Friday, April 19, 2013
The House just voted in favor of a bill presented by Rep. Carol Sente of Vernon Hills to allow 17-year-olds the right to vote in primary elections. The Senate had its first reading of the bill Thursday.
A bill proposed by State Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) to allow 17-year-olds the right to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 by the next general election cleared the House Wednesday, reported the Daily Herald. The House voted 95-22 in favor of House Bill 226. The Senate had its first reading Thursday. On her website, Sente states that a group of students from a political science program at Stevenson High School has advocated for this initiative for several years, beginning with her predecessor Kathy Ryg. "Over the next few weeks, myself and Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) are planning to speak to students to get them involved in all aspects of passing this bill," stated Sente. "I am hopeful that through our bi-partisan …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
North Shore representatives show active efforts while Dold raised no money.
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) raised $390,206 for his campaign committee for the quarter ending March 31 while Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) took in $173,617, according to reports filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Former Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth), who lost to Schneider in November and is reported by some Washington sources as considering a rematch, did not raise any money, according to the FEC reports. Earlier: Schakowsky, Schneider Urge Sequester Action Schneider brought in a total of $390,206 with $278,611 coming from individuals and $111,591 from committees. An individual is limited to a maximum donation during a two-year election cycle of $2,500 per candidate and a committee can give as much $5,000. …
Monday, April 15, 2013
What led to victories for incumbent aldermen Judy Fiske, Delores Holmes and Mark Tendam? What does the new District 202 school board look like? Four local journalists talk about the latest news in Evanston.
Watch this video to see a clip from the ECTV show "The Reporters," where four local journalists talk about the latest news in Evanston. This week's discussion centered around the results of Evanston's local election, when incumbents were re-elected to the city council and several new members were elected to the Evanston Township High School District 202 school board. Evanston Review's Bob Seidenberg moderates, with panelists Shawn Jones of the Evanston Roundtable, Charles Bartling of Evanston Now and Marshall Cohen of the Daily Northwestern. The show is streamed live on cable channel 6 on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and on Thursdays and Saturdays at 6 p.m. On these same days and times, it will be simultaneously streamed on the ECTV website.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Election workers and candidates reported seeing low voter turnout compared to most elections, particularly ones involving state or presidential contests.
Candidates and their die-hard supporters braved rain in morning and bitter winds in the evening to catch voters on their way to the polls in Evanston. But many reported seeing low voter turnout. Election judge Diane Meyers, who was working at the polling location at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, said the slow trickle of voters was typical for a year when only local offices are up for election. "The presidential election, it was just popping," she said, "And that's to be expected." Incumbent District 202 candidate Gretchen Livingston said she, too, had not seen a lot of people at the polls as she bounced around from one location to another during the day. "People are cold, and there are not many of them," she said, standing outside a …
Evanston Township High School District 202 school board candidates Bill Geiger, Gretchen Livingston, Doug Holt and Patricia Savage-Williams had the greatest number of votes with 60 of 61 precincts reporting.
Update, 9 a.m. Wednesday: With all precincts reporting, Bill Geiger, Gretchen Livingston, Doug Holt and Patricia Savage-Williams appear to be the winners, according to unofficial results. Update, 11:32 p.m.: Bill Geiger, Gretchen Livingston, Doug Holt and Patricia Savage-Williams had the highest percentage of votes in this hotly contested race, with 60 of 61 precincts reporting late Tuesday night. More than 7,000 people voted for the District 202 school board, according to unofficial results, a voter turnout of more than 14 percent. Update, 10:24 p.m.: Patch reached candidate Doug Holt at a campaign event at his house. With 60 of 61 precincts reporting, Holt had 13.91% of the vote, the third largest percentage. "I've said publically more …
Evanston Township supervisor candidate Gary Gaspard had 56.88% percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results.
Update: 11:15 p.m. Speaking to Patch from a celebration at his campaign headquarters, Evanston Township Supervisor candidate Gary Gaspard said he was thrilled to have taken a majority of the vote, according to unofficial results. "The Evanston residents are the winners tonight," he said. "I'm ready to serve and will do my best not to disappoint them." Assuming he is officially elected, Gaspard said a citywide job fair would be among his first priorities. He also said he wanted to collect professional attire for job-seekers who couldn't otherwise afford it. Reflecting on the fact that a majority of Evanston residents voted to abolish the township entirely last year, Gaspard said it was more complicated than simply a vote for or against the…
Ald. Judy Fiske (1st Ward), Ald. Delores Holmes (5th Ward) and Ald. Mark Tendam (6th Ward) appear to have won re-election to the city council, according to unofficial results from the Cook County Clerk's Office.
Updated, 10:39 p.m. Ald. Delores Holmes appears to be the winner in the fifth ward, with 338 of the 453 votes cast, according to unofficial results. Votes for her challenger, write-in candidate Carlis Sutton, will not immediately be reported by the Cook County Clerk's Office. "I feel like I've done a pretty good job, and I feel like most of the people that I've talked to feel like I've done a good job," Holmes said. "Their vote shows me that they believe in what I'm trying to do." If officially re-elected, Holmes said economic development, affordable housing and safety would be her first priorities. Updated, 9:41 p.m. Speaking from a campaign party at Dave's Italian Kitchen, first ward alderman Judy Fiske said she had just received a …
Monday, April 8, 2013
The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Evanston, when voters will choose between several city council candidates, township supervisor and school board candidates in District 202 and District 65.
The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Anyone in line to vote by 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballot. To see your sample ballot and polling location, go to the Cook County Clerk's website and enter your information. The Cook County Clerk also lists polling locations by township. Enter "Evanston Township" to find a list of polling locations by precinct.
See who's on the ballot and read about the issues facing voters in city council races, school board races and the contest for township supervisor.
Despite the fact that every spot on the city council, as well as the mayor's seat, is up for election in 2013, there are just a few contested races in Evanston. Voters in the first ward and sixth ward have a choice between two candidates on the ballot, while fifth ward voters have the opportunity to choose a write-in candidate. The position of township supervisor is also up for grabs. When it comes to local school districts, eight candidates are running for four seats on the Evanston Township High School District 202 School Board. The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 race is uncontested, however. First Ward Candidates: Judy Fiske, Edward Tivador Local business owner and incumbent Ald. Judy Fiske is running against newcomer Edward …
What are the most contested races in the April 9 election in Evanston? What will replace the Keg? Four local journalists talk about the latest news in Evanston on the ECTV show "The Reporters."
Watch this video to see a clip from the ECTV show "The Reporters," where four local journalists talk about the latest news in Evanston. That includes discussion of two city council races that are heating up in the first and sixth wards, as well as discussion of Northwestern University's role in local elections. It also includes discussion of the Keg's closing last week after the landlord declined to renew the bar's lease. Evanston Review's Bob Seidenberg moderates, with panelists Shawn Jones of the Evanston Roundtable, Jennifer Fisher of Evanston Patch and special guest Marshall Cohen of the Daily Northwestern. The show is streamed live on cable channel 6 on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and on Thursdays and Saturdays at 6 p.m. On these same days and…
Procrustes' Foil
4:54 am on Sunday, April 21, 2013
A few years ago, the American Psychological Association raised the upper limit in its definition of adolescence to age 25. That limit is now probably closer to age 30. Allowing 17 year old to vote would be silly. They're too immature and irresponsible - like too many American of voting age! Further, voters aged 18 to 25 rarely vote anyway. Lowering the voting age to 17 wouldn't accomplish … more ›