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The Caucus Committee has spent the past few months working hard to recruit, vet, and recommend candidates for endorsement at our upcoming Annual Meeting. Countless hours of work have gone into this effort. We are excited to share the aldermanic candidates who will be presented for endorsement at the Annual Meeting on October 6th: Ward 1 Alderman - Pete Clemens (incumbent) Ward 2 Alderman - John Powers (incumbent) Ward 3 Alderman - Nick Bothfeld (incumbent) Ward 4 Alderman - R

Once a year, Lake Forest comes together to endorse the candidates the Caucus Committee has spent months vetting for some of the most important roles in this city. The Lake Forest Caucus Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 6th at the Gorton Community Center. Doors are open from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm - come when it works for you and cast your votes. All registered Lake Forest voters are eligible to attend and vote. This year, positions up for endorsement include Mayor

We have recently become aware of some confusion in the community regarding the Caucus's endorsement process. As the Caucus is actively engaged in vetting candidates for Mayor, Alderperson, and School Board, we wanted to take a moment to remind the community what the endorsement process will look like this year. For over 90 years, the Lake Forest Caucus has vetted and recommended exceptional candidates for the elected and appointed positions that have made our city what it is

The Lake Forest Caucus is a 100% volunteer organization that operates independently of the City. It receives no public funding nor other institutional support. We have always been funded by our fellow residents. Currently, our annual expenses are ~$42,000. The largest components are the technology platforms and the Caucus website. This year, we plan to make modest technology upgrades to improve our communications with the Lake Forest community. To continue the good work of t

The Lake Forest Caucus exists for one purpose: to identify, vet, and recommend excellent candidates for the offices and boards that shape this community. That is the work we are here to do, and it is the work we are focused on. As part of that commitment, we are clarifying how we will handle the rare circumstance in which a vetted, recommended candidate does not receive a majority vote at the Lake Forest Caucus Annual Meeting. Should this situation occur, a second vote will b

The quality of life residents expect in Lake Forest - the schools, the services, the character of the place - depends on the right people stepping forward to lead it. The Mayor of Lake Forest serves as the head of the City Council in a Council-Manager form of government. The role is part civic leader, part institutional steward - chairing all City Council meetings, working closely with the City Manager on policy and priorities, and serving as the primary representative of Lak

Our schools are one of the reasons many of us chose Lake Forest. This year, School Board seats for both District 67 and 115 need to be filled -- and we are looking for candidates ready to serve. The School Board establishes the District's purpose, hires and evaluates the superintendent, delegates authority through written policy, and monitors whether the District is delivering on its commitments. This is vital work for our community, requiring financial judgment, strategic th

Who is The Lake Forest Caucus? The Lake Forest Caucus Committee is a group of 43 of your neighbors -- volunteers who live in your Ward, send their kids to your schools, and are invested in the same community you are. Every year, these residents give their time to do something most of us don't have the bandwidth to do ourselves: dig deep into the qualifications of every candidate seeking to lead our city and our schools. They conduct structured interviews, review backgrounds,

Serving as your President and steward of the 91st Caucus has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. As my term comes to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the trust you placed in me and for the collective dedication that has driven our shared mission. I have been inspired by the volunteers, advocates, residents and neighbors who work tirelessly to support the Caucus, serve on its committee, build bridges, foster understanding, and create oppor

The Caucus Committee sincerely thanks all Lake Forest residents who voted today! We had a total of 245 votes cast at the Spring Meeting. The final results are 89% in favor with: 219 Yes to 26 No The newly elected Officer Team looks forward to continuing the Caucus mission in 2026-27: recruiting, vetting, and recommending outstanding volunteers for our city government. These dedicated individuals, along with the entire Caucus Committee, remain committed to serving Lake Forest