Rockford Political Forum Draws Small Crowd: Do People Care About Rockford's Future?

ROCKFORD - A candidate forum at the Rockford Library Sullivan Center had Rockford city aldermen candidates out in force on Tuesday night, but many of the spectator seats were filled by either the candidates relatives or people involved with the forum itself.  It begs the question: Have Rockford voters lost interest in their city is run?

"It's sad," said Paula Lind of the League of Women Voters.  "It's sad that people are closed off from the one thing that they can do freely and that's vote and voice their opinion on one day."

It's the whole reason Lind's organization teamed up with the Next Rockford group to organize several forums to raise awareness of the new candidates and let voters learn about the candidates face to face.  The goal is to get people to come out and vote.

"We're hoping to encourage and excite people about coming out to vote on April 9^th," said Lind.

Most of the candidates at Tuesday night's forum are newcomers to the Rockford political scene.  Some are challenging incumbents on city council, but many are running in races left open by alderman who are leaving or have left their posts.  Six alderman positions on Rockford's city council will inevitably be filled with new blood.  That's the reason Rockford Next's, Frank Haney says this election is so important.

"We're electing people one time for the next four years and so the decisions we make have a lasting impact and we're going to be looking at some big issues," said Haney.

Haney admits turn out for Rockford's primaries in February were disappointing, but he and Lind point out that it is something that Rockfordians can learn from.  Many races in the primary were decided by just a handful of votes like incumbent Lenny Jacobson's race where he lost by less than 10 votes.  Every vote does county can has the ability to change the future of Rockford.

"If we sit this one out on April 9^th, then we become a part of the problem," said Haney.

Rockford residents still have an opportunity to register to vote in the April 9^th election.  March 12^th is technically the last day, but there is a grace period March 13 - April 6, where residents can register to vote but in turn will have to vote at the same time if they want to be able to vote in the April 9^th election.  Grace period registration and voting will only take place at the Rockford Board of Elections office at 301 S. 6^th Street.

Early voting for the April 9th election begins on Wednesday, March 13th for those who are already registered to vote too.