Candidates sought for Glen Ellyn Civic Betterment slate

In Glen Ellyn, candidates who secure the endorsement of the Civic Betterment Party almost always win election to village office.

That's why a meeting held every two years in December - when the party's nominees are chosen - is a closely watched tradition in town.

The nonpartisan organization is now accepting applications from potential candidates seeking seats on the village and library boards in elections next spring.

After interviews with the hopefuls, the party's nominating committee will present its slate of finalists before residents who will cast secret ballots at the town hall meeting to decide who gets the Civic Betterment backing.

The village board already is assured new faces. Members historically hand over reins of the job after a single term, though there have been exceptions - Trustee Peter Ladesic among them.

Village President Alex Demos has announced he'll stick with the long-running tradition and won't run for re-election in April 2017.

"I made a commitment to that tradition, and I'm going to honor that commitment," said Demos, a former president of the Civic Betterment Party.

There has been "serious" interest in that position, but no formal application yet, said Erik Ford, the current president.

The organization dates to 1931 and aims to level the playing field in village politics.

"Our purpose is to allow people to run and serve without having to put together a campaign organization," Ford said.

Three village trustee seats - held by Dean Clark, Timothy O'Shea and Tim Elliott - also are up for grabs. Elliott has said he'll step down from both the village board and as a College of DuPage attorney if elected in November to a four-year term on the DuPage County Board.

The nominating committee in Glen Ellyn will accept applications through early November for those posts, village clerk and three available spots on the library board.

To apply, prospective candidates should complete a three-page form, available online at civicbetterment.com, asking them to list the challenges facing Glen Ellyn and what they would do to address them.

Ideally, the party aims to present at least two candidates for every open village board spot at the town hall, set for Saturday, Dec. 3. The group has no platform, but discourages single-issue candidates.

"Our goal is to be inclusive rather than exclusive," Ford said.

Residents must be at least 18 to cast their ballots during a few days of early voting and at the town hall.

Candidates not selected by the party's committee to appear at the town hall can still pursue an endorsement if they're nominated from the floor.

The top vote-getters receive the support of party members who help gather signatures and file petitions with the village clerk for spots on the ballot. If the Civic Betterment nominee faces a contested race, the party also will, "through minimal spending," publicize the campaign, Ford said.

The organization runs on a "very thin budget" that spends roughly $3,000 or $4,000 every two years, said Ford, adding the caucus model has "served the village well."

"It's extremely healthy for the village," he said. "And I think it's provided a long tradition of sound village management and oversight and works well with the current staff that we have."