The Caucus Committee ignored the vote - again. What’s next for Lake Forest?
Come to the Gorton Center Auditorium tomorrow night at 7 pm for a community discussion of next steps. An election attorney will be present and will answer general questions.
That’s TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 17 at 7 PM, Gorton Center, John & Nancy Hughes Theater. See you there!
Gorton Center
400 E Illinois Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
For years the Caucus Committee has assured us that “it’s all of us”—all registered voters in Lake Forest. The Caucus bylaws reflect that commitment. The bylaws are clear that the Caucus’s executive officers must be elected by the general membership—and when the vote was held last week, the candidates failed to receive the majority vote required.
We are deeply dismayed that, once again, the Caucus Committee has announced that it plans to completely ignore that outcome—especially in light of how self-serving their decision is—this time installing themselves in office. Current Caucus leadership seems to have learned nothing from their experience since November 2022, the first time they ignored the outcome of the vote and the voice of its membership.
Caucus leadership claims that the bylaws don’t give guidance. This is not true. If Caucus leadership stands behind that position, they should be transparent and share their legal basis for it with the community.
The Caucus Committee’s actions beg the questions: Do our votes count? Or is Caucus leadership essentially a monarchy that is not accountable to its membership? Lake Forest voters should consider whether they want a system in which Caucus leaders are untethered from the community—even as they hold themselves out to represent Lake Forest residents. Actions speak louder than words. Voters should consider whether it’s still appropriate for the Caucus to have such an outsize role in city appointments while ignoring the voice of the voters.
What's Next?
We would like to extend our thanks to all Lake Foresters who braved the inclement weather to vote Tuesday night. As with all elections, this one was important and people needed to let their choice be known. We also appreciate the Caucus Committee quickly announcing the vote’s outcome to the public.
“What happens next?” is the obvious question. We are hopeful the Committee will abide by its bylaws regarding Caucus elections.
The bylaws require a majority “yes” vote as a pre-condition to elect new officers. Because that condition has not been met yet, the Committee must hold another vote and obtain a majority “yes” if it wants to elect officers.
We await the Committee’s next steps.
Click here to learn how the bylaws work
Lake Forest On Topic Podcast
Vote April 2nd
On April 2nd, general Caucus members (all registered voters living in Lake Forest) are asked to vote at the Gorton Center on the Committee’s Officer slate for the upcoming year. At last year’s vote, the Caucus Committee offered only one option, to vote “yes” for its entire slate of candidates.
This year, the ballot will give the option of voting “yes” or “no” on the entire slate. To also have a “no” vote is progress, but still deviates from the standard practice used for decades, which allowed a “yes” or “no” vote on each individual officer candidate. Additionally, the Caucus Committee has declined a third-party oversight of the ballots or verification of the count. We strongly recommended third-party oversight of the April 2nd vote considering the events of the past 18 months.
Voting for individual officers is important. Of the seven slated executive candidates, several were very vocal and supportive of cutting out the general membership’s voices last fall with the proposed “Caucus Preservation Act” (CPA). With the defeat of the CPA, Lake Forest voters have spoken. Those candidates who advocated for the CPA, if elected, will hold an influential position on the executive committee. They will take part in setting the tone and direction of the Caucus Committee moving forward.
The Committee has to its credit added several new candidates to its Executive Committee slate who were not actively campaigning to remove our vote. Yet, three of the four senior leaders up for election were active in the decisions to 1) declare the November 2022 vote non-binding when the outcome didn’t affirm their mayoral candidate, 2) changed the 2023 Spring ballot to a “yes” only option, and 3) wrote, proposed, and campaigned for the CPA amendment to remove the vote entirely from Caucus bylaws, which has been in place and protected the right for the Caucus general membership to vote since 1956.
Can we be confident they will lead with integrity and be responsive to general Caucus members who have been clear that they want a right to participate and vote?
We leave that to you to decide.
The Caucus holds two votes each year. The Fall Annual Meeting vote, when general Caucus members (again, all registered voters living in Lake Forest) vote on the Caucus Committee’s recommended candidates for Mayor, Alderman, and School Board, and the Spring Annual vote when general Caucus members vote on the Caucus Committee Executive Officers, the leadership team responsible for Caucus operations and decision making.
