Volume 3, Issue 3: march 6, 2019 THE publIshed In partnershIp wIth the shopper LANSING JOURNAL Every community deserves a good newspaper Sign up for daily news: TheLansingJournal.com FastGetting facts about the ready choices Lansing for voters April face at the polls2 WHY VOTE? Residents who vote are responsible for choosing the people who will directly impact community life and services in our schools, library, parks, and government. Early voting begins March 18 at the Lansing Public Library. Tuesday, April 2, is Election Day at polling places throughout Lansing. LANSING, Ill. present as much (March 1, 2019) - Part of information as possible, in dollars, so their Boards are elected pages inside, readers will find brief what makes election season diffi- as balanced a format as possible, so cult—particularly for first-time by tax-paying voters. bios of the candidates who respond- that individual voters can decide voters—is that municipal elections The boxes below give a brief over- ed to our request for information. which candidates’ qualifications involve multiple entities. These en- view of what these organizations do The Lansing Journal does not en- are best suited to the job residents’ tities are all supported by taxpayer for the Lansing community. On the dorse any particular candidates. We taxes are paying them to do. VILLAGE BOARD District 215 District 171* District 158* LIBRARY BOARD PARK BOARD TRUSTEES SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES COMMISSIONERS WHAT THEY DO TRUSTEES TRUSTEES TRUSTEES WHAT THEY DO WHAT THEY DO Village Trustees initi- WHAT THEY DO *Lansing residents living *Lansing residents living The Library Board hires The Park Board is primar- ate, consider, and vote School Board 215 estab- south of 186th vote for this north of 186th vote for this and oversees the Library ily responsible for poli- Elementary School District. Elementary School District. on issues that affect life lishes policy to provide a Director, who consults cy-making, but also works in Lansing—economic school system that rep- WHAT THEY DO WHAT THEY DO with them about program- closely with Lan-Oak Park development, public safety, resents the best com- School Board 171 respon- School Board 158 Trustees ming and finances. The District Superintendents roads and infrastructure, munity and professional sibilities include direct- establish vision, adopt Library Board is respon- to maintain and enhance finances, and proper- concepts of education. The ing the Superintendent, budgets, set calendars, ap- sible for reviewing the Lansing’s parks, bike path, ty. Trustees make their Board oversees the Super- overseeing the budget, prove curriculum, and hire budget and approving all Eisenhower Community decisions by listening to intendent, who applies the approving curriculum, the Superintendent, who expenditures. Center, and Eisenhower resident concerns, asking policies and is responsible evaluating the educational oversees the five elementa- Fitness Center, and to WHAT THEy’rE PAID for staff recommendations, for the effective adminis- program, and communi- ry schools in this district, make programming and and considering long-term tration of the four schools cating the schools’ activi- all located in Lansing. $0/year facilities available for use impacts. ties to the community. The by residents and other in this district. District 215 WHAT THEy’rE PAID TERMS includes Calumet City as two schools in this district The seven Library Trustees community organizations. WHAT THEy’rE PAID $0/year well as Lansing. are located in Lansing and are elected to staggered $13,000/year WHAT THEy’rE PAID serve families in Lansing TERMS AND MEETINGS six-year terms. The Library WHAT THEy’rE PAID and Lynwood. $0/year TERMS AND MEETINGS School Board 158 consists Board meets once a month. $0/year of seven Trustees elected The Village Board consists WHAT THEy’rE PAID VOTER CHOICES TERMS AND MEETINGS to four-year terms. The of six Trustees elected to TERMS AND MEETINGS $0/year Vote for 2 of these 3: The five Trustees are usual meeting schedule is four-year terms. The usual School Board 215 consists 5 Lillian Ball elected to six-year terms. TERMS AND MEETINGS once a month. meeting schedule is twice of seven Trustees elected 5 Geoffrey M. Erlenborn The Park Board meets School Board 171 is a month. to four-year terms. The 5 Judy Koch once a month. composed of seven VOTER CHOICES usual meeting schedule is Vote for 3 of these 4: VOTER CHOICES Trustees elected to four- see bios on page 4 VOTER CHOICES once a month. 5 Abimael Duran Vote for 3 of these 4: year terms. Usual meeting Vote for 3 of these 3: 5 Mary Kelly 5 Saad Abbasy (Village VOTER CHOICES schedule is once a month. 