Is Now the Time for You to Run for Public Office?
At the February 25 Keeping It Local Program, three panelists—Regina Crider, Rantoul Village Board Member; Vanna Pianfetti, Champaign City Council Member; and Diane Wolfe Marlin, former Urbana City Council Member and Mayor—shared their experiences holding elected positions in Champaign County. Here is some advice they shared:
What advice would you give to someone considering running for the first time?
February 13, 2026 Urbana, IL – Voters of Champaign County have the opportunity to hear from the two Democratic Primary candidates running for County Executive, Sanford Hess and Michelle Jett, on Monday, February 16 at 6 p.m. on WILL AM 580. The Candidate Forum is made possible by the League of Women Voters of Champaign County (LWVCC) in partnership with Illinois Public Media (IPM). Co-sponsors are the NAACP Champaign County Branch and the News-Gazette. The pre-recorded forum was moderated by Arjun Thakkar, IPM Newsroom Senior Editor, and conducted on Feb. 10 in the IPM studios. The video recording will be available on the IPM and LWVCC YouTube channels. LWVCC forum lead, Cathy Emanuel, urges the public to tune it to this hour-long forum. “The Champaign County Executive candidate forum offers voters unique insights into each candidate’s knowledge, skills, values, views, and visions for the future,” states Emanuel. “Included are their unique perspectives on whether the role of County Executive should be an appointed or elected position. This has real implications for our community. Voters will find this forum very helpful before going to the ballot box.” To learn more about the candidates, voters can also go to the nonpartisan LWVCC Candidate Guide (votechampaign.org). The Primary Election is March 17. In-person early voting began February 5 at Bennett Administration Center, 102 E Main, Urbana. County-wide voting locations open on March 9. Vote by mail ballots need to be returned or postmarked no later than March 17. For more information go to the County Clerk’s website (champaigncountyclerkil.gov/. The League of Women Voters is a national, nonpartisan, political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in their government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Voting membership in the League is open to people 16 years and older, of all gender identities. With over 100 years of experience, the League is one of America’s oldest and most trusted civic nonprofit organizations. Contact: Cathy Emanuel Email: CandidateForums.lwvcc@gmailcom Mobile: 309-222-3170 At the Jan. 25 Keeping it Local program, leaders of four immigration-refugee service and support organizations in our county shared their insights and experience about the issues facing immigrants and refugees and the services and programs available to support them. They also offered important ways community members can be involved:
1. Know that your voice matters. Stay informed. Take actions like these: Urge your members of Congress to rein in ICE and the Customs and Border Patrol to stop their violence now. Encourage your legislators to restore the Refugee Resettlement System. 2. Show your immigrant and refugee neighbors that they are not alone. Spend time with them in the community. Support a friend and help people take back their sovereignty. 3. There is power in coalition building, and potential allies are everywhere. Find yours in neighborhoods, workplaces, faith-based organizations, clubs, schools, or friends. To learn more about the services our four presenters provide or to offer to help, see Immigration Resources in the Issues section of our website. If you were unable to attend this informative session, the video of this panel discussion is available on our League’s YouTube site. Our Turn: Karen Kane and Ann PrislandThis article was published in the News-Gazette on February 3, 2026 The League of Women Voters of Champaign County (LWVCC) urges everyone who is eligible to use their right to vote in this year’s Primary election. Every vote matters. All eligible voters can vote in this election. Voters must choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot but do not have to be members of either party. Why Vote in the Primary? The Primary election season is here, with early voting for registered voters starting at the Bennett Administrative Center in Urbana on Thursday, February 5. This year, there are several contested Primary races, including among Democratic party candidates for Champaign County Executive and Republican party candidates for Illinois Governor. US Congressional Districts IL-13 and IL-15 have contested races in both Republican and Democratic parties. The outcome of the Primary election determines who is on your ballot in the November 3 Midterm election at all levels - local, state, and federal. We know you have your own priorities for what issues matter most: affordable housing, quality public education, immigration policies, access to healthcare, cost of living, environmental concerns, and more. Your vote in the Primary lets you select candidates who best represent your values and priorities. Now is the time to get started. Register. Prepare. Vote. The LWVCC can help with all three. Register to vote using the paper registration form, online, or when you go to vote in person. Whether you are a first-time voter, or if you have moved in the last 30 days, check your registration status and learn about