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Meet our 2023 Alderman Candidates

Lake Forest residents will have candidates for Alderman in all four Wards in the March 19, 2024 General Primary Election.  The Caucus Committee vetted, voted for, and supported the incumbent candidates before endorsing them for their prior and current terms and again reviewed, interviewed, and voted to endorse these same three candidates for another term in Wards 1, 2 and 4.  A new candidate will be vetted and endorsed in both Wards 1 and 3.  The candidate ratification vote will be taken during the Caucus Annual Meeting on November 7. Cast your vote for the endorsed candidates in the municipal election on March 19. 2024.  Early voting begins on February 8, 2024.

First Term

Ward 1 - Pete Clemens

Ward 3 - Alice LeVert

Incumbents

Ward 1 - Nancy Novit (2nd Term Election)

Ward 2 - Ted Notz (3rd Term Election)

Ward 4 - Eileen Looby Weber (3rd Term Election)

Pete Clemens, Ward 1

Pete Clemens is a 30-year resident of Lake Forest and has lived in three of the city’s four Wards. Pete grew up in Minneapolis, MN and moved to Lake Forest following graduation from University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Business with Bachelor of Science business degree in 1971. Pete joined American Hospital Supply and moved to Lake Forest following graduation. Pete had a successful career in healthcare as a senior manager at American Hospital Supply, Baxter International, Becton-Dickinson and Company, Dade-Behring, Inc and BioGenex Laboratories. His responsibilities included Corporate Contracts and National Accounts, Channel Management/Supply Chain and Operations. Pete served on the Manufacturer’s Board of the Health Industry Distributors Association.

After a year in Lake Forest Pete relocated to the Eastern US in 1972 and then to the West Coast following Baxter Heathcare’s acquisition of American Hospital Supply. In 1993 with his wife Nancy and young son Chase, he moved back to Lake Forest. Chase graduated from the Lake Forest Country Day School, Lake Forest High School and Miami University, Farmer Business School in 2017. Nancy currently serves on multiple community boards including Lake Forest Open Lands and Infant Welfare Society.

Pete is currently in his second term on the Zoning Board of Appeals and for the past 5 years has served on the LFHS Foundation Executive Committee as Vice-Chair for the Business Incubator Program. The Business Incubator is a popular college level elective honors class for juniors and seniors. Pete coordinates the recruiting and vetting of the 35 local businesspeople who work in class with student teams throughout the school year. Pete served on the Lake Forest Caucus from ’13-’18 as Communications Chair, Vice President and President. Pete was an Asst. Scoutmaster for Lake Forest Troop 46 where he was an Eagle Scout mentor and the Fundraiser Chair. Pete also co-chaired a major capital campaign for St. James Church and served as Church Council President. He co-chaired with Nancy the Lake Forest Open Lands Bagpipes and Bonfire fundraiser in 2018.

Alice LeVert, Ward 3

Alice LeVert is a 30 year resident of Ward 3 in Lake Forest.  Alice graduated from Miami University, Oxford, OH with two Bachelor of Arts degrees and has an Executive MBA from The University of Notre Dame.

Alice has had a successful career as a Global Sales Executive, Sales Manager and National Account Manager and General Manager for Fortune 100 and a Fortune 500 global technology companies.

Alice has served on the Lake Forest School District 67 Board of Education since 2017 serving as Vice President, Secretary, Legislative Liaison, Chairman of Finance and Operations, as well as participating on the Education and Policy committees.  She has attended national, state and regional conferences on behalf of District 67.

Alice also volunteers as a Minister of Care for the Church of St. Mary and the Lake Forest Hospital Pastoral Care team.

Alice and her husband Tim have two sons and continue to enjoy all that Lake Forest has to offer.  She looks forward to representing Ward 3 and all those who call Lake Forest home.

Nancy Petrick Novit, Ward 1

Nancy Petrick Novit has been practicing law since 1986. She graduated from St. Lawrence University, and earned her Juris Doctor from University of Illinois Chicago in 1986. She worked as an Assistant Public Defender from 1986 – 1990 in the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. In 1990, she founded Novit & Novit LLC with her husband, focusing on real estate, business, and trusts and estates law. Today, Nancy is a general practice attorney.

Nancy will complete her first term as a Ward 1 Alderman, having been elected in August 2022. During her first year -- August 2022 to May 2023-- on the Council, she served on the Public Works Committee and the Finance Committee. She continues serving on the Finance Committee and has added the Environmental Sustainability Committee, Liaison to the Legal Committee and Liaison to the Senior Resource Commission during the current service year – June 2023 to May 2024.

Prior to serving on City Council, Nancy served for six years on Lake Forest's Zoning Board of Appeals, completing her term in July 2022. In this position she streamlined the approval process for homeowners to make changes to their properties. Now homeowners start with the Zoning Board so any required variances are defined prior to design input before petitioners go to the Historic Preservation Commission or Building Review (if applicable) for approvals. Prior to this, homeowners often had to go back multiple times before various boards.

