that I thought was thoughtful. I’ve been critical of local elected officials avoiding District 65 and was surprised to see a candidate at a board meeting.

Anyway, this isn’t an endorsement, but I asked him to write something for the blog in the spirit of his public comment. It is below.

IL-9 Candidate Phil Andrew’s Commitment to Intergovernmental Engagement

On Monday evening, I had the opportunity to address the District 65 Board of Education during public comment.

I introduced myself as a candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 9th District, but more importantly, as someone whose life and career have been shaped by crisis, safety, and service. 

I served 21 years as an FBI Special Agent, including 16 years as a hostage negotiator. After retiring, I founded PAX Group, a crisis management firm that works extensively with school districts, faith institutions, nonprofits, and businesses to build stronger, safer, and resilient systems. Among PAX Group’s early clients was the Archdiocese of Chicago, designing and implementing safety and well-being initiatives for 300 parishes and 225 schools. I collaborated closely with leaders like Jadine Chou, former Director of Safety and Security at Chicago Public Schools, who later joined our firm after years of working together to strengthen Chicago’s safety infrastructure.

One of the most powerful moments working with schools came during a meeting with Archdiocese of Chicago leaders. Jadine began that session by saying the most important thing we can do to keep schools safe is make sure every child feels loved. That struck me deeply. Safety is not just about locks and protocols. It’s about belonging. At PAX Group, we believe that safe people thrive.

That belief is personal for me. When I was 20 years old, I was shot after being held hostage by the attacker in one of the first school shootings in America. That experience drives my commitment to keeping children and schools safe — not just physically, but emotionally and socially.

My intention in going before the board was not to debate a specific policy or budget line, but establish engagement and listen. I look forward to learning more about the local challenges and opportunities D65 it’s navigating.  I went to express something broader: schools, education, public safety, and community well-being are inseparable. When schools succeed, communities are healthier. When children feel safe and supported, families are stronger. When education systems are stable and trusted, democracy itself is reinforced.

This is as true locally as it is nationally. I believe deeply that we are at a crossroads as a nation. Our democratic institutions are under strain, and public trust is fragile. That reality makes local leadership even more important.

As a parent, community member, public servant, safety professional and future Congressman, I see schools not as isolated systems, but as part of a larger ecosystem that includes public health, safety infrastructure, economic opportunity, sport and recreation and higher education partnerships. That requires deliberate cross-government engagement.

If we are not intentional, opportunities can be missed. Whether we’re talking about partnerships with Northwestern, learn to swim programs, dignity, digital well-being, workforce pipelines, safety collaboration, public health initiatives, or even large-scale negotiations like the stadium discussions. These moments can represent once-in-a-generation opportunities for community benefit. But they only become that if leaders engage strategically, collaboratively, and transparently.

Education funding, mental health resources, and school safety require alignment across federal, state, and local levels. In Congress, I will support:

• Strong federal investment in public education

• Robust support for teachers and classroom professionals

• Expanded school-based mental health resources

• Evidence-based gun violence prevention

• Equitable access to opportunity for every child

But funding alone isn’t enough. Oversight matters. Transparency matters. Engagement matters. 

Communities deserve clarity about how decisions are made, how dollars are allocated, and how outcomes are measured. I strongly support civic accountability and stakeholder engagement. Trust is not automatic; it is earned through openness and consistent communication.

I also shared something personal: my four nieces and nephews attend District 65 schools. Their future and well-being are directly affected by the decisions made in that room. Three of my own four children serve in the United States Navy. I took an oath to defend and protect the Constitution, as they have. I honor my oath.

I would like to emphasize, my presence at the meeting was not about politics as usual. It was about partnership. If elected to Congress, I want local school districts to know they will have an engaged, experienced partner who understands crisis response, safety infrastructure, and the importance of coordinated leadership.

Schools do not operate in isolation. Education, safety, mental health, economic vitality, and democracy itself are interconnected. We have an obligation to approach them that way.

Safe people thrive. And thriving schools build thriving communities.

Phil Andrew