Forums civil in Elgin as races heat up
It was a potential powder keg: six candidates for a 2-year Elgin City Council seat; a contingent from Speak Out Against Prejudice; and members of the Association for Legal Americans - all in the same meeting hall for a forum.
But the AFLA candidate forum in early February was informative, civil, devoid of fireworks and absent of ambush questions.
"I thought it was fine," said Shirley Sadjadi, a member of SOAP. "I had no issues (with it) whatsoever. I thought it was handled very well. It was a good community service. I'm glad they did it."
As the April 7 election approaches, AFLA leaders will hold another forum beginning at 7 p.m. Monday at the American Legion Hall, 820 Liberty St.
This one will be for the 10 people running for three, 4-year city council seats. AFLA formed in fall 2007 after the last round of local elections and is taking an active role in the process this time around.
"We've interviewed every (new) candidate. We will be backing three people for the 4-year seats," said David White, co-president of AFLA.
AFLA will present many of its questions about illegal immigration, overcrowding, gangs and other issues in a yes/no format, but also will give candidates a chance to elaborate.
"It's questions that pertain to the community," White said.
Candidates running for the three, 4-year seats are: incumbents Robert Gilliam, Juan Figueroa and John Walters and challengers Shane Nowak, Linda Quezada, Lenora Scruggs, John Prigge, A. Bruce Trego, Brenda Harris Khan and Richard Dunne.
AFLA has already endorsed Prigge, but White promised a fair forum to determine the other two.
AFLA's is the first of five scheduled forums. Others are:
• 7 p.m. March 19 at Sherman Hospital's Assembly Hall, 934 Center St., by the Northeast Neighborhood Association;
• 6:30 p.m. March 26, Elgin Community Church, 991 Deborah, by the Eagle Heights Residents Association;
• 7 p.m. March 30, Gail Borden Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., by the League of Women Voters;
• 7 p.m. April 2 at The Lighthouse Church, 325 South St., by the Near West Neighbors Association.