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Endorsement process under way for La Grange 2013 elections
Updated: October 7, 2012 6:03AM
LA GRANGE — Candidates for 12 elected offices in La Grange are asked to share their goals online for the first time under the 2013 slating process of the Citizens Council of La Grange.
Details of endorsements will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Road, at a meeting conducted by the nonpartisan volunteer organization focusing on local elections.
The organization plans to conduct a series of three endorsement sessions with candidate presentations open to the public before the council deliberates behind closed doors.
Residents aren’t required to appear before the council in order to run for office in the April 9, 2013 election, but must meet residency requirements and obtain the required number of signatures on a nominating petition to be filed at Village Hall. Details are at www.cookcountyclerk.com/elections.
Candidates seeking endorsements for village offices, the Park District of La Grange Board and the La Grange Public Library Board must submit a questionnaire by Oct. 10. The application and essay questions are available online at www.lgcitizenscouncil.org, where responses also will be posted before the three sessions for office seekers.
“Publishing the essay portion of the data sheet enables residents to read the candidates views in their own words and then later come to the public slating meetings to hear the candidate interviews firsthand.” Council Chairman David Schwartz said in a statement.
Office hopefuls are asked to list the three biggest challenges facing the board to which they seek election and how their experience and skills will meet those challenges. Candidates also are asked to assess the board’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as what they hope to accomplish if elected.
Council members will question candidates for four four-year terms on the Library Board Nov. 7 and those seeking three four-year terms on the Park Board Nov. 14. Candidates for three Village Board seats, village president and village clerk, all for four-year terms, will be interviewed Nov. 28.
Sept. 12 also is the deadline for residents to apply for council membership to be involved in the slating process. Applicants must have lived in La Grange for a year and be a registered voter. Council leadership selects up to eight members for each of 11 geographic districts. Applications are on the council’s website.
The council has 21 members, including officers, and hopes to boost membership to 30 or 40 members to take part in the slating process. In order to participate in endorsement discussions, applicants must sign up by Sept. 12.
As in past years, the council plans to announce endorsements following each evening of candidate interviews.
