January 22, 2009

Jessica Tucker handily won the Winnetka Caucus nomination for village president, beating Richard Kates 432-175.

The two squared off at the annual Town Meeting on Jan. 15.

Tucker, a former village trustee, was the choice of the Caucus Council. Kates, who has been active with several council issues, had the blessing of the Winnetka Home Owners Association (Kates noted he did not consider himself a WHOA-sponsored candidate).

Tucker will be seated in May.

The Winnetka Caucus, reformed each year, comprises all village residents, and all members may vote. The group slates candidates for the April ballot.

Prior to the vote, experience became an issue, with Tucker (a former trustee) arguing a village president must have served on the Village Council, and Kates saying it wouldn't hurt to have an outsider in office.

Caucus Council officials said service as a trustee was a prerequisite when they made their choice, and Tucker agreed.

"You gain valuable institutional knowledge that you just do not get if you haven't walked in the shoes of a trustee," she said.

Current village trustees came out in support of Tucker, citing experience as well. Trustees Ken Behles and Sandra Berger both defended Tucker before the vote.

"The office of village president is not an entry-level position," Berger said.

Kates said he had been involved with several village issues without having served on the Village Council. He noted his support for 911 service in the village, as well as his lobbying for sidewalks near

schools.

"The village president need not be a trustee first," he said.

Kates said he'd watched from the outside as the village spent money on what he said were low-priority projects.

"We're not an oasis from the economy," he said. "We need priorities."

Kates has adamantly opposed the village decision to commit $5.5 million for the first phase of Streetscape renovations, and he mentioned it as an example of wasteful spending.

"Streetscape is way out of bounds financially, and we have all of these competing interests to consider; to me, that is irresponsible," he said.

While Tucker disagreed about Streetscape, she said the village would be "tightening its belt."

"Our wish-list is always long, but our resources are always limited," she said.


Copyright 2009, Winnetka Talk, Pioneer Press. All rights reserved. REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED

January 22, 2009

Despite two outside challenges to the Caucus Council slate for village trustee spots, the original picks won.

Residents at the annual Town Meeting voted to reelect Trustee King Poor for another term on the Village Council. Linda Pedian and Jennifer Spinney were also elected.

The trustees will assume their positions in May.

The Winnetka Caucus, reformed each year, comprises all village residents, and all members may vote. The group slates candidates for the April ballot.

The Winnetka Home Owners Association had nominated two other candidates -- Jeff Kane and David Seidman -- both of whom were grilled for their support from outside groups.

WHOA also backed Spinney.

As a result of WHOA's slate, preservation and property rights were an issue at the meeting.

Poor, who has prioritized environmental issues while on the council, said his stances should not scare WHOA backers.

"Stewardship is not an enemy of property rights," he said.

But Seidman argued residents should be wary of zoning regulations. He warned of higher tax bills.

While he said property rights was not his only reason for running, the issue was important enough to consider shaking up the current council.

"We probably needed some changes in the make-up of the village board," Seidman said.

Kane defended his support from WHOA but said if he were elected, he would act independently of the group.

"No one owns me; no one owns my vote," he said. "I have no preplanned agenda. I will honor and support the caucus platform."


Copyright 2009, Winnetka Talk, Pioneer Press. All rights reserved. REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED

January 22, 2009

It was the last chance for Parks Board Commissioner John Thomas to keep his seat on the board, but voters said no at the annual Town Meeting on Jan. 15.

Thomas received 269 votes, compared with 418 votes for Brad McLane, 401 for Gerri Kahnweiler, 369 for John DiCola and 365 for Ed Harney.

(Votes were doled out based on residents picking their four favorites of the five options.)

The board members will assume their positions in May.

The Winnetka Caucus, reformed each year, comprises all village residents, and all members may vote. The group slates candidates for the April ballot.

At the caucus level, it was the third defeat for Thomas. The committee in charge of slating Parks Board candidates chose not to reslate Thomas last fall, and the entire Caucus Council confirmed that decision in November.

Since then, letters have flooded the Winnetka Talk supporting both Thomas and the Caucus Council slate.

At the Town Meeting, Thomas was not without his supporters.

