The Caucus is democratic. All Caucus Council members are identified on its website. Most serve only two years. This turnover ensures new faces and fresh ideas. Anyone can sign up at winnetkacaucus.org. (By comparison, WHOA has been controlled by just two people for twenty years. It does not publicly identify its members or disclose how it selects or endorses candidates.)
It finds good candidates. The Caucus nominated almost every current and past member of the Schools, Parks and Library boards, as well as six of the last seven Village Presidents. These candidates then were elected by vote of all residents, without the acrimony and expense permeating the current election.
It finds candidates for all boards. Without the Caucus soliciting candidates for them, there might be vacancies on the Parks, Schools or Library boards. No other organization exists to fill those vacancies.
It fosters feedback and accountability between our officials and our residents. The Caucus prepares platforms concerning current issues. These platforms are based on the results of annual surveys of all residents and are subject to approval at a Town Meeting; thus, there are no “secret” agendas. Moreover, the adopted platforms are not “binding” on anyone; rather, they serve to advise our officials of the preferences of the residents. The Caucus also organizes two Town Meetings each year where board members discuss survey results and answer residents’ questions.
The WHOA candidates would replace the Caucus survey (which costs taxpayers nothing) with one costing $30,000 even though it doesn’t address issues affecting the Schools, Parks or Library boards. The WHOA candidates would eliminate the Town Meetings run by the Caucus.
What does it mean to be “independent?” All six candidates are running as “independents.” Three are endorsed by the Caucus, three are endorsed by WHOA. The WHOA candidates refused to interview with the Caucus, appear for questioning at a Town Meeting, or consider the results of the Caucus survey. They are accountable to no one. The Caucus candidates — Louise Holland, Penny Lanphier and Chris Rintz – seek to be accountable to all of us.
Wally Greenough
Chair, Winnetka Caucus Council
Winnetka
