Treading a tightrope at Hultgren forum

Imagine throwing a party for more than 700 people, at a house that wasn't yours for people you didn't know. That's what it was like to host the 14th Congressional District Q&A April 25 at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles.

The League of Women Voters had to tread a tightrope in order to bring off the event without a hitch. And there were almost 50 members of the League involved in making certain the event was true to the League's non partisan political nature.

We must have done a pretty good job since there were complaints from both sides stating that the League allowed Congressman Randy Hultgren "to hide under their very wide skirts" by not "making him answer the questions." To those who said we were "abhorrent in our inability to control the disrespectful boors who were jeering at their Congressman."

We could neither make Congressman Hultgren answer the questions OR make those in the crowd stop the raucous in order to have the answers heard. Or have the opportunity to have more questions asked by the moderator, League Issues Specialist Hilary Denk. Thank you for moderating.

We hold events to educate the public on the issues and the positions your representatives have on these issues. Many thanks to Ron Onesti for opening the doors of his house, the Arcada Theater, and affording the community the opportunity to see Democracy in Action.

And finally thank you to Representative Hultgren for being the first sitting Republican U.S. Congressman from Illinois to meet with 700 plus constituents at one time.

Patricia Hayes Lackman

Batavia

Voter Service/VP

League of Women Voters of Central Kane County