Amid Scandals, College Of DuPage Getting 3 New Trustees

CHICAGO (CBS) -- In the wake of a string of scandals, the College of DuPage got three new board members during Tuesday's local elections.

The College of DuPage has been a source of controversy of late, and trustee Kathy Hamilton has been leading the charge for a change in leadership.

"There's a general failure to provide proper financial and strategic oversight; and also we've seen extravagant spending," she said.

In recent months, news reports have raised questions about the college's policies; including a $763,000 severance deal for outgoing President Robert Breuder, top administrators spending nearly $190,000 in taxpayer funds on meals at a fancy restaurant, paying bills to the private company of its radio station engineer, and allowing that engineer to authorize his own invoices for equipment and services he did not provide.

That engineer has been charged with stealing more than $200,000 from the school.

In response to those scandals, Hamilton made an aggressive push to elect three reform-minded candidates to replace members whose terms expire this year. All three candidates Hamilton supported – Deanne Marie Mazzochi, of Elmhurst, Frank Napolitano, of Bloomingdale, and Charles Bernstein, of Wheaton – won seats on the board Tuesday.

"I am absolutely thrilled. I just feel the community has spoken, and they've spoken out against fraud, waste, and abuse; and they've spoken for good government," she said.

Hamilton, who currently serves as vice chair of the board, said she will seek to be elected chair.