Voting No Again

In March of this year, I will have lived in Lake Forest for 50 years. When I first began living here, I may not have had a full understanding of how the Caucus worked, but I trusted it. I knew the goal of the organization was to encourage residents to be part of local government as members of the Caucus Committee or representatives on boards and commissions or the City Council.

Over time, I got to know the Caucus firsthand because in 2007 members of the Caucus Committee urged me to become active in City government. I served on the Cemetery Commission for six years and City Council for six years. I was a strong advocate for the Caucus and encouraged Lake Foresters to volunteer to serve on the Caucus Committee, to volunteer for boards and commissions, and to support the group financially, as my husband Frank and I used to do.

Prior to 2022, I threw my hat in the ring for a mayoral run on two occasions. In 2016 I was a “strong second,” according to the Caucus president. In 2018, I didn’t make it past the first round of questions. When I was encouraged by the Caucus President to try a mayoral run again in 2022, I was dubious, but my husband urged me to say yes. It was a rough experience. I was advised not to talk about certain aspects of my resume and not to admit my political affiliation. The interview process addressed none of my actual expertise which is leadership of non-profit organizations. I was not slated. And I expected that to be the end of my personal Caucus experience.

Except that in November 2022 the slated candidate for mayor did not receive the majority of the fall vote, so according to Caucus by-laws he couldn’t be the candidate. The Caucus Committee slated him anyway. At this point, I was urged by a number of people to step up to run as an Independent candidate for the position. I received 40% of the vote, indicating that choice in a mayoral election was valued by the electorate.

Since 2022, the Caucus continued with missteps:

• Presenting an amendment in 2023 to eliminate our vote altogether;
• Not honoring the results of the 2024 spring annual meeting vote;
• Not honoring their commitment to update the bylaws, with a focus on the NO vote, and making the bylaws legally binding;
• Deciding to re-schedule a vote which had not gone as the Caucus desired, with the explanation that trains were late from Chicago.

At this point as missteps continue, I no longer have confidence that the Caucus wants to be responsive to the interests and concerns of Lake Forest residents. It is not an organization which I trust.

Of current concern, the Caucus Committee is urging us to take on a method of voting which is largely untested and one which comes with real downsides. At the top of the list is the fact that the Caucus does not promise verification of the vote. An audit or cross-reference for each voter is needed after every election, but this amendment does not guarantee that. A paper trail of votes is considered the gold standard in elections, but it is not an integral part of this proposal.

I urge you to do your own research on this matter. I will be voting NO at Gorton on Saturday, January 24. You can vote between 8 am and 5 pm.