Julie Goodman, who resigned from the Parks Board last summer, made the case for Thomas, citing his dedication and knowledge of the issues. She also spoke against the argument that the Parks Board needs fresh blood.

"With four open seats ... it is entirely appropriate to reseat a sitting commissioner with three seats open to bring in new commissioners," she said.

Thomas fought off claims that he had not been objective during board deliberations regarding the Park District Service Center.

While Thomas acknowledged initial support for a plan that was later nixed, he said he was content with the entire board's approval of a split-site option after months of intense scrutiny of all options.

"As a commissioner, I have no agenda," he said.

Others commended the Caucus Council process that established the original slate. Bernard Hammer, an alternate for the Parks Board slate, said the initial interviewing and vetting process was thorough and efficient.


Copyright 2009, Winnetka Talk, Pioneer Press. All rights reserved. REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED.

January 16, 2009

Call it a night of victories for the Winnetka Caucus Council.

In all contests where challengers were nominated from the floor, the original caucus-supported candidates swept at the annual Town Meeting on Jan. 15.

In the race for village president, Jessica Tucker beat challenger Richard Kates.   <Continue>

January 8, 2009

Having served for two years on the Winnetka Caucus, one year as Vice-chairman, I can fully appreciate the time and effort put forth by the more than seventy residents, who volunteer endless hours of their time to insure that Winnetka will continue to be the great place in which we live. <Continue>

*Not written by Christopher Peterson

January 8, 2009

Village president candidates are headed for a three-way showdown at the annual town meeting Jan. 15.

The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Skokie School auditorium.  <Continue>

January 6, 2009

Village president candidates are headed for a three-way showdown at the annual town meeting Jan. 15.

The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Skokie School auditorium.

After the Caucus Council picked its nominee (Jessica Tucker) in November, two more residents (Tom Eilers and Richard Kates) entered the fray in recent weeks.  Click here to continue reading. 

November 24, 2008

The Winnetka Caucus Council denied John Thomas a spot on the Parks Board slate again, but he's not giving up just yet.

The Winnetka Caucus Council voted Thursday on candidates and once again slated Thomas as an alternate for the Parks Board. Afterward, Thomas -- who currently is a commissioner on the board -- said he would keep fighting to be re-seated.  Click here to continue reading.

November 21, 2008

John Thomas is on the list of alternates for the Winnetka Parks Board, but he doesn't plan on staying there for long.

The Winnetka Caucus Council voted Thursday on candidates for four open positions on the park board but Thomas weas not one of them.  Thomas is an alternate for the Parks Board. Afterward, Thomas -- who currently is a commissioner on the board -- said he would keep fighting to be re-seated.  Click here to continue reading.

November 20, 2008

The Winnetka Caucus announced its candidates to fill four open positions on the Parks Board. It also slated three alternates.

Incumbent John Thomas was not reslated by the Parks Committee. But according to a letter sent to the Winnetka Talk by Winnetka Caucus Chairman Jack Coladarci, "John has accepted the nomination, and will be seeking to be slated to a new four-year term...Click here to continue reading. 

November 13, 2008

The Winnetka Caucus picked Jessica Tucker, a former village trustee, as its candidate to head up the Village Council starting next spring.

Residents will vote at a Jan. 15 town meeting. 

Tucker, a 12-year resident of Winnetka, has four years of experience with the Village Council... Click here to continue reading. 

November 13, 2008

In what has the makings for a repeat of the School Board nomination battle in 2006, the Winnetka Caucus's decision not to re-slate a Parks Board member has stirred several residents.  Click here to continue reading.

October 30, 2008

Among other sentiments, the Winnetka Public Library should stay put, according to survey results from the Winnetka Caucus.

More than 1,300 Winnetka residents submitted surveys this year, and questions addressed most major issues facing the village -- from historic preservation to... Click here to continue reading. 

October 30, 2008

Most survey respondents disagree with how or if Winnetka should tamper with its regulations regarding demolition, new construction and renovations. And most respondents were not open to historic or conservation districts... Click here to continue reading.

September 18, 2008

The New Trier High School Board of Education Caucus is seeking candidates to slate for the April 2009 School Board election. The 2008-2009 Caucus will be slating a total of four candidates. Each School Board member will begin a four-year term shortly after the April 2009 election. Each School Board member typically... Click here to continue reading.