Politics & Government

Voters Overturn Caucus Endorsement

Town meeting backs Farkas, Oppenheim and Struthers for Village Board slate. Rosenthal, unopposed, gets nod for mayor.

Voters at Deerfield’s 29th biennial Town Meeting voted to back two of the Deerfield Village Caucus’s choices for the Board of Trustees in the April 9 election and overturn a third selection Tuesday at Caruso Middle School.

Mayor Harriet Rosenthal was the only mayoral hopeful to submit to the caucus process. She got the necessary votes to earn the support of the Caucus. That choice was ratified by the voters Tuesday.

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, a member of the Planning Commission. Trustee Mary Oppenheim and Planning Commissioner Jim Moyer were not backed.

The Town meeting is the opportunity for any interested Deerfield voter to hear a three-minute statement from each candidate who was interviewed by the Caucus as well as get answers to questions asked from the floor. They then vote on the slate which will be the Caucus backed party in April.

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After 163 registered Deerfield voters at the meeting heard from Moyer, Oppenheim, Farkas and Struthers as well as a statement from Nadler who was out of town on business, they picked Struthers, Oppenheim and Farkas.

“I did my best to present my ideas,” Oppenheim said after the meeting. “I did my best to say what my ideas are (for Deerfield) and it is meaningful to me the voters reaffirmed their faith in me.”

At one point, it appeared some incumbents were working together. When the candidates were all asked what they would do to work with neighboring communities, Farkas talked about joint buying efforts to reduce costs and then mentioned Oppenheim’s work with the Illinois Municipal League.

After Moyer responded it was Oppenheim’s turn. “I do participate in the Illinois Municipal League,” she said. “We lobby on state and national issue to get support for municipalities.”

Farkas said after the meeting he was not showing support but pointing out the value of the experience a person gains serving on the Board. “I was trying to make sure people understood the value of having served,” he said.

Though Rosenthal’s backing was all but assured, she still expressed relief when the results were announced. “I had to have one vote,” she said. “I’m glad to have the backing of the Caucus. I am a firm believer in the process.” After one term as mayor and six on the Board, she is no newcomer to the process.

Rosenthal along with Farkas, Oppenheim and Struthers will make up the party slate and must file nominating petitions along with anyone else wishing to run for mayor or trustee by 5 p.m. Dec. 26.

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