NOTE! CHANGE IN FORMAT! The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn (LWVGE) is shifting the format of the scheduled candidate forum for the Democratic candidates for DuPage County Board District 4, between Lynn LaPlante and Christine Maes on Tuesday March 5th. The format of this event is changing from a candidate forum to a candidate 'meet and greet' due to a recent change in the availability of Christine Maes.
The League of Women Voters holds candidate forums to help educate the electorate and we are disappointed that we cannot provide this opportunity for voters to hear from both candidates. If a two-candidate Forum is planned, and one candidate withdraws, LWV rules dictate that we either cancel or change the format from a Forum to a Meet & Greet.
In place of the planned forum, Lynn LaPlante will make a brief statement, meet with voters and answer questions. The time and place will remain the same: Tuesday March 5th, from 7-8pm at the Glen Ellyn Historical Society. A printed program that features biographies for both candidates will be provided. The event will not be filmed. The LWVGE will also use this opportunity to inform attendees about upcoming events that may be of interest. We look forward to seeing you there.
Candidate Bios
Christine E. “Christy” Maes
Christine E. “Christy” Maes (D) has a B.A., International Relations/Political Science from American University in Washington, DC. She also has a Master of Public Administration (MPA, Public Management) from DePaul University Chicago. In addition, she is a qualified CPST (Child Passenger Seat Technician). Since November 2019 she has been a Public Sector Safety and Education consultant for Atheneum, headquartered in New York City. Christy currently serves as a full-time Marketing Specialist with International Development Services (IDS) in Arlington Heights, IL.
Previous to IDS, Christy served as Programs & Fundraising Manager, Illinois Spina Bifida Association (ISBA); Business Analyst/HR Manager, Strategic Voyages Business Consultants; Program Manager, Volunteers & Awards, National Safety Council (NSC).
Christy has a long history of Democratic public service. Christy was elected to the Glenside Library Board in April 2022. In her first meeting she was unanimously elected as Board Secretary. In 2023, Christy was elected as the first Second Vice Chair of Bloomingdale Township Democratic Organization (BTDO). Before joining the Glenside Library Board, Christy served as a Precinct Captain, DuPage County. Beginning in 2017, Christy spent several election cycles as a Democratic Election Judge for DuPage County. During her time in Washington, D.C. she worked on Capitol Hill for various Illinois congressmen and a U.S. Senator.
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.