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THE PROCESS: NUTS AND BOLTS
Under the Glencoe Caucus Plan, there are two separate Caucuses: the Village Nominating Committee, which seeks and evaluates candidates for the Village, Park and Library Boards, and the School Board Nominating Committee, which seeks and evaluates candidates for the Glencoe District 35 School Board and the New Trier High School Board Caucus.
Representatives to these two caucuses are elected from each of the eight precincts in Glencoe: three to the Village Nominating Committee and two to the School Board Nominating Committee. This occurs in the Spring of even numbered years. Members to the next caucuses will be elected in March 2012.
There is also a third body, which is not a caucus, called the Advisory Council. This is a six-member group composed of former Nominating Committee members who manage the finances of the Nominating Committees, interpret provisions of the Caucus Plan, assist with campaigning when necessary, and give advice to the nominating committees.
Terms on each of the three bodies comprising the Glencoe Caucus are 4 years. Terms are staggered, with half the members turning over every two years so that new members come in for each election cycle. The make-up of the caucus changes constantly. Members may not run for consecutive terms.
Once Caucus members are elected, the process of seeking qualified candidates to run for the various Boards begins. Caucus members gather information about the issues in a variety of ways, including attending meetings of the various Boards, reviewing minutes of Board meetings, and gathering input from community members about their concerns.
Over the summer and fall months following their election, caucus members will meet to identify, interview, and evaluate individuals who seek to serve on the various governing Boards. Once the Caucuses have completed this process, their recommended candidate slates are presented to the residents of Glencoe for ratification at a Biennial Town Meeting, held in December. If ratified, petitions are circulated for endorsement of each candidate. Elections by traditional procedures are held the following spring, and those who are elected take office thereafter. The next election will be April 2013.
Meetings for the purpose of interviewing candidates are open to the public and the public is encouraged to attend at least one such meeting to see the caucus in action. In addition to attending meetings of the caucuses, residents of Glencoe are encouraged to register to vote and to exercise this right in all elections; to attend meetings of the Village, Park District, Library and School Boards; and to attend the Glencoe Biennial Town Meeting.
The Caucus system relies on the voluntary contribution of time and effort from Village residents so that it may accurately represent as many viewpoints as possible in selecting board members. All residents are strongly encouraged to run for a position on a Nominating Committee to assist in finding and selecting capable and committed individuals to serve on the Village and School governing bodies and the New Trier School Board nominating committee.
If you are interested in running for a position on either the Village or School Board Nominating Committee in 2012 see the “New Member Info” tab for applications and 2012 deadline information.
Caucus Plan (PDF)
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