Nancy and her husband Kent moved into Ward 1 with their two young daughters 31 years ago. Nancy served on the First Presbyterian Preschool Board, was on numerous District 67 and 115 committees, volunteered with Ragdale, Infant Welfare Society, I Have a Dream of North Chicago, The History Center of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, as well as Lake Forest Open Lands and the League of Women Voters of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff. Nancy helped keep the Gorton Center open and running when financial concerns threatened to shut it down in 2010. She helped analyze and change the financial structure, program efficiencies, leases and room rental agreements to help return Gorton to financial stability.

Nancy has thoroughly enjoyed meeting Ward 1 residents and greeting familiar faces. She is happy to help those in Ward 1 address matters concerning the City. She is excited to continue collaborating with her fellow City Council members to continue building upon the City’s long history of strong fiscal management and community engagement.

Edward “Ted” U. Notz Jr, Ward 2

Edward “Ted” U. Notz Jr. has served as Ward 2 Alderman since October 2019, when he was nominated by the Caucus and appointed by City Council to complete the remaining term of a vacating seat. With the Caucus’s support to continue serving as Ward 2 Alderman, Ted was elected for two, full terms in 2020 and 2022. He deeply appreciates his long-standing relationship with the Caucus and looks forward to earning it once again for the 2024 campaign to serve the third and final two-year term he is eligible for. He is grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the community on City Council, where he is committed to helping preserve the unique characteristics that make Lake Forest the special place it is, while balancing that with an eye to making sure the City remains relevant and viable, attracting residents and business into the future.

Ted is a lifelong resident of Lake Forest, going through both District 67 and 115 before earning his BA from Denison University and MBA from DePaul University. Ted and his wife, Tiffany Edwards, also a lifelong resident, moved back to Lake Forest in 1998, where they raised their two, now-adult children. In the years since, he has remained actively involved serving the community through various boards and commissions, including Building Review Board (Chairman), Zoning Board of Appeals, Lake County Community Foundation, Lake Forest Caucus, Historic Preservation Foundation and First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest (Elder and Deacon).

Professionally, Ted has spent his career in the commercial real estate industry, both on the financing and development side. Today, he is a senior relationship manager with Associated Bank, providing project, fund and corporate financing to institutional real estate companies across the country.

Ted deeply appreciates the invaluable contributions Caucus, city staff, and resident volunteers make to ensure Lake Forest functions effectively and efficiently, preserving the cherished characteristics of the community while making sure it is positioned to be relevant into the future.

Eileen Looby Weber was born and raised in Lake Forest. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in Horticultural Production and Marketing at Purdue University. It was her love of flowers and working with people that led Eileen to join the family business, Lake Forest Flowers. She earned an MBA at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management while continuing to manage the business.

As a member of the Society of American Florists and American Academy of Floriculture, Eileen teaches hands-on floral workshops and demonstrations at Elawa Farm, Dickinson Hall, and many North Shore Park District Garden Clubs. She began her City Council Role in 2020 after serving on the Cemetery Commission, Waukegan Road/Settler’s Square & Route 60 Corridor Working Groups. Eileen chair’s the Civic Beautification Committee, Environmental Sustainability Committee and is a member of the Finance, Public Works, and PPL committees.

She is an active volunteer for the Church and School of St. Mary, a member of the Junior Garden Club of Lake Forest and Purdue Agriculture Alumni Board of Directors.  Her past volunteer service includes the LF-LB Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Past President of the Lake Forest Caucus, Past President of the Amberley Woods Condominium Association and Board Member/Committee Chair of Carmel Catholic High School Board of Directors.

Eileen and her husband, Brian, have two sons, Michael and Edward. When not at the flower shop, you can find her gardening, playing golf, or with her boys in the community she adores.

9/26 – Open Call for Interested Residents

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Open Call for Interested Residents at Gorton Center from 7-8pm.

Open Call for Interested Residents is an opportunity for residents of Lake Forest to meet their Caucus Committee ward representatives to discuss:

  • opportunities to volunteer within the City,
  • the Lake Forest Caucus Committee, and
  • the Caucus system.

We are “volunteers seeking volunteers” and encourage the public participation in the Caucus Committee and across the boards and commissions of the City. We welcome all residents to complete a Volunteer Profile Sheet (from the Volunteer menu, select Create New VPS). This allows us to quickly identify citizens who are interested in serving in elected or appointed positions.

The open call meeting will be held at Gorton Center (400 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, IL 60045).

 

2023 Caucus Season

The Lake Forest Caucus, now entering its 89th season, has a busy year ahead! We will be strengthening various Caucus Committee operational processes, including interviewing and bylaws, as well as recommending new City Council members for Ward 1 and 3 and Mayor-appointed positions to City boards and commissions.

Elected positions

  • City Council Ward 1
  • City Council Ward 3

Appointed positions

  • Audit Committee
  • Legal Committee
  • Plan Commission

If interested in volunteering, please fill out a Volunteer Profile Sheet.

2023 Spring Meeting UPDATE

Tuesday, April 18, 2023
7-8pm at Gorton Center

Thank you to the 200+ people who attended the Caucus Spring Meeting.  We would also like to thank the Gorton Center for brilliantly handling such a large turn-out.  This strong community engagement benefits Lake Forest and the Caucus.  Past Spring Meetings have typically drawn no community attendees or in the low single digits.  The Caucus Committee hopes this level of engagement continues in the 2023-24 Caucus year.

