Marcia Bogolub of Highland Park talks to early voter John Grosshandler, also of Highland Park, about the North Shore School District 112 referendum.
Voters were passionate about the $198 million North Shore School District 112 referendum in Highland Park on the first day of early voting February 29, while people casting ballots in Lake Forest were not shy about sharing their feelings on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
“Let’s just say not Trump,” one voter leaving Lake Forest City Hall said as he left.
Several people shared that sentiment but one woman listed several reasons she chose Trump after taking a Republican ballot.
“Our economy,” she put at the top of her list. “We need to get rid of regulations that cramp business and we have to do something about immigration, for all countries not just Mexico.”
A couple who said they were voting early because they are leaving town March 4 and will not be back in time to vote on election day, said their votes were cast as their personal effort to keep Trump from getting the nomination. She voted for Ohio Gov. John Kasich and he cast his ballot for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
“I voted for Kasich,” she said. “I know he doesn’t have much of a chance but I’m not for Trump, Rubio or that other guy, oh, Cruz,” she added referring to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex). I don’t know what’s happening to the Republican Party these days.”
Of the nine people voting in Lake Forest interviewed by Daily North Shore, most said they voted early because they will be out of town on the day of the March 15 primary. They declined to give their names for that reason.
Richard Wendrow of Lake Forest was the lone person voting at City Hall identifying himself. His passion on the Democratic side was no less emphatic, expressing concern about the candidacy of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for president. He voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
“I do not want Hillary (Clinton) to be president so I came out early to vote for Bernie (Sanders),” Wendrow said. “I also wanted to vote for (Highland Park Mayor) Nancy Rotering,” he added referring to his choice for the Democratic nomination for the 10th Congressional District. “She lives by my parents and I’ve known her for forever.”
Rotering is running in the Democratic primary against former Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) for the right to challenge incumbent Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) in the Nov. 8 general election.
Referendum Dominates Highland Park Talk
At the Highland Park Police Station, proponents and opponents of the referendum to build a new middle school in Highland Park, renovate six others and close five more, had volunteers outside the early polling place handing literature to people walking in.
The referendum has caused a lot of debate in Highland Park and Highwood with lawn signs everywhere advocating both sides. It is a topic of conversation in the restaurants and stores.
Marcia Bogolub of Highland Park was distributing flyers supporting the referendum while Jerry Meister, also of Highland Park, was trying to persuade people to vote no. They both acknowledged the issue is consuming residents in Highland Park and Highwood.
“People care about schools and they care about the values of their homes,” Bogolub said touching on the reasons she believes everyone is talking about the referendum.
Meister said he too cares about the schools but said he does not believe District 112 Board of Education members or members of the administration have been forthcoming.
Becky Casey of Highland Park, who had her two preschool children with her, said she came to vote against the referendum.
“I don’t think the big middle school is right for Highland Park,” Casey said. “It’s too big and it doesn’t give the kids enough opportunities. We have three middle schools now and we’re better off that way.”
Jeff Grosshandler of Highland Park, who said he has four sons, two of who will go to the new middle school if it is built and two who are older, said he supported the referendum.
“I’m impressed a majority of the teachers support it,” Grosshandler said. “It’s important we support education.”
Three people said they came out to vote for Rotering and others mentioned both Clinton and Sanders. None of the seven voters questioned said they came out to vote for Schneider.
People who live in Highland Park, Deerfield and Highwood can vote at the police station while those living in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff vote at city hall. Both sites are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Early voting ends in Lake County March 12.
In Cook County, voters can vote at any of the 43 early voting sites open there. The closest to Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Northfield, Northbrook and Glenview are the Northbrook Village Hall, the Glenview Village Hall, Centennial Park in Glenview and the Evanston Civic Center.
Those locations are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Evanston and Northbrook are also open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 6 and 13.
People living in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff can take part in early voting at the Lake Forest City Hall.