Women voters combine forces for candidate forum in Elgin Jan. 31

Ordinarily at this time of year, the League of Women Voters of the Carpentersville-Dundee Area would be hard at work setting up candidates forums for the primary election.

But this year, they are encouraging you to take part in the candidates night that is being organized by the Elgin League of Women Voters on Jan. 31 at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in downtown Elgin. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

The Elgin League had originally scheduled their forum for Jan. 22 but the date had to be changed due to WTTW's (Channel 11) decision to do a televised debate of those running to fill former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert's Congressional seat on that same date. The primary is Feb. 5.

The Elgin League's voter chairwoman, Barbara Mulliken, indicated that all of the candidates for the 14th Congressional District have been invited. So if you would like to have the opportunity to meet and question Republican candidates Chris Lauzen, Jim Oberweis and Michael Dilger and Democrat candidates Bill Foster, John Laesch, Jotham Stein and Joe Serra. you will have the chance on the 31st. The normal format of the meeting is that each candidate is able to make an opening statement followed by a general question and answer period for all candidates and then an individual closing statement.

It is always good to note that while the presidential election gets most of the publicity it is the candidates for local office that have a greater impact on our lives.

The League of Women Voters was formed Feb. 14, 1921 and its mission was to create a better informed electorate and try to seek solutions for problems of their day resulting in the creation of child labor laws and welfare programs.

Since 1972, when the Carpentersville-Dundee Area League was formed, the League has maintained its focus working locally for better government. By the 1980s, some League members used their training and became elected officials themselves. During that time and in the 1990s, the League also played a major role in getting our diverse and sometimes bickering villages to work together. It sponsored State of the Community dinners and held studies on the impact of growth on our townships and worked to bring adequate funding to our local school district through public information forums.

Now in the 21st century, when wise non-partisan voices are needed most, the League finds it hard to attract new members, both men and women. The increase of job demands and children's after-school activities all compete for an individual's time; but, this has not diminished determination to fulfill its mission.

Years ago, when we spent more time in the kitchen than in the car, the League of Women Voters had, as one of its fundraisers, the sale of potholders with the words, "The League handles hot issues" printed on them. While the League has gone out of the potholder business, it certainly has not backed off from tackling "hot issues" like the study on immigration.

If you are interested in learning more about membership in the League Of Women Voters, you can call Elgin LWV leader Janet Poyner at (847) 695.7122 or Carpentersville-Dundee Area Bonnie Kalaway at (847) 426.0326.

Other League notes:

• Last Thursday's board meeting of the League of Women Voters of the Carpentersville-Dundee Area took a somber tone as members reflected on the sudden passing of the organization's president Pat Ostewig last month. Former leader Bonnie Kalaway, at whose East Dundee's home the meeting was held, has temporarily assumed her previous role in the organization with the assistance of other former presidents Theresa Peterson from Sleepy Hollow and Gretchen Matthews from West Dundee.

• On Jan. 24 the LWVC-DA will take part in a year-long national study on immigration sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the United States. You will recall that a study last year sponsored by the State of Illinois League created quite a bit of publicity due to Carpentersville's village president Bill Sarto's concern over safety issues resulted in the Dundee Township Park District rescinding the approval of a site for the Immigration Forum. The level of interest in this topic and concern over issues involved led to the decision to make this a nationwide study.