Publications & Sites 
Endorsement process starts up for LaGrange Park candidates
Caucus dates
Sept. 6 — The 51 caucus delegates meet at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 447 N. Catherine Ave., to elect officers, reconstitute as a caucus and adopt bylaws.
Sept. 14 — questionairres due for candidates seeking caucus endorsement for village president, trustee or clerk, for Park Board, or for Library Board. Also deadline to apply to join the caucus.
Oct 2-4 — Candidate presentations and questions by the caucus.
Dec. 10 — filing deadline for all candidates,with or without caucus endorsement. For information visit www.cookcountyclerk.com/elections.
April 9 — Municipal elections
Updated: October 2, 2012 2:25PM
LAGRANGE PARK
Both the LaGrange Park Caucus and the Rose Party have begun a process for slating candidates seeking 12 offices in next spring’s elections.
Voters will be asked April 9 to choose a village president, clerk, three trustees, three members for the Park District of LaGrange Park Board and four seats on the LaGrange Park Library Board. All are four-year terms, except for one two-year term on the Library Board.
“We’ve only had four requests for candidate questionnaires so far, but that’s fairly typical,” said Carol Rocco, the caucus secretary. “Most come flooding in at the deadline date. All the incumbents have received letters the end of July.”
Caucus questionnaires and information about joining the caucus is available by emailing lgpcaucusinfo@gmail.com, or calling Rocco at (708) 354-7136.
Members of the newly formed caucus will review changes in maps of 10 precincts as a result of the 2010 Census, as well as how many delegates will be allotted to each precinct, based on one delegate for every 120 registered voters.
Rocco said up to 72 delegates can be seated on the caucus, divided into 10 precincts. A conflict hasn’t arisen in recent history with too many applicants vying for a limited number of seats, but the bylaws specify a procedure to resolve the situation, she said.
The caucus interviews candidates for office and makes recommendations. Two years ago, delegate deliberations were open to the public following candidate interviews, and Rocco said the practice is expected to continue this year. Only the vote will be behind closed doors, she said.
The Rose Party, which formed before the last village elections in 2009 to offer alternatives to caucus-backed hopefuls, has fewer formal procedures than the caucus for membership, said Jason Vitell who was elected party president earlier this month. The only requirement is to be age 18 or older.
Vitell said the party also plans to hold candidate interviews to choose a slate, but a timetable hasn’t been determined.
The Rose Party, which has 20 members, is meeting to develop questions for candidates. The group hopes to include information in the village eBriefs electronic newsletter and hold meetings at the Village Hall, like the caucus, Vitell said.
“We think we attempt to do the same thing as the caucus,” he said.
Information about meetings, membership and candidates is expected to be available at www.rosepartylgp.org. ~.
