Participation in Winnetka Caucus Council

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The Winnetka Caucus Council is comprised of up to 68  persons, including up to 4  from each of the sixteen Winnetka districts, up to four at-large members of the School, Park, and Library districts residing outside of the Village of Winnetka, and other at-large members so named according to these rules.

While 68 people can serve on the Caucus Council in a given year,  43 members formed the 2024 Winnetka Caucus Council.  That is a 63% participation rate.

A few headlines:

•   Districts 2, 10, 16 had NO Representation
•   Districts 13, 15 had 1 Member each
•   District 7 was over represented with 7 Members

Below is how each of Winnetka's 16 Districts were represented:

• District 1 --  2 Members
• District 2 --  0 Members
• District 3 --  7 Members
• District 4 --  4 Members
• District 5 --  4 Members
• District 6 --  3 Members
• District 7 --  3 Members
• District 8 --  5 Members
• District 9 --  2 Members
• District 10 - 0 Members
• District 11 - 2 Members
• District 12 - 5 Members
• District 13 - 1 Member
• District 14 - 2 Members
• District 15 - 1 Member
• District 16 - 0 Members

Our Town Winnetka Recommendation:

For the 2025 Winnetka Caucus Council, mandate that we have a full slate of 68 participants with equal representation from ALL 16 Districts with the required minimum of 4 per district.

A full Caucus Council membership will ensure that all voices are heard, the process is run professionally, and the community will receive the greatest consideration for candidates and platform issues.

Since the annual process begins in the Spring, let's look at it as Winnetka's version of NCAA March Madness!

Rule 14 To be eligible for membership in the Caucus Council a person must:

a. Have been a resident of Winnetka for at least one year prior to January 1 of

the year in which his or her term will commence;

b. Not have served on the Caucus Council during either of the two calendar years

before the start of their term (except that service for one year or less to fill a

vacancy on the Caucus Council shall not be considered as service on the

Caucus Council for this purpose);

c. Not be a member of the current year's Parks, Schools, Library, or Village

Boards (including for this purpose any current Caucus nominee for any such

governing Board), or have been a member of the prior year’s Parks, Schools,

Library, or Village Boards;

d. Not live in the same household as a member of (i) the current Caucus Council,

or (ii) a current governing board (including any nominee);

e. Neither 

• (i) have a significant financial or other interest that may lead to an

appearance of impropriety if the person were to serve on the Caucus Council,

nor 

• (ii) live in the same household with an individual who has a significant

financial or other interest that may lead to an appearance of impropriety if the

person were to serve on the Caucus Council. For purposes of this clause, a

potential Caucus Council member (“PCCM”) associated with one aspect of

village affairs shall not be automatically deemed to have an interest that may

lead to an appearance of impropriety if (a) the PCCM discloses the association

to the Chair of the Caucus Council, (b) the PCCM does not serve on the

MajorCommittee of the Caucus Council to which such association relates

(e.g., if the PCCM is a teacher in District 36, the PCCM may not serve on the

Schools Committee ), and, c) the PCCM agrees to recuse themself from all

votes with respect to candidates, platforms and other issues related to such

Major Committee; and

f. The District Nominators (or, as applicable, the Executive Committee) shall not

knowingly nominate (or select) any person who does not satisfy these

requirements. The Executive Committee may, as may be appropriate, seek the

resignation of, remove from the Caucus Council, or reassign the Committee

membership of, any member whose continued service on the Council would

be contrary to any provision of this paragraph.

Rule 15 

The term of office of a member of the Caucus Council will be a minimum of approximately three years, and a maximum of approximately four years, each year beginning at the Spring Caucus Council Meeting and ending at the Spring Caucus Council Meeting the following calendar year. Any Caucus Council member wishing to extend their term from three to four years will advise the Chair of the Executive Committee on or before the date of the Fall Caucus Council Meeting of their third year.

Rule 16 

Each year the Council will select nominees to replace Council members whose terms will be expiring in the upcoming year. The Chair and Secretary of the Caucus Council, through the Annual Survey and other appropriate means, shall invite all qualified residents of Winnetka and at-large districts to become members of the Caucus Council. The Secretary shall be responsible for collecting all names of persons interested in serving on the Caucus Council.