Don't cancel the forums

The level of cowardice or hubris on display in the northwest suburbs this election season is breathtaking! Recently, Democratic U.S. House candidate Melissa Bean of the 8th District, Republican state Sen. Darby Hills of the 26th District and Democratic state Rep. Fred Crespo of the 44th District canceled commitments to participate in League of Women Voters candidate forums ahead of the November general election. The campaigns agreed months ago to these dates.

These forums are a nonpartisan and critical component in a process of candidate evaluation and one of the few opportunities voters get to hear the candidates together. They're not a flyer or digital media spot from a campaign or a hit piece financed by any number of super political action committees. These are the candidates in real time, face to face with citizens, explaining their positions on issues important to Illinois residents. It is also one of the few level playing fields available to hopefuls who may not have the finances for multiple levels of public engagement.

When did it become acceptable for candidates to ignore their constituents even before an election? Why are they so emboldened to display their lack of accountability to voters? In the case of the LWV, if there is not equal representation of candidates, a scheduled forum is canceled. It is a convenient way for candidates — no matter which party — to comfortably slide into Election Day without ever being truly vetted by the voters. And we wonder why the electorate has become disillusioned with the two-party political landscape.

It is time to change the rules for LWV candidate forums. Because candidate forums are scheduled in conjunction with candidate campaign offices, once the dates are set, the forum should go ahead, regardless of who ultimately shows up. Voters should not be subject to the whims of candidate “scheduling conflicts.” That is not democracy.

Rachel Cook, Barrington