When media mogul Oprah Winfrey held a fundraising party for then-Sen. Barack Obama at her California estate in 2007, guests had to ante up $2,300 just to get in the door.

To actually eat with the candidate, they had to bring in at least $50,000 from other donors.

You can rub elbows with politicians for much less this week at candidate events in Elburn and Batavia.

For $6, you can meet both Elburn mayoral candidates and six of seven trustee candidates - and get a spaghetti lunch.

The forum is at noon Sunday, March 1 at Elburn Lions Park, Parkside Drive and Stetzer Street.

Chris Halsey, a Lions Club member, suggested the club sponsor the event as a community service.

The hall can accommodate about 175 people. Halsey asks that people planning to attend call (630) 365-6315 to make a reservation, so the Lions know whether to hold a second session. Any money raised goes to the Lions Club.

In Batavia mayoral candidate Alan Wolff is holding a fundraising reception from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Rendez Vu pub, 1 E. Wilson St. Entrance requires a $25 donation.

Wolff, an alderman, is running against Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke and Batavia MainStreet director Britta McKenna. McKenna held a campaign fundraiser Feb. 7 at a Batavia hair salon.

Free candidate forums sponsored by chapters of the League of Women Voters are also on the horizon.

The Batavia chapter plans a candidates' night at 7 p.m. March 25 at the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave., 10 S. Batavia Ave.

The Geneva-St. Charles chapter plans two candidates' afternoons: 1 p.m. March 15 at the St. Charles Library, 1 S. Sixth Ave., for St. Charles candidates; and 1 p.m. March 22 at the Geneva Library, 127 W. James St., for Geneva candidates.