Voting is a hallmark of our democracy at all levels of government. A majority of voters in Lake Forest understand the power of “we, the people” and came out last fall to express their view of its value and importance to our community.
Executive Committee Vote:
April 2nd, 2024
Gorton Community Center
From 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
*The Committee is providing only one hour for Caucus members (registered voters residing in Lake Forest) to cast their votes, so please plan accordingly.
Lake Forest On Topic Podcast
A Perspective From Author, Susan L. Kelsey
Nostalgic for a place I never knew
I wish I could have met Louis F. Swift. A hundred years ago, he owned the Green Tree Inn on the west-side at Waukegan and Everett Roads. I can only imagine it would have been a lively community meeting place where people would go and share family stories and news. I would have liked to listen to those conversations about early Lake Forest. When our family moved from Chicago to Lake Forest 20 years ago, we knew when we entered Lake Forest city limits that we entered a very special place. We just didn’t know how special. I was nostalgic for a place I never knew.
It's no mistake that people feel that specialness in Lake Forest. The historic tree canopy, ancient land formations, human-scale business district buildings, planned roads and an open forest park beach. City founders were deliberate right from the start in their selection of land and the planning of the east and west sides roads of Lake Forest. But it's more than just roads that make Lake Forest special. It's the details. From the ornate weather vanes on the top of Market Square, to the pitched roofs on business buildings, to the forged metal fence at Gorton Community Center, each of these details have a history attached to them. The totality of these details evoke the essence of Lake Forest that one feels. It's a gift that keeps on giving. Just when you think you know everything about Lake Forest, you find a swinging bridge at the end of Laurel Avenue, or perhaps you find a hidden wood-carved bench at the very north end of the Forest Park Beach bluff, or maybe you found the dog fountain at Triangle Park. The city's Dr. Seuss-like staff keep our streets and park immaculate, making life just easy. It was planned that way.
Although Louis F. Swift's meat-packing business was in Chicago, his home was in Lake Forest. A tranquil, genteel solace to find peace with friends and family. Forefathers ensured that the community was well-planned for families. A hundred years ago, buildings were moved or recycled to make way for a new Market Square. Bank Lane was named appropriately to demonstrate stability and security for investors in the new business district. Lake Forest was powerful enough to have the President of the United States place the Army on the south and the Navy on the north of this new Lake Michigan community. Lake Forest College (1857) was actually here before the City was even founded (1861). In fact, the east Lake Forest train station parking lot has four different historic property owners, including Lake Forest College.
Generations of Lake Forest families have ensured the stewardship of historical sites, homes and buildings. But, without historical knowledge, will future generations continue to steward the details? The foundation of our planned community was/is built on shared values from generation to generation. There are historical reasons why buildings are not higher than three stories. Our city is now on the fifth generation of founding families, many who have moved away. It will be a challenge to rely on historic family philanthropy, many who contributed to public projects because they believed in a beautiful community. With the loss of our generational and institutional knowledge, are we at risk of drifting from our foundational values and plans? Sophisticated design buildings like City Hall, the old Fire Station (now Le Colonial) and the east-side train station are local gems, why would we accept mediocrity in the future?
Oh, to be nostalgic for a place I never knew. Subtleness, historic, iconic, quiet nights, the Green Tree Inn, brilliant planning, a time that harkened to a purposeful life with stewardship and community. Our family's children have moved on, bolstered by a fine Lake Forest education. When they come home, we walk on the beach, eat fish and chips at The Pub and talk about their“good old days”.
--
Susan L. Kelsey,
Author | Filmmaker
Partisan Politics In Lake Forest
PARTISAN MUDSLINGING HAS NO PLACE IN LAKE FOREST
It’s long past time to have a discussion on blue/red partisan mudslinging in Lake Forest. Why raise this topic now? Whether our community faces contested elections or not, it is important to remind those in and seeking elected offices of our non-partisan stance through the Lake Forest Caucus.
