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So much for rational political policy and fairness
A full-page article by Daniel I. Dorfman appeared in both the News-Sun and Lake Forester on Nov. 17. The article’s content referenced the recent implosion of Lake Forest’s so-called “caucus” because its general membership rejected the Caucus Committee’s nomination of mayoral candidate Dr. Stanford “Randy” Tack. By publicly ignoring the popular vote, Caucus President David Hunt has taken a bold dictatorial stance, stating “the caucus was standing by its recommendation of Tack.” So much for the right of the public to vote its choice.
Despite its name, the Lake Forest Caucus is not a true caucus. It is registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections as a Political Action Committee (PAC). As a political unit, it is a statutory committee operating as a political party and “blue ribbon” slating group. According to Mr. Hunt, all Lake Forest registered voters belong to the caucus and are titled to cast yes or no votes in response to Caucus Committee selections. However, Mr. Hunt further claims caucus bylaws allow its “central” committee to declare a nonbinding outcome if the general voting public does not vote in agreement with the slated selections. So much for rational political policy and fairness in voting procedures.
The Illinois State Board of Elections defines a caucus as a group of individuals whose sole purpose is to slate a candidate or group of candidates to avoid a primary runoff and its costs. Then it disbands. All Lake Forest voters cannot be members of the caucus. The Lake Forest “caucus” has mostly been operating to slate candidates for city and school boards on a continuous bye-year to bye-year basis since its 1935 inception.
The city of Lake Forest has much in common with the city of Chicago. Both municipalities are State of Illinois Charter Districts. As such, the districts own their city’s government buildings, public schools, parks, libraries, etc., and the in-city taxpayers pay for their support. Both the city of Chicago and the city of Lake Forest elect the city aldermen and appoint all other park, library, etc. board members. Lake Forest only elects public elementary school board members, probably because Lake Forest High School Unit District 115 is sited in Lake Forest, but is not owned by the city. It is supported by taxpayers from Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, and elects board members from both municipalities.
From all indications, it seems the city of Lake Forest and the city of Chicago also share common contentious political bends in the way they slate consolidated election candidates. As ugly as campaigning can get in the city of Chicago, its open two-party system and legally instituted consolidated election primaries are far steps up from the city of Lake Forest’s so-called caucus closed-door slating procedures. Voters living in Lake Forest are basically told who will be elected to serve as the mayor and on the city’s Board of Trustees. That is really, really ugly politics.
Janice Schnobrich, Lake Bluff