In person. DuPage County Board District 4 and DuPage County Forest Preserve District 4, hosted by LWVGE at The Glen Ellyn Historical Society from 6:15-7:00.
6:15-6:20 Welcome
6:20-6:25: DuPage County Board District 4: 3 minute remarks from Candidate LaPlante (D); Candidate Corrigan (R) declined.
6:25-7:00: DuPage County Forest Preserve District 4 candidate forum - Jeff Gahris (D) and Jeff Castle (R)
This event will be recorded and available for viewing on our YouTube channel and website.
Lynn LaPlante. Lynn LaPlante is running for re-election to her third term on the DuPage County Board, since being elected in 2020. She serves as Chair of Economic Development, and Chair of Community Development Committee. She also sits on the boards of Choose DuPage, DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau, Arts DuPage, Illinois Arts Leadership Council, the Wheaton Arts Business and Culture Committee, the Glenbard West Boosters Board, Glenbard West Association of Music Parents, the National Association of Counties Arts & Culture Committee, and more.
Lynn is a concert violinist and violist with the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and the Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra as well as a writer for online platforms such as Huffington Post. She is also running for her fourth consecutive term as a Precinct Committeeperson. She was selected for the prestigious Illinois Women’s Institute of Leadership training program and serves on their alumnae committee. She is a proud union member with the Chicago Federation of Musicians, and volunteers extensively in her community. Lynn and her husband Mike Allaway live in Glen Ellyn with their four kids, hyperactive frisbee dog, and two slightly rude cats.
Jeff Castle. Jeff is a resident of Glen Ellyn where he and his wife Meagan raise their two children who are both students at Glenbard South. Currently, he is an elected to Milton Township, and is self employed founding his home remodeling business in 2007. At the age of 43, he has lived in Dupage County for 31 years since the age of 12 when his family moved from Chicago’s south side to Naperville. Jeff enjoys philanthropic activities in his free time which include being a member of the Glen Ellyn Rotary club as well as a Medinah Shriner.
Jeff Gahris. A 34-year resident of DuPage County, Jeff has worked for state and federal agencies implementing Clean Air Act programs. As an advocate for the environment and our community, he volunteers for Sierra Club, the DuPage Clean Energy Coalition, the Illinois Solar Energy Association, and Glen Ellyn Kiwanis. Jeff has been the forest preserve commissioner for District 4 since 2020. He was also an environmental commissioner for the Village of Glen Ellyn for 12 years.
Barbara Laimins, Moderator. Barb Laimins joined the League of Women Voters of Wheaton in 2014. She is a past League president and has served as Voter Service Chair and on the Civic Education Committee. A former civics and psychology teacher, Barb currently co-chairs the LWVIL Task Force on Mis/Disinformation and the planning board for LWV/National Institute for Civic Discourse. Barb lives in West Chicago.
How Does a League Candidate Forum Work?
The League of Women Voters has been nonpartisan since 1920, meaning it neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate. The League hosts candidate forums only for contested races, inviting all candidates on the ballot. If only one candidate is present, they can give a three-minute introductory statement, but no forum is held. No surrogates are allowed.
Candidate forums are moderated by trained, non-partisan volunteers. Each candidate gets equal time for an opening statement and to answer audience questions. Audience members submit questions on notecards, which the League reviews for relevance. Questions are asked in rotation to ensure all candidates have a chance to respond, followed by closing statements.