March 22, 2023
In this Issue: Register and Vote Now! ● Barrington Candidates Battle Right-Wingers ● Democrats Turn Out for ArtWauk Open House Hosted by Lake Dems ● Allena Barbato is on (Almost) Every Ballot Countywide – She’s Probably on Yours ● Let’s Talk Politics Event Energizes Lake County Democrats ● Dems Attend Brad Schneider’s Campaign Kickoff ● Stop Right-Wing Takeovers ● Volunteer Spotlight ● ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) ● Upcoming Events
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Register and Vote Now!
Countywide Early Voting has begun. Most locations are open Monday through Friday, from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. Early Voting sites in Mundelein, North Chicago, and Waukegan will be open Sundays and will have extended hours starting on March 27. Click here for a complete list of Early Voting sites and their hours of operation. Not sure if you’re registered to vote? Click here to check your registration status.
You may still register to vote during Early Voting at any Early Voting site, or on Election Day at your home polling place. If you register during Early Voting or on Election Day and want to vote in the current election, you must vote at the same time. You will need two forms of identification, one of which must show your Lake County address. Check out this list for what is acceptable.
If you have any questions about registering to vote or voting in the April 4 election, call the Lake County Democrats’ Voter Assistance Hotline at 847-432-8683.
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Barrington Candidates Battle Right-Wingers
Candidates battling right-wingers: (l to r) Barry Altshuler and Leah Collister-Lazzari, candidates for District 220 School Board; Rachel Forsyth-Tuerck and Jackie McGrath (face turned), candidates for Barrington Library District Trustee.
A well-funded right-wing attack machine is trying to take over the Barrington School Board and Library Board this election. Spearheaded by the national groups Awake and Moms for Liberty, right-wing candidates have tried their best to hide their book-banning and curriculum-controlling agendas. The Barrington School Board and Library Board Trustee candidates are fighting back with boots on the ground and a broad coalition of volunteers who are creating an astonishing neighbor-to-neighbor campaign.
Last Sunday, the Barrington candidates appeared at a well-attended coffee sponsored by former State Senate candidate Maria Peterson. Speaking were school board candidates Barry Altshuler and Leah Collister-Lazzari; Library board candidates Lindsay Prigge, Rachel Forsyth-Tuerck and Jackie McGrath; and Village of Barrington trustee candidate Brian Prigge. The school board candidates spoke about how only two wins by right-wing candidates will give these extremists a majority on the board, which will allow them to expand their radical censorship agenda. The library board faces a collection of candidates who explicitly want to ban books. Fortunately, many people in Barrington seem to be realizing what the misleading buzzwords “parental control” really mean — control by a few ideologues of what our children learn and read.
If you want to help defeat the right-wingers in several areas of Lake County, please reply to info@lakedems.org.
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Democrats Turn Out for ArtWauk Open House Hosted by Lake Dems
Democrats turned out for this festive monthly event held in the Arts & Entertainment District near our office in Waukegan. Lively discussions broke out, and we addressed many important issues of the day. Snacks were served and galleries and other venues in the area were open to passersby.
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Allena Barbato is on (Almost) Every Ballot Countywide – She’s Probably on Yours
The College of Lake County (CLC) is the choice for many Lake County residents who want a high-quality education or technical skills at a lower cost. Now a candidate for the CLC Board of Trustees, Democrat Allena Barbato came close to winning the 32nd District State Senate seat in Northwest Lake County in 2022. Her name will appear on almost every Lake County ballot in the April 4 election.
Allena brings a deep love for CLC and its goals to her campaign, drawing on her experience as a former administrative leader at the college. She will work to ensure that high-quality education continues to be the top priority at CLC. Allena is eager to get the word out so local students know that they can move to a high-skilled career or a four-year college directly from CLC. With the expansion of the Lakeshore Campus in Waukegan, and the increased availability of grants, Allena will be an ambassador to diverse communities for one of the best assets in Lake County – the College of Lake County.
