Letter to the Editor

Letter: League of Women Voters Opposes Illinois Pension Amendment

The League of Women Voters of Downers Grove/Woodridge/Lisle writes in opposition to an amendment that would require a 3/5 majority vote in order to increase a benefit under any public pension or retirement system.

Downers Grove Patch accepts letters to the editor, which will be posted on the site weekly. The following was submitted by Lisle resident Jeff Gimm in DuPage County Forest Preserve District 2 candidate Don Kirchenberg. If you're interested in submitting a letter, e-mail Downers Grove Patch Editor Amanda Luevano at amanda@patch.com. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  To the Editor, Downers Grove Patch: On Nov. 6, Illinois voters will vote on a proposal to amend the Illinois Constitution to require a 3/5 majority vote in order to increase a benefit under any public pension or retirement system. Raising such a benefit would require a 3/5 majority vote in each chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, as well as in the governing bodies of any unit…

• Photos (1)

Downers Grove, DuPage High School Students Choose Obama During Mock Elections

Students at 18 schools in DuPage County participated in mock elections earlier this month. Of the 18 schools, only three voted Mitt Romney ahead of Barack Obama.

Downers Grove, DuPage High School Students Choose Obama During Mock Elections

Students at 18 schools in DuPage County participated in mock elections earlier this month. Of the 18 schools, only three voted Mitt Romney ahead of Barack Obama.

Most DuPage County high school students prefer Barack Obama over Mitt Romney, according to mock elections conducted earlier this month. The only schools where students chose Romney over Obama were Wheaton North (682-677), Benet Academy (315-173) and Hinsdale Central (243-172), according to the DuPage Election Commission. The DuPage County Board of Election Commissioners and local chapters of the League of Women Voters (LWV) staged and coordinated the mock elections at18 high schools, including Downers Grove North. The league received $7,125 in grant money from the election commission to conduct the elections, all of which were held during the first week of October. In all, President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden received 9,540 votes, …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (2)

League of Women Voters to Host Candidate Forum Tuesday in Downers Grove

The League of Women Voters of Downers Grove/Woodridge/Lisle will host a forum at 7 p.m. at Village Hall for Dupage County Board and Forest Preserve District candidates of District 2.

The League of Women Voters of Downers Grove/Woodridge/Lisle will host a candidate forum Tuesday for the DuPage County Board and Forest Preserve District candidates in County District 2. The forum will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Downers Grove Village Hall, 801 Burlington Ave. All candidates running for the DuPage County Board and Forest Preserve District in District 2 were invited. County board candidates in District 2 are Republicans Peter DiCianni, Sean Noonan and Elaine Zannis, and Democrat Elizabeth Chaplin. Running against incumbent Joseph Cantore in the forest preserve race is Don Kirchenberg. The public is invited to attend the forum to learn more about the candidates and the issues currently facing the …

•  7 Comments
• Photos (1)

Patch, League of Women Voters Invite Roskam, Coolidge to Candidate Forum

Patch has partnered with the Palatine-area League of Women Voters to host a candidate forum for the 6th Congressional District race on Thursday, Oct. 11 in Palatine.

Patch has partnered with the League of Women Voters of the Palatine Area to invite candidates in the Illinois 6th Congressional District race to a candidate forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11 at Palatine Village Hall. The invitation is the group's second attempt to host such a debate, after Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton) was unable to attend the Oct. 4 event. Candidate Leslie Coolidge (D-Barrington) previously accepted the Oct. 4 invitation and has accepted the Oct. 11 invitation. The Roskam for Congress campaign staff indicated the original date was during the time the House Majority Leader asked representatives to serve in Washington DC. Campaign staff said Roskam could not commit to events in his district that week unless the House …

•  57 Comments
• Photos (1)

League of Women Voters to Host Pension Reform Panel in Downers Grove

The Downers Grove/Woodridge/Lisle will host Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) on Wednesday, Sept. 19, for a discussion on the state's pension obligations.

The League of Women Voters of Downers Grove/Woodridge/Lisle will host a public pension reform panel Wednesday to discuss the state's unfunded pension liability. The forum will be held at 7 p.m. at the Downers Grove Fire Department Administrative Building, 5420 Main St. The League of Women Voters has organized a panel of local leaders to lead a discussion on the state's $83 billion unfunded pension liability, and what should be done in Springfield to address the issue. Panel members are Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont); Hans Zigmund, associate director and economist from the governor's office of management and budget; Richard Ingram, executive director of the Teachers Retirement System (TRS); and Larry Spivack, regional …

• Photos (1)

League of Women Voters Announces Pension Reform Panel in Downers Grove

The Downers Grove/Woodridge/Lisle will host Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) on Sept. 19 for a discussion on the state's pension obligations.

The League of Women Voters of Downers Grove/Woodridge/Lisle will host a public pension reform panel later this month to discuss the state's unfunded pension liability. The forum will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Downers Grove Fire Department Administrative Building, 5420 Main St. The League of Women Voters has organized a panel of local leaders to lead a discussion on the state's $83 billion unfunded pension liability, and what should be done in Springfield to address the issue. Panel members are Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont); Hans Zigmund, associate director and economist from the governor's office of management and budget; Richard Ingram, executive director of the Teachers Retirement System (TRS…

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

DuPage County Board Republican Primary Candidates Distinguish Themselves at LWV Forum

Primary election will be March 20; early voting starts Feb. 27.

Republicans vying for a seat in DuPage County Board District 2 had a chance last weekend to set themselves apart from one another in the crowded Primary race. At the Elmhurst League of Women Voters candidate forum at Elmhurst College Sunday, the audience heard from Michael Loftus of Lisle, Elaine Zannis of Oak Brook, Zachary Wilson of Lombard, and Pete DiCianni, Charles Mueller, Sean Noonan and Rafael Rivadeneira, all of Elmhurst. Candidate Jim Long of Downers Grove did not attend. They answered questions posed by the League on transportation, affordable housing and attracting green businesses in DuPage County. But it was the audience questions, like "Will you sign up for a pension from DuPage County if elected?," that perhaps most …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (2)

LizW

9:37 am on Sunday, March 4, 2012

At the Lisle Republican Candidate Forum and as his direct response to term limits, Dicianni tells us that he is not interested in lifelong politics because he has a business to run. He said " that’s what I do full time for a living" In this article because it was a convenient answer to the question, he tells the LWV that his sisters run his business. Which is it? Do you work full time for a …   more ›

League of Women Voters Celebrates 90 Years of Education and Advocacy

Local chapter focuses on issues, voter participation.

While the results of the 2010 Illinois Census have yet to be released, early indications indicate the state is poised to lose one, if not two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. That development—and the redistricting that will result—was the focus of conversation at the Nov. 17 meeting of the Downers Grove, Woodridge and Lisle chapter of the League of Women Voters. It's the sort of discussion that has occupied the organization since its founding 90 years ago in Chicago with a mission to  "encourage informed and active participation in government, increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy." In keeping with that mission, the Downers Grove, Lisle and Woodridge …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (3)