Tonight: Trustee Debate in Lincolnwood!

Residents of Lincolnwood have a unique opportunity before them: Tonight will be an open trustee debate, with all nine candidates attending.

The event is open to the public and will be broadcast on TV. Skokie Patch and the Lincolnwood Review will also be covering the event.

Each candidate will have one minute to give an opening statement. They will also have two minutes to answer questions posed by the moderator, Skokie Patch.

If appropriate, a one minute rebuttal will be allowed. There will be no closing statements due to number of candidates running and time constraints.

(Skokie Patch will have a separate reporter covering the event)

Where and when is the debate?

• The debate is tonight, Thursday, March 14, at Lincolnwood Village Hall, 6900 Lincoln Ave., at 7 p.m. 

How many questions were submitted?

• The community submitted more than 50 questions to Skokie Patch. The moderator will only ask four to six questions, however. This is due to time constraints.

For reporters and candidates running for trustee only:

• Both reporters and trustees may attend the debate an hour early to prep and get a feel for the room, layout. Reporters will also be on hand to ask questions prior to the event.
• Residents will not be allowed inside during this time frame (6 p.m.)

Running for Village Trustee (There are three open seats):

• Ronald Cope (Independent)
• Lawrence Elster (Independent Party - Incumbent)
• Demerise “Reese” Gratch (Independent Party)
• Jean Ikezoe-Halevi (Independent)
• Craig Klatzco (Independent)
• Mira Mazur (Forward Vision Party)
• Jennifer Spino (Forward Vision Party)
• John Swanson (Independent Party - Incumbent)
• Martin Youkhanna (Forward Vision Party)

Debate Ground Rules:

1) Legally qualified candidates found eligible to be on the April 9, 2013 ballot are invited to participate in the debates.

2) The moderators and timekeeper will be selected by Skokie Patch.

3) There will be no substitutes or stand-ins for the candidates.

4) Candidates will have access to the site one hour before the forum.

5) No campaign banners, signs, literature handouts or other campaign paraphernalia will be allowed in the forum.

6) The audience will be asked to refrain from applauding or in other ways demonstrating support or nonsupport for a candidate. 

7) The moderator gives opening remarks and introduce the candidates.

8) Speaking order will be determined by randomly drawing candidate names from a container. A separate draw of names will be conducted for opening statements.

9) Each candidate is permitted to give an opening statement limited to one minute.

10) Candidates will be asked a series of pre-determined questions that were submitted by the community at large and selected at the moderator’s discretion.

11) The moderator will pose questions to candidates in a staggered format. Each candidate’s response will be limited to two minutes. After all candidates have responded, a one-minute rebuttal may be given at the moderator’s discretion. 

12) Time limits on responses will be strictly observed. A timekeeper will flash cards to indicate the amount of time left. 

13) The moderator will have the responsibility of enforcing time limits. The moderator will also have the authority to interrupt the proceedings to enforce the ground rules and format that were agreed to by the candidates.

14) The candidates will not interrupt one another.

15) Candidates will abide by the Village of Lincolnwood General Policy and Conditions for Use of the Village Hall for Political Campaign Forums and Debates.

Election day is April 9.

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