Glenview Voters Set To Vote On Candidates, Bond Referendum

GLENVIEW, IL — Early voting has begun in Glenview ahead of the March 17 primary election. In responses to a recent survey, local voters identified pension obligations, climate change and the cost of education as the biggest issues facing Illinois ahead of the vote.

Democrats will be voting to how to allocate 155 pledged delegates to this summer's national convention in Milwaukee to nominate a candidate to challenge President Donald Trump. Republicans will be selecting from five candidates for the party's nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

All self-identified Glenview residents who responded to an informal Patch survey last month described themselves as "very likely" to vote.

Most respondents to the unscientific poll said they had enough information about the candidates to make an informed decision, though some said it was hard to find information on candidates for judge and expressed concerns that local news was "drowned out by the nonsense on the national level."

Forty percent of local survey respondents identified as independents, a third said they were Democrats and a third did not provide a political affiliation.

Opinions regarding impeaching Trump were split, with just over half saying they supported the president's impeachment.

"It was a farce," said one independent voter who said they woul dbe voting in the upcoming Democratic primary. "Presidents Bush and Obama should have both been impeached if we are going to go by the same criteria that impeached President Trump."

"He's a crook and a mobster," said another self-identified independent. "He is destroying this country. He should have been removed from office before doing more harm."

Residents were split on the question of whether national politics would have an impact on their vote. Of those that said it would have an effect, one self-described Democrat said they would be more likely to vote against Democratic candidates, while a self-described independent said they would not vote for any Republicans "this round."

Local voters were also split in their opinions about a new law that requires a polling place at Cook County Jail be established to allow pre-trial detainees to vote and local election authorities to offer mail-in ballots to those in pretrial custody.

"You lose privileges when detained," one respondent answered. "Mail voting makes fraud too easy," said another opponent of the idea.

"[I]f they are not convicted yet, they had the right to vote," one resident said. "Anything we can do to remove voting impediments is critical," said another.

When asked to list the biggest issues facing the state ahead of the primary, some of the answers provided by self-identified Glenview residents included: "High taxes and out of control pension obligations. Corruption. Out of control spending," "Making education affordable for all, climate change, reducing the deficit, protecting Lake Michigan, finance reform," and "Corrupt Democratic officeholders."

In addition to picking candidates and delegates, Glenview School District 34 voters will consider a $119 million bond issue referendum question. The borrowed money would be used for capital investments that replace deteriorating infrastructure and add space to allow the district to join other Glenbrook High School District 225 feeder schools and offer full-day kindergarten.

Earlier: District 34 Considers Asking Taxpayers For Capital Referendum

Voters will be asked: "Shall the Board of Education of Glenview Community Consolidated School District Number 34, Cook County, Illinois, improve the sites of, build and equip additions to and alter, repair and equip existing buildings, including but not limited to replacing fire suppression, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems, increasing accessibility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), improving underground stormwater detention, renovating and expanding Springman Middle School, adding classrooms for full-day kindergarten and renovating classrooms and science labs, and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $119,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?"

If the referendum question is approved, the district would be legally obligated to complete all the work described in the ballot question, according to a website created to explain where the money would go.

In 2021, the estimated property tax increase in 2021 would be about $400 for someone who paid $10,000 last year, if the bond issue is approved, according to a tax calculator the district provided.

Only voters who request Democratic Party ballots will have a say in local Cook County judicial elections, with no Republicans contesting any seats in the area.

Many local elected officials have endorsed candidates in the race for the county's 9th subcircuit, where eight candidates are running for two open positions as circuit judges. Two of them were found "not qualified" by local bar associations.

Early voting in Glenview runs through March 16 at Village Hall. Voters can request a mail ballot until March 12. Hours are below.

• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 2 through March 7, March 14 and March 16
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 8 and March 15
• 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 9 to March 13