The Non-Partisan Committee of Park Forest remains intact but without a new slate of officers, which was the goal of a community meeting held Saturday.
The Non-Partisan Committee, which has existed since 1955, encourages candidates to run independent of political parties and provides an equal and open forum for all candidates to share their views. After the recent death of longtime committee member Al Sturges and the exit of its only three officers, whose two-year terms all expired last month, the future of this committee appeared in flux.
Of the two dozen or so people in attendance Saturday, only a handful volunteered to help keep the committee alive, but none were willing to immediately step up as an officer. Many had questions as to how the committee was run and its responsibilities.
“I believe there is room for education and communication on what the nonpartisan group is all about,” outgoing committee secretary Elissa Seeman said. “But there must be a will of the community, of the majority of the people. I’m not sure that’s where we are today.”
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Chip Young, standing, outgoing chairperson of the Park Forest Nonpartisan Committee, explains the committee’s purpose at a community meeting held Saturday to determine the committee’s future. (Hannah Kohut / Daily Southtown)
“I’m glad that people came out and that people are willing to help,” said Chip Young, outgoing committee chairperson. “We will now convene and reach out to those volunteers to see how they would like to be involved.”
One person was concerned the officer terms were not staggered, and that a new slate of officers would all come on board brand new. Young assured everyone that the outgoing officers would train all new volunteers and see to a smooth transition.
“Leaving you high and dry is not our intention,” Young said. “I will be around to assist and help the committee move forward.”
“But we would like to have a new slate at least by October,” Young said.
Seeman echoed her earlier statement that an ongoing issue has been a lack of help or interest from the community.
“We are the only three that show up and do anything,” Seeman said. “We can’t find anyone else to volunteer.”
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Park Forest Trustee Joe Woods, however, said there is certainly community interest keeping Park Forest nonpartisan.
“There has been much debate that the NPC has been some kind of an antiquated endeavor,” Woods said. “But what’s really interesting, in our community surveys, when talking about preserving the culture of Park Forest, nonpartisanship was at the top. So for those who feel disconcerted about whether or not this is relevant, I do believe this is relevant.”
Former committee member Donna Emory made a plea to those in attendance to continue supporting the committee’s work.
“It’s so important that you do support this organization because guess what, there’s nothing else,” Emory said. “This is it. So once you let this slide, there’s no turning back. Make it happen.
She said the current volunteers are getting burned out.
“They’re trying to revive it. So that’s why they need your help,” Emory said. “You’ve gotta do more than just talk.”
Hannah Kohut is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
