Is the Lake Forest Caucus Wanted Anymore? Voter Apathy and the Future of Local Governance 🗳️💔

In this compelling episode of the Lake Forest Podcast, hosts Pete Jansons and Joe Weiss tackle the pressing issue of voter apathy and the future of the Lake Forest Caucus. As participation dwindles, with only 257 community members turning out for a pivotal vote, questions arise about the continued relevance of the caucus system in modern governance. 🗳️🌳

Today, we delve into several critical areas:

The alarming lack of voter turnout and what it suggests about the community's interest in local governance.
The role of Lake Forest For Transparency, which has been controversially buying political ads, possibly funded by "Dark Money." Are these efforts influencing the community improperly?
Historical challenges and failures within the caucus, particularly concerning the missing bylaws that were never amended by past presidents like Sheila Henretta, who had the power to make necessary changes but did not.
The potential consequences of leadership changes, inspired by similar shifts in neighboring Highland Park, which have led to an environment perceived as anti-business and anti-police.
A debate on whether it’s time to hold a referendum to decide if the caucus should still exist, given the current sentiments and changing dynamics within Lake Forest.
Pete and Joe also reflect on their personal experiences and frustrations with the caucus system, discussing past leadership failures that have led to today's grievances and the significant influence of local politics on community wellbeing and administrative effectiveness.

Join the discussion: What are your thoughts on the Lake Forest Caucus? Should we move towards reforming or abolishing this traditional system to better suit our city's needs today?

Key Moments:
0:00
2:23 Show Start
2:55 Pete's Hat
4:21 Skoo Walker Show foresaw this Caucus stuff happening 3 years ago clip
5:08 How Many voters in lake forest
6:32 257 people showed up to vote
7:12 The Lake Forest Illinois community doesn't care enough about their government to come out to vote reasons why no one cared to come out to vote
12:27 Pete's disappointed in Lake Forest Community
13:15 Lake Forest For Transparency is buying Political Ads with "Dark Money"
14:43 Missing Bylaws mess clip Sheila Henretta Self Proclaimed Caucus Bylaws expert had every opportunity to correct these bylaw issues when she had power as president of the caucus and now she's complaining about them as a member of the lake forest for transparency team?
15:20 Have a referendum should we have a caucus in lake forest?
15:42 we had a bad run of lake forest caucus presidents
16:00 These Caucus Issues were pointed out years ago by people who did nothing when they had the chance and authority to fix things
16:17 Susan Sailor Daily of the lake forest for transparency group was 1st ward chairman and was offered solutions and did nothing. Then she gets to executive committee of the Caucus and quits
17:06 Lake Forest For Transparency Folks led by John Trkla want to turn Lake Forest Into an Anti Business Anti Police Town Like Highland Park
19:00 Look at what's happening in Highland Park Right Now Jeff Hoobler clip
19:30 Melanie Rummel Jennifer Karras trying to take over Lake Forest City Council and turn into Highland Park AKA ANTI BUSINESS
20:55 The Dilemma is that you cant get 2/3 of voters to change the current bylaws
22:00 Nice Job Lake Forest Way To Show Up To the Annual Meeting
24:27 Sheila Henretta why didn't you fix the bylaws when you had the chance?
24:43 Bylaws were gone off the caucus website under Kim Phahl 5-6-21 clip
25:28 Pete Voting
27:26 Hire a Recruitment firm instead of Caucus?
30:00 Voter Apathy Signals that they don't want to be involved in the Caucus so cancel it
32:57 Why are the "Prue Beidler Lake Forest For Transparency People Upset? IT's not a gender thing as Pete quit the Caucus because they were trying to push a woman as alderman with Nancy Novit
33:20 Pete Caucus Resignation
36:16 All the lake forest for transparency people are people that had an opportunity to change things for the good and did nothing
38:40 Pete is reporting Lake Forest For Transparency as a political 5013 - C
43:23 What if Melanie Rummel is Mayor and Randy Tack is out?
43:41 The Real Power of the lake Forest Mayor
45:42 Mary Cole will lose as States Attorney Lake county
48:30 Rummels dint manage finances properly?
53:27 What were Prue Beidler's Original Issues Gender?