Mt. Prospect gets own tea party chapter

Mount Prospect resident Ernie Lasse has launched a local chapter of the national tea party movement in his hometown.

The group, called Tea Party Mount Prospect, will hold its first meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 at Elk Grove Township, 2400 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights.

Tea party chapters have already sprouted up in nearby suburbs like Arlington Heights, Palatine and Schaumburg, but Lasse said there still aren’t enough of them.

“We need more of this kind of discussion here in the suburbs,” he said. “And the thing is, we don’t compete with each other. We all believe in the same principles.”

One of Tea Party Mount Prospect’s key missions will be to endorse political candidates at the local, county and state level who stand for fiscal responsibility, constitutional limits on government and free markets, Lasse said. The group might also take stands on local initiatives such as school referendums.

Lasse said there will be discussions of national issues, as well.

“The tea party already has a national presence, obviously, but I imagine we’ll be taking on some of those kinds of topics and candidates, too,” he said.

The group is expected to convene once a month. Residents outside of Mount Prospect are welcome to attend as well.

To learn more, visit TeaPartyMtProspect.com.