Chicago, Your Vote for School Board Really Counts!

Most Chicagoans are being flooded with mailers, digital ads, TV spots, text messages, and canvassers knocking or leaving hangers for the candidates for school board president and their district board member. Here at Board Rule, Maureen is getting off easy. She lives in a low-turnout precinct, and District 8b has only one candidate on the ballot, plus a write-in.

But all of Chicago is missing one common element of election campaigns--public polls showing who is leading in the school board president's race. Board Rule checked in with a couple of political consultants who agreed to discuss the issue without being named. Here's what we learned.

Polling is expensive. No surprise there, but I'm told a good poll of likely Chicago voters probably costs about $25,000, which seems in line with public research. Only the campaigns for school board president are likely to be investing in polling.

Too close to call? It's quite likely the school board president race is too close to call. Consultants told me they think at least two campaigns have the funds to be conducting polling and are likely keeping it internal. Jessica Biggs' campaign certainly has enough money to poll voters. The Chicago Teachers Union may or may not be polling to keep tabs on Hilario Dominguez's popularity with voters. Victor Henderson has the fewest campaign dollars.

If Biggs had a commanding lead, it's likely we would know that by now. Although early voting is up sharply from 2022, it's still likely that about half the ballots in this election will be cast tomorrow.

The takeaway: Your vote counts. Many people have complained about the quality of the candidates (all three have baggage) and that mudslinging has distracted from the issues. But one of them will become the first elected president of the Chicago Board of Education, and your vote will shape who that is. None of them have a lock on victory.

"I never thought I would be more interested in the Board of Education race than the governor's race," said nonprofit consultant and North Lawndale community leader Valerie Leonard. "I just find it so exciting."

If you haven't voted yet, or know someone who hasn't, they can check their registration, find their district, and learn about candidates here. And don't forget to take a look through the Board Rule voter guide!

Who's Answering Candidate Questionnaires, and Who Isn't?

It all began with a Facebook exchange between Valerie Leonard and Bronzeville parent JP Paulus. Leonard posted her observation that some candidates answer every questionnaire they're offered, while others answer fewer. Paulus asked her for a chart. So, she built one. If you're really interested, you can view a whole folder of related informaiton.

"There are some people who are religiously filling out these questionnaires, and then there's people who are religiously not filling them out, and they're just gonna skate their way in the office if they're elected, and that burns me up," Leonard said. "I ran for alderman of the 24th Ward when we had 23 candidates. Every questionnaire that came my way, I responded. I didn't hire anybody. I didn't trust anybody to speak for me. I took the time to do it."

Questionnaires offer a deeper look at candidate positions than public forums can. Candidates have more opportunity to elaborate on their positions in questionnaires than they do in timed answers during candidate forums. Questionnaires from groups focused on a particular issue, like Black students or educating students with disabilities, can also go into greater depth on the issue than a candidate forum.

Though CTU-backed candidates had the strongest overall track record of answering questionnaires, but the only two candidates who answered every questionnaire they were sent are Ellen Sherratt (4A) and Jesus Ayala, Jr. (7B), both of whom are backed by SEIU and Common Ground Collective. You can see more of Leonard's analysis in the chart below.

Your Election Night Beverage Guide

With the race for school board president and at least five district races going down to the wire on Tuesday, school board election junkies (like us!) could be attending watch parties or just curling up at home. Either way, Board Rule would like to offer a selection of candidate-inspired beverages to keep you going while you refresh the Chicago Board of Elections results page.

It's a little early and maybe a little warm for eggnog-style, holiday-season beverages, but District 3B is clearly a race where you could choose between Puerto Rican coquito and Mexican rompope. Recipes at the links if you don't have a family recipe.

For some non-alcoholic options inspired by District 8b, try making a home version of Juan Ignacio Gonzalez's Horcha de Olla, or have a Jarritos soda in honor of write-in candidate Alexander Angeles, the only candidate in the race who is too young to drink alcohol.

Up on the Northwest side in District 1A, you could toast Margie Luczak with a shot of Belvedere or Wyborowa, then salute Ed Bannon with a Sure Like Drinking from Lake Effect Brewing. (Liquor before beer, never fear, as the saying goes...but don't do it backwards!)

At the opposite end of town, we suggest an Old Fashioned (a favorite of Therese Boyle's) or an espresso martini (preferably with coffee from Two Mile Cafe, Kate Dunneback's unofficial campaign HQ), in honor of the candidates in District 9B.

Events

Vote! Early voting is available today, Monday, November 2, until 6 p.m. at these locations.

Tuesday, Nov. 2: Vote! Voter registration and polling locations can be found here.

Tuesday, Nov. 2: Election Night Watch Party at CTU Headquarters, 7 p.m., 1901 W. Carroll. Details and registration here.

Tuesday, Nov. 2: Election Night Watch Party with Brittany and State Sen. Willie Preston, 6 p.m., Q's Lounge, 8406 S. Kedzie. Details here.

Thursday, Nov. 12: Pathways to Possibility: The State of Higher Education Summit, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd. Register here.

Thursday, Nov. 12: Black Student Achievement Committee, 6 p.m., Chicago Board of Education office, 42 W. Madison. Details here.

Wednesday, November 18: IFT Springfield Lobby Day, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Pasfield House, 525 S Pasfield St., Springfield, IL. Register here.