Vote “Yes” for the People of Skokie

I am trying to imagine under what circumstance it would be a good idea to limit the number of people running for elected office.

I am also trying to think of a good reason why voters should be presented with a ballot with as few candidates as possible.

I can think of none.

But this is what the electoral system in the Village of Skokie has fostered since 1965.

In the last five election cycles alone, we’ve averaged only 1.1 candidate per Village Board seat. Almost all have run on the Skokie Caucus Party (SCP) slate. James Johnson’s election as trustee in 2021 is the first time a non-SCP member won in 56 years, and that was largely because the SCP withdrew support for a candidate on its own slate.

In contrast to the school, library, and park district boards of Skokie, which have nonpartisan elections and staggered terms, the electoral system for Skokie’s Village Board gives the party in power preferential treatment on the ballot, and all positions on the Village Board are up for grabs at once, making it that much easier for one party to hold onto power. Moreover, most elected officials have come from the northeast side of Skokie, leaving the vast majority of neighborhoods without representation. Is it any wonder, then, that Skokie has abysmally low voter turnout?

The voters of Skokie have a chance to change this, thanks to the passionate efforts of residents of all backgrounds, neighborhoods, and political stripes, including members of the SCP, who have come together on a nonpartisan basis as the Skokie Alliance for Electoral Reform. Although I am nominally the chair of this campaign, nine people serve on the steering committee, and we are a grassroots group of hundreds of volunteers and supporters who contribute to decision-making, strategy, and outreach.

We coalesced last December at the Skokie Public Library, cheered on by former Governor Pat Quinn, who is also a veteran organizer of voter initiatives. He reminded us of John Dewey’s wisdom: the ills of democracy are cured by more democracy.

Together we researched and decided upon three ballot initiatives to pursue as a starting point for improved representative democracy in Skokie.

This summer, we had in-person conversations with over 4,000 registered Skokie voters, more than double what we needed to get three binding referendum questions on our November 8th ballot, calling for: (1) nonpartisan elections, (2) staggered terms, and (3) hybrid representation, in which two trustees (instead of all six) will be elected at-large, and the other four will come from geographic districts, each district still larger than Lincolnwood and 88% of municipalities in Illinois. The mayor and clerk will continue to be elected at-large, so half of the village representatives will be at-large, and half will be elected by districts.

A “yes” vote for any one of these referendum questions will allow more candidates to run for office. A “yes” vote for all three will ensure that Skokie will have a fair and accessible system befitting its celebrated diversity.

It all gets back to centering our electoral system around voter choice, not voters around the system.

The intent behind giving people the right to vote is accountability. When political leaders are elected, they operate with the understanding that they have earned the consent of the governed and are accountable to the voters for their decisions. This is what democracy is all about: legitimacy is derived from the people, not from heredity, military might, wealth, or self-selection. In our current system in which voters rarely have choices on the ballot, that accountability is lost.

Conflict is inevitable in any system that includes diverse voices. But oh, how much sweeter and more effective it is to work through conflict in a cooperative manner. That’s the heart of democracy.

And breathing life into the body of democracy is full and accurate information about what’s on the ballot. Voters have a chance to learn more about electoral reform strategies that have worked around the country on Wednesday, October 26th, 630-7:30 pm at the Skokie Public Library. Get Informed about Electoral Reform will feature Laurel Harbridge-Yong, associate professor in the Department of Political Science and faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University; James Johnson, volunteer with the Skokie Alliance for Electoral Reform; and Gary Schotz, member of FairVote Illinois.

For more information about the pro-democracy referendums in Skokie, voters can check out the Skokie Alliance website or answers to frequently asked questions.

The Skokie Alliance for Electoral Reform and these three referendums have been endorsed by a very long list of respected organizations and individuals, including the following and many more:

Organizations

• Abolition Coalition of Skokie
• Alternative Pain Care, PC
• Carrie Bradean, LLC
• Chicago Area Peace Action
• Community Alliance for Better Government, Evanston
• Cook County Green Party
• Evanston Voter Initiative
• Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization
• The Justice Project: The March Continues
• League of Women Voters of Evanston
• National Organization for Women, North/Northwest Suburban Chicago Chapter
• Niles Coalition
• Niles Township Neighbors for Change
• Niles Township White Antiracism Group
• RAIN - Racial Awareness in the North Shore
• Reclaim NW Suburbs
• Skokie Schools Equity Collaborative
• 350 Chicago

Individuals

• Pat Quinn, Former Illinois Governor
• Denyse Wang Stoneback, Illinois State Representative, 16th District
• James Johnson, Village of Skokie Trustee
• Ilonka Ulrich, Former Village of Skokie Trustee
• Michael Gelder, Former Village of Skokie Trustee
• Dr. Noelle Sullivan, D68 School Board Member
• Annie Warshaw, D68 School Board Member
• Kandice Cooley Jones, D69 School Board Member
• Victoria Wolfinger, D73.5 School Board Member
• Louis Mercer, D73.5 School Board Member
• Maury Jacob, D73.5 School Board Member
• Elana Jacobs, D219 School Board Member
• Mary Rita Luecke, Former District 65 School Board President
• Brian Novak, Former D73.5, D219, and D807 School Board Member
• Rabbi Rachel Weiss
• Rabbi Andrea London
• Rev. Eileen Wiviott
• Rev. Laura Harris-Ferree, Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Evanston, IL
• Rev. Jason W. Coulter
• Rev. Mark Sloss, Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Evanston, IL
• Rick and Donna Thomas
• Jasmine Sebaggala, Educator & Activist
• Herb Dubrow, Former Skokie Caucus Party Chair
• Bennett Johnson
• Dr Dawn Olson, DN
• Melissa Ponce
• Molly Greening
• Henry Wilkins
• Shira Hammann
• Robert Kusel, 30 year resident of Skokie and lifetime member of the Skokie Caucus Party

The “No” side has only one endorser: the Skokie Caucus Party.

What is the Caucus Party’s concern? These measures are on the ballot because voters want to open up and level the playing field for local elections. These referendums are inspired by good will and a level of impassioned civic engagement that most municipalities would envy.

None of these measures will alter the quality or delivery of Skokie public services. What they will do is allow different perspectives to come forward, foster healthy debate to arrive at more informed decisions, and ultimately build trust and communication between electors and the elected.

We have a precious chance to cast one of the most meaningful votes of our lives on November 8th, a vote that will make our votes actually matter when electing our local representatives in the future. It’s a vote for all of us and for our Skokie community.