Cast a vote for transparency in the Skokie village election!

The election for the Skokie Village Board is on April 4, and the Skokie Caucus Party is running the same slate of candidates unopposed. The SCP has controlled the board for over 50 years.

Skokie is a great community – and engaged residents can make a difference.

A grassroots initiative called Skokie Choice has produced a petition calling on Village leaders to increase accountability and transparency. Skokie Choice is not running or endorsing candidates in the election.

To date, 106 residents have signed the petition -- which was presented at the Village Board meeting on Feb. 6. The Village has not formally responded to the signers regarding the four issues the petition addresses:

· An apparent conflict of interest between the Village and the Skokie Caucus Party

· Detailing sources of revenue (specifically fees, fines and local taxes) in light of the Village freezing its share of the Cook County property-tax levy for 26 years

· Skokie's four-year election cycle – unlike that of other neighboring and similar population-size municipalities in Illinois, which all hold staggered elections for their trustees every two years

· Participation in a candidates forum

Information about Skokie Choice and how to sign the petition online are at www.skokiechoice.org.

Add your name to the petition – and cast a vote for an even better Skokie!