Partisan views are held by many, if not most, residents of this community. People are proud of and entitled to their Democratic, Republican, Independent, etc. affiliations. However, in Lake Forest, skewering residents for their political preferences in order to discredit them is a despicable practice. Partisan mudslinging is especially heinous when used to attack, smear and disparage a well-intentioned neighbor, one who simply tries to engage in community service.
For example, an article published last November in the Lake County Gazette alleged that a former mayoral candidate held a fundraising event for Hillary Clinton on November 14th. It blathered on about her specific financial contributions to Democratic candidates; it reiterated the same nonsense promoted during the previous mayoral race.
Not only are certain statements in this piece blatantly false, one must ask what conceivable purpose this article served. At the time it published, over seven months had passed since the last mayoral election. The former candidate had made no statements regarding another run; yet, this issue (of the candidate’s political preferences) cropped up again. The writer(s) of this piece hid behind a veil of anonymity, foreclosing any attempt to ask about their intent. There is no question however, that the piece itself fanned the flames of discord.
What, if any political ideologies apply to Lake Forest? How do liberal or conservative ideals even enter our government’s decision-making? Our City Council does not deal with immigration control at the border, has no say in whether Social Security or Medicare will be funded and take no action on women’s health rights. Their priorities include, among other things, adequately funding employee pensions, securing the beach bluff, fixing sewer pipes, purchasing fire trucks and supporting organizations within the community (like Elawa Farm and the library). There’s nothing “blue”, “red”, “white”, or “orange” in any of these tasks.
So, again we ask, what prompted this past article from the Gazette? That begs a second question of how seemingly endless, vitriolic partisan campaigning entered our last mayoral election. Nasty, partisan-based diatribes not only came from the Lake County Gazette, but also from the Lake Forest Podcast and other places. We really don’t know what caused these entities to promulgate these attacks. We can only assume they hoped to stoke fear and divisiveness. It’s an “agenda” focused on winning at all costs; one that fuels significant division and discord in our community!
A most notable result is a drop in our community’s participation in the very organizations who need it. Who will want to serve on the Caucus Committee, on Boards or Commissions and on City Council if they fear their political leanings will result in a public smear of their reputation and/or direct attacks on their families? This question is easy to answer – no one!
We need to turn this trend around. Our community can soundly reject anyone and any publication that goes down this noxious path. The Lake Forest Caucus Committee, which is charged with keeping our City non-partisan, and in years past did not object to independent candidacies, should lead this effort by publicly denouncing this kind of rhetoric wherever and whenever it occurs. That didn’t happen in the last mayoral election; in fact, the Committee remained conspicuously silent to all forms of political mudslinging. Furthermore, they never distanced themselves from right-wing groups who supported their recommendation for mayor. The Committee should have (but didn’t) make clear that they were not affiliated with any politically aligned group, whether that group agreed with their recommendations or not. The Committee’s behavior needs to change.
Condemnation of vitriol also extends to statements made outside of a campaign environment. These are statements that don’t call out political affiliations by name, but imply wrongdoing by unidentified ”partisans”. An example comes from our current Mayor who in a Chicago Tribune article was quoted as saying that unnamed “partisans” were “digging in their heels” regarding the Caucus bylaw amendment, an amendment which would have eliminated our right to vote at the Caucus Spring and Fall Annual Meetings. A majority of Lake Foresters voted against the amendment because they wanted to preserve their long standing right to vote for or against Caucus Committee recommendations at those meetings. They were not partisans, or anti-Caucus or anti-government for doing so; they were merely concerned citizens. The Mayor should recognize this, refrain from accusing citizens of partisanship simply for exercising a democratic right and learn, along with the Caucus, to denounce them publicly.
Again, we recognize that most residents in Lake Forest have favored party affiliations. However, it is bad for our community to verbally attack residents or viciously accuse them of being “partisan” simply because their choices for local government diverge from those currently in power. Political mudslinging, whether by innuendo or directly, never should be acceptable, especially when it comes from our “non-partisan” Caucus Leadership and our Mayor. Lake Forest will be much better off for it.
Lake Forest for Transparency
-John Trkla
-Jennifer Karras
-Susan Sailor Daly
-Dianne Casuto