5 Karen Adams Voice Party) Vote for 3 of these 6: 5 Denise Jones Williams 5 Jim Long 5 Mike Fish (Village Voice 5 Sheryl Black (All Voices VOTER CHOICES 5 Jencelyn King-Witzel 5 Micaela Smith Party) Matter) Vote for 4 of these 5: no bios available no bios available 5 Larry Thomas 5 Michael Bolz (Citizens 5 Dennis J Altgilbers Jr. (Independent candidate) for District 215) 5 Desiree Ambrose 5 Jerry Zeldenrust (Village 5 Kevin Green (All Voices 5 David M. Lilly District 510 Voice Party) Matter) 5 Cozette Y. Pettigrew SOUTH SUBURbaN COLLEGE BOARD TRUSTEES 5 Jesse Michael Terrazas see bios on page 3 5 Miacole Nelson (All District 510 includes 18 villages, ranging in population from 1,532 (East Hazel Crest) Voices Matter) see bios on page 4 to 56,831 (Tinley Park). With a population of 28,086, Lansing is the third largest 5 Rita Oberman (Citizens village served by South Suburban College, so it is important for Lansing to have rep- for District 215) resentation on the Board. 5 Morgan Waller (Citizens WHAT THEy’rE PAID VOTER CHOICES for District 215) $0/year Vote for 2 of these 3: see bios on page 3 5 Anthony DeFilippo TERMS AND MEETINGS 5 Vivian Payne The seven Trustees are elected to six-year 5 Max Solomon terms. The South Suburban College Board meets once a month. no bios available o. 130 o. N ermit P L I omewood, H p4— Lynnie Ques anniversary is p10– JJ Kelley’s, the Crosbys, and ustomer C ostal P A WEE PAID St. Patrick’s Day St. Baldrick’s esidential esidential R E AG ST PO U.S. U.S. TOUCH OF WSS CR E p7— New nartoon from comic p13– The Lansing Journal jour- D ST T R S PR IRELAND IN THIS Issue— artist Jim Siergey neys to Ireland 2 2 | March 6, 2019 | The Lansing Journal Every community deserves a good newspaper When and where to vote in Lansing Early Voting, Election Day polling places, and ways to register to vote BY MELANIE JONGSMA voting will be available only at assigned polling REGISTERING TO VOTE places, from 6:00am–7:00pm. There are 10 polling US citizens who turn 18 on or before April 2 this LANSING, Ill. (March 1, 2019) - Voters in Lansing places in Lansing, serving 20 precincts: year, and who live in their election precinct at least have a variety of options—for registering to vote 1. Bethel Church (3500 Glenwood-Lansing Rd)—Pre- 30 days prior to April 2, are eligible to register. as well as for actually casting a ballot. Early Voting cincts 5, 14, 18, and 44 Illinois allows residents to register online. begins on Monday, March 18, at the Lansing Public 2. Coolidge School (17845 Henry St)—Precincts 16 and 65 Vote.gov is a user-friendly portal to registration. Library. And Election Day voting takes place on April 3. First Church PCA (3134 Ridge Rd)—Precincts 43, 47, Registration is also possible at all Early Voting 2 at the specific polling places listed in this article. and 57 sites—two forms of ID are needed, one of which 4. Lansing Police Department (2710 170th)—Precinct 17 EARLY VOTING 5. Lansing Presbyterian Church (2625 Ridge Rd)—Pre- shows the voter’s current address. Carolyn Smith People who take advantage of Early Voting cincts 19 and 68 is one of the officials who serve during Early report that the benefits include avoiding the lines 6. On Election Day, Lansing Public Library (2750 Indi- Voting at the Lansing Public Library, and she and and the last-minute politicking that are typical ana Ave) is the polling place for Precinct 18. It is only her team work hard to accommodate new voters of Election Day voting. The Lansing location for during Early Voting that all Lansing residents can vote and make the voting experience enjoyable. Early Voting is the Lansing Public Library. Dates at the library, regardless and hours are: of precinct. • Monday, March 18: 9:00am–5:00pm 7. New Hope Church (3642 • Tuesday, March 19: 9:00am–5:00pm Lake St)—Precinct 51 carolyn smith shows off the selfie station • Wednesday, March 20: 9:00am–5:00pm 8. Oak Glen School (2101 during last october’s early Voting. • Thursday, March 21: 9:00am–5:00pm E. 182nd St)—Precincts (photo: melanie Jongsma) • Friday, March 22: 9:00am–5:00pm 50, 114, and 117 • Saturday, March 23: 9:00am–5:00pm 9. Reavis School (17121 Roy • Sunday, March 24: 10:00am–4:00pm St)—Precincts 13 and 61 • Monday, March 25: 9:00am–7:00pm 10. St. Anthony (3025 Spring • Tuesday, March 26: 9:00am–7:00pm Lake Dr)—Precinct 56 • Wednesday, March 27: 9:00am–7:00pm If you have a Voter ID, • Thursday, March 28: 9:00am–7:00pm your precinct number is • Friday, March 29: 9:00am–7:00pm printed on it. The Cook • Saturday, March 30: 9:00am–5:00pm County website also • Sunday, March 31: 10:00am–4:00pm provides easy access to • Monday, April 1: 9:00am–5:00pm polling information— Voters do not need a government-issued photo ID voters can input their in order to early vote, but it can be helpful in case of address and last name, questions about a voter’s registration, address, or and the site will pro- signature.