NEWS SUN STAFF REPORT
GURNEE – More than 100 leaders from Lake County United member congregations,
unions and nonprofits will gather tonight to learn the views of candidates
for the Legislature on equitable funding for public schools.
The candidate forum will be held at 7 p.m. at Annunciation Episcopal Church,
5725 Stearns School Road, Gurnee.
DePaul University Professor Hugh Bartling will share data on school funding
patterns in Lake County. Leaders from LCU, a nonpartisan broad-based citizen
organization will question the candidates on how Illinois ought to fund its
schools.
LCU cites high property taxes in Lake County, failing school funding
referendums, cutbacks in services and increases in class sizes as reasons
candidates should be polled on school funding.
“Inadequate funding from the state means many Lake County school districts
with lower-income students lack the funding to prepare their students for
the world of higher education and work,” said Tom Lenz, lead organizer for
the group, which is made up of 35 churches, synagogues, mosques, unions, and
nonprofit organizations which work for the common good on issues including
affordable housing, access to health care and education.
Candidates who have confirmed they will attend the forum include Democrat
Michael Bond in the 31st Senate District; Suzanne Simpson, Republican
candidate in the 31st District; Sandy Cole, Republican in the 62nd House
District; Sharyn Elman, Democrat in the 62nd District; Ed Sullivan Jr.,
Republican in the 51st House District.
