The important change in local elections

The Daily Herald’s March 29, article and April 2 editorial bemoaning “partisan creep” in local elections missed the real story. What’s happening in many communities is the disruption of the old establishment playbook — and that’s long overdue.

For years, local politics in Illinois have often been shaped by behind-the-scenes networks: handpicked slates promoted by insiders, reinforcing familiar preferences and decisions. That’s not a neutral or open system. It’s a closed loop that sidelines new voices and keeps everyday residents from being appointed to commissions or joining boards to make a meaningful impact.

The truth is, political change — even at the local level — doesn’t happen by accident. Elections are complicated. Local political organizations help bridge the gap for people who want to get involved but don’t have a map: how to get on the ballot, how to follow Illinois election rules, how to connect with voters and how to share a vision for their community. That’s basic civic participation.

The editorial also ignores a larger shift. Many suburbs once seen as reliably conservative have changed dramatically since 2016. More Democratic-leaning voters now call these communities home — and that shift threatens an old guard unused to being challenged. Their discomfort isn’t really about partisanship; it’s about power — and the fact that they no longer control the narrative or the outcome.

So let’s be honest. When local and state political groups support candidates who reflect their values, offer campaign guidance, conduct forums, or push for transparency — that’s democracy doing what it’s supposed to do: evolve. Instead of hand-wringing over how people engage, let’s focus on building a political culture that welcomes participation, encourages debate and makes space for new ideas. Because the real risk is protecting a system that only works for those already on the inside.

Matthew Hickey

Libertyville