Lemont Tea Party Aiming to Inform Public With Upcoming District 113A Forums

Representatives from the Lemont Tea Party say they are doing their part "to get the public informed" before the April 5 consolidated election by hosting two public forums for school board candidates in .

A candidate discussion will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10, in the new Lemont Township Community Center, 16300 Alba St. According to Michelle Gatses, a member of the Lemont Tea Party, all candidates have been invited for a discussion on "the issues plaguing District 113A."

"We're hoping all the candidates will come and share their opinions in a conversational setting," she said.

The second event will be a candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at the Lemont Township Community Center. During this meeting, the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates, Gatses said.

"The difference between the two events is that the first event should be more of a conversation about the issues, while the second is a chance to get to know each of the candidates," she said.

Both forums will be moderated by Dan Proft, a political commentator on WLS-AM 890 and a Republican candidate for Illinois governor in 2010.

According to its website, the Lemont Tea Party is "an independent grassroots group of citizens whose sole purpose is to unite those individuals who believe the government has over-extended its reach and has been fiscally irresponsible through over-spending, bailouts and excessive taxation."

Despite the group's stated political beliefs, Gatses said the purpose of holding the forums is simply to inform the public.

"It's important that the voters are informed before the April 5 election, so these forums will provide information for all of us to consider," she said.

Gatses said the group has not endorsed any candidates yet, and likely would not until after the forum.

In an article published Dec. 28 in the Southtown Star, District 113A Board Member Janet Hughes, a write-in candidate for the 2011 election, was listed among "local Tea Party members expected to file."

Gatses confirmed the Lemont Tea Party has met with Hughes "and almost every other board member," but said they have not endorsed her.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Hughes would not confirm her membership to the Tea Party, but said she was recently endorsed by Homer Township Clerk Steve Balich, an activist in the Tea Party movement.

"I think it's fair to say that if I was endorsed, those individuals agree with my beliefs," she said.