WCT - In this election cycle, Windy City Times mailed questionnaires to every registered citywide and aldermanic candidate, to their address on file with the board of elections.
View resulting Windy City Times chart at www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/chartapr1.pdf .
The questions were about a wide range of issues, LGBT, HIV/AIDS, minimum wage, crime, youth experiencing homelessness, and more. Some questions did not have a yes/or no or "correct" answer, but involved more nuance and detailed narrative answers. Therefore, this cycle we are rating candidates on an A-F scale, not by numbers. Readers will note not very many were below a "C" because those candidates likely did not even bother to respond to a survey from an LGBT newspaper.
Also this year, we are doing something different, since some candidates really took the time to explain their positions in detail. We have posted all surveys, as turned in by candidates, on our website. Look for a link under the Politics button at the top of our website, or search for the headline "2015 Election Survey Responses."
Windy City Times does not endorse in any elections, but we hope our survey educates readers who are making tough choices for citywide and aldermanic races Tuesday, April 7. Unfortunately, no local LGBT political organizations are significantly engaged in this election cycle, despite the important decisions ahead for LGBT Chicagoans and our allies. However, there are endorsements from organizations this publication deems to be
relevant.
In addition, readers are urged to check out the mayoral and aldermanic candidates' responses to questionnaires from the Active Transportation Alliance ( www.activetransportation.org/blog/kwhitehead/where-do-chicago-candidates-stand-active-transportation-check-out-our-2015-voter-gui ) and Organization Neighborhoods for Equality: Northside, or ONE: Northside ( onenorthside.org/aldermanic-candidate-questionnaire-responses/ ).
Also, responses to Access Living's questionnaire are at www.accessliving.org/1410ga87. Access Living is committed to fostering an inclusive society that enables Chicagoans with disabilities to live fully engaged and self—directed lives.
IVI - Independent Voters of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization
CAI - Citizen Action Illinois
GIA - Grassroots Illinois Action
SEIU - Service Employees International Union
CTU - Chicago Teachers' Union
PP - Planned Parenthood Illinois Action
EIP - Equality IL PAC
In addition, the Victory Fund has endorsed the following candidates for Chicago City Council: Raymond Lopez ( 15th ); and James Cappleman ( 46th ).
<Early voting info for runoffs
Early voting for the April 7 municipal runoff elections will take place through Saturday, April 4.
Voters registered in the City of Chicago may use any early voting site in the city, regardless of where they live.
Voters don't need a reason or excuse to use early voting; however, voters do need to present government-issued photo identification.
Ballots cast in early voting are final. After casting ballots in early voting, voters may not return to amend, change or undo a ballot for any reason. It is a felony to vote more than once—or to attempt to vote more than once—in the same election.
All 51 early voting sites will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. To get a list of sites, visit www.chicagoelections.com/page.php.
See Windy City Times chart at www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/chartapr1.pdf .
