Copyright Chicago Tribune
Lake Forest Caucus officials are weighing their next steps following the narrow defeat of a proposed bylaw amendment that would have permitted alternative voting methods. The measure, which would have allowed members to vote by phone, computer, or U.S. mail, received 427 votes in favor and 244 against during the Caucus’s annual meeting on Oct. 14. Because bylaw changes require two-thirds approval, or 448 votes, the proposal fell 21 votes short. Caucus leaders believe some members were unable to reach the Gorton Community Center in time to vote due to severe delays on Metra. Metra spokeswoman Meg Thomas-Reile confirmed that all the agency’s lines — including the Union Pacific North Line, which stops in downtown Lake Forest near Gorton — experienced long delays that afternoon. Caucus President Regina Etherton said several residents asked to keep the polling location open past 8 p.m., but that was not permitted. “We can’t change the rules midstream,” she said. Etherton said she received 40 to 50 messages from residents upset about the situation and asking for a revote. “Ironically, this amendment was intended to prevent this from occurring,” she said. Voters in Caucus elections were only allowed to vote in person at the Gorton Center. The Caucus leadership wanted to change that and proposed an amendment that read: The Caucus Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine the method(s) of each voting process, including, but not limited to, voting by paper ballot (in person or by mail) or by electronic or digital method (in person or remotely) or by any combination thereof; For purposes of these bylaws, each vote cast pursuant to subparagraph (a) above shall be deemed to be a cast by a voter present at a meeting; and, As to each provision of these Bylaws which requires verification of Caucus membership voting results, if any electronic or digital voting method is employed pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, verification and counting of votes may, to the extent approved by the Caucus Committee, be conducted and provided by a reputable third-party retained for this purpose. While the Caucus hierarchy advocated for the change, the proposal drew criticism from several prominent residents, including former State Sen. Susan Garrett. “The amendment and the messaging from the Caucus Committee were fraught with inconsistencies and misunderstandings,” Garrett wrote in a statement. “When these discrepancies were pointed out, the Caucus did not acknowledge them, creating an environment of mistrust. Hopefully, moving forward there will be more thought given to achieving consensus with the community before a vote is taken.” Former Alderwoman Prue Beidler also opposed the measure. She cited multiple reasons why she believed it failed to meet the two-thirds threshold — including disappointment that the full set of amendment changes proposed by the Ad Hoc Amendment Advisory Committee was not being voted on, frustration over how to handle a “no” vote, confusion about the amendment’s language, and a broader lack of trust in the Caucus. Etherton said the Caucus leadership would discuss next steps at a Nov. 4 meeting. She indicated she is open to revising the amendment’s language to address concerns raised by voters. “Perhaps we can get out something that would alleviate the fears of some who may have voted no,” she said. Etherton added that the Caucus leadership is developing a community survey to gather input on how to proceed after a “no” vote. “We need to hear from the community at large and not small groups of people,” Etherton said. “The community has never had the chance to weigh in on what they want as the alternative.” The failed vote marks another chapter in a turbulent period for the Caucus, the long-standing organization that recruits and endorses candidates for city positions and municipal elections. In November 2022, the general membership rejected the Caucus Committee’s endorsement of Stanford “Randy” Tack in the 2023 mayoral race. With the bylaws unclear on how to proceed, the Caucus Committee continued with its support of Tack. That led to a rare contested election as Beidler ran an independent race, which Tack ultimately won. Subsequent votes also proved contentious: the general membership defeated the proposed Caucus Preservation Act, which would have removed the membership vote from the endorsement process, and initially rejected the 2024 leadership slate before later approving it. However, members have supported more recent endorsements of the Caucus Committee, including the 2025 leadership slate. An ad hoc committee was formed to recommend procedures for handling a “no” vote, but the Caucus leadership initially focused on the alternative voting amendment. In a separate vote at the Oct. 14 meeting, members overwhelmingly approved the Caucus Committee’s endorsements for incumbent City Council members Nancy Novit, 1st, and Alice LeVert, 3rd, plus Rosemary Kehr, 2nd, and Lloyd Culbertson, 4th, who are seeking to join the council. Those candidates are now set to appear in next year’s municipal elections. Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