With experience as a village trustee in Lake Villa, an administrator at Rosalind Franklin University, and a leader in her church, Allena will bring her management and people skills to the CLC Board to ensure that the college remains an excellent resource.
And because she is running against many Republicans, including at least one right-winger, many of us are voting ONLY for her to be a College of Lake County Trustee.
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Let’s Talk Politics Event Energizes Lake County Democrats
On March 18, a Saturday afternoon filled with sun and snow, Tenth Dems hosted Let’s Talk Politics at the Fox Lake District Library, in partnership with Lake Dems and Grant Township Democrats.
Democrats from the area and across the county brought new perspectives and ideas about the issues facing their communities, our state, and our nation to this well-attended event. The wide-ranging discussion branched from ways to engage more Democrats and new voters, to how we can maintain our Democracy for the next generation.
The conversation included establishing a committee focused on veterans and organizing events specifically designed to engage young people. A Labor event is already being planned for the near future and many people signed up to help plan events and organize volunteers.
There was also discussion of practical ways to increase voter turn out. To that end, in the fall Lake Dems will be repeating our Connection Canvassing initiative that made such a difference in 2022. (We did it in the summer and fall of 2021.) And in the summer and fall of 2023, months before the 2024 election gets underway, Lake Dems volunteers will knock doors to listen to what’s on voters’ minds. We will be letting voters know that Democrats care about them, even when there’s not an election coming up, and without reference to any particular candidates.
The lively dialogue energized many of those attending to volunteer to organize and lead some of these projects. If you are interested in planning or hosting a TDU event please reply to this email. There are so many ways to get involved with Lake Dems. Click here to volunteer and let us know what areas you are interested in.
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Dems Attend Brad Schneider’s Campaign Kickoff
Fellow Dems helped kick off Congressman Brad Schneider’s 2024 campaign on March 19 in Northbrook. Some of those attending were (l-r), Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, Vernon Township Supervisor Jonathan Altenberg, State Senator Adriane Johnson (Dist. 30), Lake County Board Member Marah Altenberg (Dist. 19), Congressman Brad Schneider, Warren-Newport Library Board Trustee Celeste Flores, and 10th Congressional District State Central Committeeman Thomas Maillard.
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Stop Right-Wing Takeovers
In several areas in Lake County, right-wingers are poised to take over school boards, library boards, and other levels of local government. You can prevent that by knocking on doors and/or dropping literature for candidates who share our values.
Let us know if you can spend a few hours to help stop right-wing takeovers. Please reply to info@tenthdems.org. Thank you!
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Volunteer Spotlight
Lake Dems is grateful for our many active volunteers.
Joe Bilas is a fabulous addition to our all-volunteer team! A busy high school student, Joe still finds time to help plan events and is always there to assist with set up and take down, as well as covering the events as a field reporter for the Lake Dems Weekly Update. He has published other articles as well and, as a member of the Communications Committee, provides a fresh new perspective to the editorial staff. We are so fortunate to have him.
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Illinois Becomes Third State in the Nation to Guarantee Paid Leave
Lake County Board Supports Route 53 Land Expansion Alternative Use Task Force Proposal
Why March is National Women’s History Month
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Upcoming Events
WEDNESDAY, MAR. 22
Waukegan Township Presents Artis Yancey HBCU College Tour Informational Meeting. 5:30-6:30pm, Waukegan. More.
MONDAY, MAR. 27
IDCCA 2023 Party Builder Awards Reception. 5:30-7pm, Chicago. More.
For the complete list of Upcoming Events, go to lakedems.org/events.
Click here to submit your event for consideration.
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How Do I Join Lake County Democrats?
Lake County Democrats is made up of people like you, people who are passionate about building better communities and a better world. We’re a grassroots political organization, working with Democrats in all parts of Lake County – from Antioch to Highland Park, Libertyville to Waukegan, Barrington to Zion. Become a member online now, (individual: $35/couples $60 – though more is always appreciated), or send a check payable to Lake County Democrats to P.O. Box 671, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Questions? Contact info@lakedems.org.
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