In the November 2024 election, the people of Oak Park voted overwhelmingly on an advisory referendum calling for the adoption of an initiative process in our village.
Together with people from across our community, I organized the campaign for the following ballot question: “Shall the people of Oak Park have the initiative right to amend and propose ordinances by voter petition and enact those ordinances by voter referendum?”
As a student at Oak Park and River Forest High School, I studied the history of the initiative process, which has existed for the past century in thousands of towns and cities across America, including every municipality in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio.
I learned how much positive, progressive change local initiatives have produced. I was thrilled when 24,000 Oak Parkers voted in an 85% landslide in favor of the Oak Park Voter Initiative referendum in 2024.
Immediately after this resounding mandate from Oak Park voters, I submitted a proposed Oak Park Voter Initiative Ordinance to the president and trustees of the village board for their consideration. This ordinance is modeled on the initiative process that has been in place in Arlington Heights for the last 45 years.
Our village board has until Aug. 17 to vote to place the Oak Park Voter Initiative Ordinance on the November ballot as a binding (not advisory) referendum question for Oak Park voters to approve.
After the board’s review of the ordinance for the past year and a half, now is the time to act upon the clear will of the people of Oak Park and send it to a vote. What better time to do so than the 250th anniversary of the founding of our democracy?
We are lucky to have strong leaders like President Vicki Scaman and the trustees of the village board standing up for Oak Park. By putting the voter initiative ordinance on the November ballot, they can show that the power of democracy is alive and well in Oak Park.
Jacob Drews
Oak Park