What You Should Know:
The Civic Betterment Party (CBP) is not really a political party, but rather it is more of a volunteer nominating committee for local public office. LWVGE conducted a study on this organization and its findings are published here and in the 2009-10 Membership Directory.
Why You Should Care:
If you are interested in getting involved in Glen Ellyn's volunteer government and would like to be considered, you should contact the Civic Betterment Party by visiting their website.
Position Statement on
Glen Ellyn Selection of Village and Library Board Offices (2008)
The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn has published a position on the village's nominating process after carefully studying the Civic Betterment Party organization, its history, membership, and other factors. League members that were involved in the study include: Margaret DeLaRosa, Dorothy Hess, Judy Kinn, Dan Anderson, Carrie Burrows, Rinda Allison, Lee Crumbaugh, and Barb Fried. The League held its consensus meeting on September 11, 2008 to make its study findings available to the membership and allow membership to consider what our consensus position should be regarding the study. After the meeting, the committee crafted a position statement, that was approved by the 2008-9 board of directors, and then by the membership at the April 30, 2009 Annual Meeting to read as follows:
Glen Ellyn Selection of Village and Library Board Offices (2008)
It is the consensus of the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn that the Civic Betterment Party (CBP) serves the purpose of identifying and selecting candidates for Village office (Village President, Village Trustee, Village Clerk, and Library Board). We believe the CBP’s objective is to seek candidates for these positions and believe the organization’s intent is to be inclusive of all who reside within Village corporate limits. We agree the CBP process has yielded many qualified candidates who may not have considered a run for political office had they not been encouraged by a member of the CBP.
However, we are concerned that many of the citizens of the Village are not knowledgeable about the CBP and that there is a false perception that the process is exclusive when in fact it tries to be inclusive. We encourage the CBP to increase publicity and awareness of the organization by developing and maintaining a website and that they partner with other civic organizations to identify candidates for their nominating committee and to promote participation in the bi-annual town meeting. We also suggest that the CBP consider dropping the word “party” from their name and substituting either committee or organization to better reflect their function.
We are further concerned that the CBP does not have detailed written procedures for all of their processes (i.e., selection of members of the nominating committee; selection, nomination and slating of candidates for public office; voter eligibility; and early voting procedures). We strongly suggest that the CBP prepare these documents and that these procedures be readily available to the public and monitored for compliance.
Lastly, we are concerned that the time between when the nominating committee first convenes and when the town meeting occurs is too short. According to the CBP bylaws, the nominating committee must meet by the September 1st preceding the town meeting, which historically takes place at the end of November. This is frankly too short of a period of time to organize the committee, develop questions to be asked of the candidates, interview candidates, and decide on candidates. It is suggested that this process begin no later than the spring preceding the town meeting.
It is the consensus of the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn that the current “Guideline for Participation in the Local Nominating Process”, as published in the policy section of its handbook, is still valid.