Agenda

  • President’s Report – David Hunt, Caucus President, presented an update on Caucus Committee activities, including City Boards and Commissions appointment recommendations.
  • Treasurer’s Report – Joe Oriti, Caucus Treasurer, provided an update on the financial condition of the Caucus.
  • 2023-2024 Caucus Officer Slate election.  Chris Benes, Caucus Vice President, introduced the 2023-2024 Caucus Officer Slate, which was confirmed by a vote of 139 FOR.  For transparency, there were 70 Write-In NO votes.

2023-24 Caucus Committee Officer Slate

We’re pleased to present the following Caucus Committee Members for the 2023-24 Caucus Committee Officer Slate.

Each of these individuals has the requisite skills and experiences to capably serve the Caucus Committee and residents of Lake Forest in their respective roles.  As Caucus Committee Members, they have consistently executed their duties in a non-partisan manner to advance the mission of the Caucus Committee to identify, vet, and recommend Lake Forest residents to serve on city boards and commissions and elected positions.  They have a deep understanding of Caucus Committee processes and knowledge of Lake Forest boards, commissions, and elected positions and are committed to serving the community in the 2023-24 Caucus Committee year.

  • President – Chris Benes (Committee Member since 2020, one term as Internal Communications, one term as Vice President)
  • Vice President – Joe Oriti (Committee Member since 2021, one term as Treasurer)
  • Treasurer – Fred Brewer (Committee Member since 2022)
  • Secretary – Dale Tauke (Committee Member since 2022)
  • Fundraising – Cindy Davidson (Committee Member since 2022)
  • External Communications – S. Aneeqa Aqeel (Committee Member since 2021, one term as External Communications)
  • Internal Communications – Steve Ratay (Committee Member since 2021, one term as Internal Communications)

2023 Spring Meeting

Tuesday, April 18, 2023
7-8pm at Gorton Center

Agenda

  • President’s Report – David Hunt, Caucus President, will present an update on Caucus Committee activities, including City Boards and Commissions appointment recommendations.
  • Treasurer’s Report – Joe Oriti, Caucus Treasurer, will provide an update on the financial condition of the Caucus.
  • 2023-2024 Caucus Officer Slate election.

Statement about Beidler campaign finance complaint

STATEMENT ON BEIDLER’S “VIOLATION OF STATE LAW” INVESTIGATION

Prue Beidler campaign Treasurer, Dianne Casuto, published a statement detailing their formal complaint and investigation filed with the State of Illinois against the Lake Forest Caucus. Casuto states, “For all their assertions of integrity and honesty, both the Lake Forest Caucus and Tack for Mayor Committee dishonored these values by exceeding the state imposed legal limits for campaign contributions…There is no question about it; this is a violation of state law.”

The rules issued by the Illinois State Board of Elections (26 IAC 100.75(i)):

“For purposes of Code Section 9-8.5(b) [the campaign finance limits], an election cycle ending on the date of the consolidated primary election shall end on that date even if no consolidated primary election is held in that jurisdiction. The election cycle for the consolidated election shall begin on the day after the date of the consolidated primary election, even if no consolidated primary election is held in that jurisdiction.”

“At issue in their misguided complaint is the timing of our campaign contributions to the Tack campaign,” said Joe Oriti, Lake Forest Caucus Treasurer. “Lake Forest Caucus PAC in-kind contributions to the TackforMayor Political Candidate Committee approaching $100,000 are split between two election cycles (one beginning March 1st 2023, and one ending February 28th 2023), and therefore are within the state legal limits set for campaign contributions. This information was verified by a simple phone call to the Illinois State Board of Elections.”

David Hunt, President of the Lake Forest Caucus responds, “Do you want a mayor that can’t manage a simple phone call, let alone is wrong about the law? If you want someone who is more measured, thoughtful, and does meticulous homework, then you should vote for Randy Tack.”

“This spurious complaint by the Beidler campaign distracts Lake Forest voters from what really matters in this mayoral race: electing the most qualified candidate. This is Randy Tack.” says Chris Benes, Vice President of the Lake Forest Caucus. “Randy’s complex problem solving skills, organizational management experience, and adherence to fiscal responsibility has enabled him to make a positive difference in the lives of thousands of people. He is the most qualified mayoral candidate.”

Oriti added, “Will the Lake Forest for Transparency website publish the facts from the State Board of Elections or will their silence prove that they are the press shop for the Beidler campaign? If the latter, I would hope they are reporting the cost of that website as required by state law…”

Hunt concluded, “I would note again, as I did in my e-mail to the community last week, that this level of spending is due solely to the actions of Prue Beidler, and is not sustainable for our community and the Lake Forest Caucus. In addition, any additional legal costs spent fighting frivolous legal complaints such as the one at issue here only adds to the costs of our undersized budget.”

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Beidler Campaign Statement: https://lf4transparency.com/hijinks
Election Law: https://ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/026/026001000000750R.html