Referendum Foes Get Outside Help

Update 4/9 at 12:30 p.m.: Education First issued a statement today saying that there is "no affiliation between Education First and Americans for Prosperity."

From Education First Communications Director Peter Lucas:

This past Sunday, Joe Hahn offered his help to distribute literature on behalf of Education First as his parents still live in District 113. No other members of Americans for Prosperity participated in this effort. The other dozen people Mr. Hahn referred to are all Education First members that have no affiliation with Americans for Prosperity. In speaking with The Patch, Mr. Hahn took it upon himself to suggest that he recruited other members of Americans for Prosperity, when that it is not the case. His remarks to The Patch are misleading and his participation was unsolicited by Education First.

Earlier: Supporters and opponents of the $89 million Referendum to renovate Highland Park and Deerfield High Schools got help Sunday in advance of Tuesday’s election that will decide the plan’s fate.

More than a dozen people heeded a call from , to go door to door explaining why they thought there was a better way to upgrade the schools without a tax increase.

Earlier: District 113 Referendum Years in the Making to Be Decided Tuesday

“Increasing taxes and using the referendum is not the best proposal,” Joe Hahn, one of four AFP organizers in Illinois and a 2008 Deerfield High School graduate, said. “The best proposal would be a more affordable plan. Eighty-nine million dollars is a lot of money.” His parents still live in the Village.

Though AFP is a national organization, Hahn explained organizing for local issues is important to the organization. “There are 137 referendums in 62 counties in Illinois,” he said. “We love to do local events.” Being in his hometown made is particularly special for Hahn.

Meanwhile, Deerfield High School students favoring the referendum made two videos to demonstrate why they support the plan.

One presentation gives a tour of the school showing why the students feel a need exists and the other features statements from students explaining why they feel facilities are deficient. The videos are attached to this article.

On Friday, opponents of the referendum accused Highland Park and Deerfield High School teachers of pressuring students to support the referendum.

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