Skokie Caucus Party Accepting Candidate Nomination Applications

SKOKIE, IL — Residents seeking the nomination of the Skokie Caucus Party for next year's municipal elections have until next week to officially declare their interest.

Candidates endorsed by the Caucus Party have won every village election since 1959. Only three races have been contested in the last 35 years, most recently in 2013.

The village board has only at-large members and does not stagger its elections. That means residents vote on the mayor, clerk and all six trustees every four years and there are no districts, wards or other residency requirements for specific seats on the board.

The deadline to submit a nomination application is Oct. 14. Screening interviews will then take place during the day on Oct. 18 and the evenings of Oct. 20 and Oct. 21.

Party representatives will contact applicants to work out available time slots after an initial screening application, according to letter from party chair and deputy village attorney Jim McCarthy, as well as screening committee chair Linda Perlin and party campaign chairs Lisa Hanley, Shalom Klein and Bob Quane.

During in-person screening, those seeking the party's nomination may be asked questions about the role of the village in COVID-19 response, economic development and "addressing local and national civil unrest related to policing," among other things, according to the application.

In addition to submitted a resume, those seeking a post in the April 6, 2021, consolidated elections were asked to respond to the following questions:

• What qualities or strengths will you bring to the office that you seek?
• What are your past/present community involvements or political activities?
• Describe your constituency or voter base (neighbors, faith based, school district, affiliations, athletic programs, ethnic groups, etc.) that will support and vote for the slate?
• What efforts have you made to engage with various segments of our diverse community?
• Why are you interested in serving on the Village Board?
• What critical concerns or issues do you perceive as important in the upcoming Skokie election?
• Do you have the time and energy necessary to commit to the position you seek?
• Preferred option for screening interview (October 18, 20 or 21)?
• As a Trustee, how would you represent the whole community and not just one constituency?
• Explain why the Board agenda should not be your personal agenda?
• If selected, do you agree to run as part of the Skokie Caucus Party slate and advocate for the entire slate in the campaign.
• Describe how you will support the campaign and respond to each of these areas: financially (donate or raise $2,000), obtain 50 signatures on petitions; recruit volunteers; provide 6 friends who will host in-person or virtual coffees).
• Is there anything in your personal life that might be embarrassing or controversial about which the Screening Committee should know.

Read more or submit a nomination application to the Skokie Caucus Party »