[Peace] today's elections - resources and opinions

[Danielle Chynoweth]

Dear Friends,

Local elections are TODAY Tuesday, April 1st.  Polls are open 6 AM to 7 
PM. Please take the time to vote.  

There are a number of important elections today - 2 contested School Board 
elections in Urbana, 8 folks running for 4 seats on Champaign School 
Board, and 6 running for 3 seats on Champaign City Council, and 2 
Champaign Park Commissioners seats are open with 3 running. 

Since people often approach me in the final days before an election asking 
for my position on the candidates, I've compiled a list of voter resources 
and statements on who I would vote for in contested races in C-U.  In 
general, this list reflects my assessment of who are the most progressive 
candidates on the issues.  For this election I consider racial equity, 
government openness and accountability, living wage, and fair housing as 
the top issues.  

RESOURCES
Print a sample ballot, find your polling place, and view your voter 
registration information:
http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/registrationstatus.asp

Candidate responses to NOW's questionnaire and some discussion:
http://che.ojctech.com/~chyn/public/elections/  --> download from here

UI League of Women Voters candidate info (student/campus focused): 
http://www2.uiuc.edu/ro/LWV/april2003.htm


CANDIDATES
Urbana School Board: 
---------------------------
I strongly support COPE CUMPSTON in sub-district 4 which includes most of 
the Historic neighborhoods in East and West Urbana.  Cope is a progressive 
activist and civil rights leader.  Cope supports racial equity, better 
community and government relations with the school district, and 
neighborhood preservation in the face of campus expansion.  Whereas 
current School Board leadership has pushed for punitive solutions to 
complex problems, Cope supports understanding the roots of the problem and 
bringing all parties to the table to find solutions.  She is a strong 
leader with a gentle, inclusive leadership style. To read more about Cope, 
go to: www.copeforschools.org.

CAROL GEORGE, who is running unopposed in the mostly African-American, 
King neighborhood sub-district, is a strong progressive voice for racial 
equity, multicultural curriculum, and democratization of district 
decisions.  I interviewed her for an hour on WEFT and was impressed with 
her ideas, passion, and vision. After the elections, the School District 
plans to challenge Carol George who is running unopposed in the King 
School sub-district.  The District claims she does not meet residency 
requirements.  Carol insists she does and intends to fight the district in 
the courts.  


Champaign City Council: (3 seats)
-------------------------------------------
KEN URBAN
Professor at Parkland, Union Member
Top issues: Living Wage, Domestic Partner Benefits, Affordable Housing, 
City Recycling, the Arts

GERALDO ROSALES

Director, La Casa Cultural Latina, Champaign Human Relations Commission 
and Police/Community Task Force, Board Member of Arts Alliance
Top Issues: Diversity, even economic growth throughout the city, 
supporting democracy on the neighborhood level, fairness in housing 
policies.


Champaign School Board: (4 seats)
------------------------------------------
MARGIE SKIRVIN
Served one term as School Board member, on Illinois PTA State Board of 
Managers
Margie is a long time advocate of openness and transparency.  She strongly 
opposed the trend on the School Board to limit public participation.  She 
is a strong advocate for equity and fairness.

NATHANIEL BANKS
Asst Dean of students, UI; worked on Charter School Initiative
Nathaniel is a thoughtful candidate with a strong commitment and promising 
set of ideas to raise the  achievements levels of and level the playing 
field for African American youth.

Please view last Sunday's News Gazette, March 30th, A-3 for extensive 
responses from School Board candidates. 


- Danielle

-- 
| Danielle Chynoweth
|
| Art Director * OJC Technologies * ojctech.com
| City Council Member * Urbana City Council * city.urbana.il.us