your registration options on the Champaign County Clerk’s website (champaigncountyclerkil.gov/). Stop by the LWVCC table at the Urbana Indoor Market at Lincoln Square on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 8 a.m. - 12 noon, and we can assist you with this process and answer your questions about voting options. Prepare to vote by learning more about the candidates. What are the candidates‘ priorities, and how do they align with yours? The League’s online nonpartisan Candidate Guide (votechampaign.org) provides specific information about the candidates on your ballot, including questions asked of those running in contested races. In partnership with Illinois Public Media, NAACP Champaign County Branch, and the News-Gazette, the League plans to co-sponsor a candidate forum with the two Democratic candidates for County Executive. The pre-recorded forum will be broadcast in mid-February. Other forums may be scheduled depending on candidate availability. The exact dates and times will be announced on will.illinois.edu/tv and on the League’s website. Make a Plan and Vote! Voting may be challenging for some community members this year, as election day, March 17, falls during spring break for the University of Illinois and local schools. If you will be away on March 17, make a plan to vote early, either in person or by mail. You can register and vote on the same day (Grace Period), starting at the County Clerk’s office on February 18 and at other countywide locations on March 9. The schedule and a list of locations is available on the Champaign County Clerk’s website. For those who want to vote by mail, request your ballot on the County Clerk’s website as soon as possible so you can have plenty of time to do your research and consider your votes. Mail ballots can be returned to any of the official mail ballot drop boxes located around Champaign County by 7:00pm on March 17. By returning your ballot this way, you also save the county prepaid postage costs. The locations of these highly secure boxes can be found on the County Clerk’s website. If you return your ballot using US mail, it must be postmarked March 17 or before. Due to changes in USPS postmarking and transportation rules, at his January 27 press conference, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons stressed returning your ballot as soon as possible—”at least one week before election day.” The LWVCC supports that recommendation and makes this additional suggestion: if mailing your ballot through USPS on March 16 or 17, take your ballot inside the post office to get it postmarked by hand, rather than using an outdoor postal mailbox. Check out all the key dates and voting information available at lwvchampaigncounty.org on the “About Voting” tab. Over the last century, the League has fought for election protection, democratic reforms, and equal access to the ballot—all while maintaining our commitment to nonpartisanship. The League does not align with any political party, ideology or candidate. We are dedicated to protecting our democracy and ensuring all eligible citizens have the right to vote. Our Vote is our Power. Let’s use it during this Primary election. Karen B. Kane and Ann Prisland are Voter Ready Team Members at the League of Women Voters of Champaign County. Email Kane at [email protected] Outreach team members Carol Baxter and Shari Fox taped a second voting information podcast at the Illini Media Group studios in Champaign. They had a wide-ranging conversation with station DJ Callie Luttman.
The podcast aired on Sunday, January 25, at 5:00 am. In case you missed it, you can listen to the podcast here: FOCUS: Prepare for the Primary with League of Women Voters. After you click on the link and go to the podcast, click on the large X in a black circle at the top right-hand side to delete the popup. No account is required to listen. The link is also available on LWVCC’s YouTube site. You can also find a companion article in Chambana Today.
This article was published in the News-Gazette on October 7, 2025 Use your ‘power of one’ to fight voter suppression by Oct. 20The League of Women Voters of Champaign County encourages all eligible voters to oppose a proposed change to the federal voter-registration form often used in this county. That change would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when using the form to register to vote in federal elections.
Like the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which to date has not passed Congress, this proposal would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote or update your address — even if you’re just moving down the street. The proposal identifies acceptable documents: “a U.S. Passport; a state issued, Real ID-compliant driver’s li cense indicating that the applicant is a U.S. citizen; an official military identification card that indicates the applicant name does not match, additional or substitute paperwork will likely be required. Both will cost time and money. “These requirements would inconvenience many voters, carry a cost to access official documents and could disenfranchise millions of voters over time,” said Ann Prisland, voter registration coordinator with the local chapter of the League. This latest proposal, like the SAVE Act, addresses a problem that does not exist. Election officials in every state use reliable data sources to ensure every registered voter is an eligible U.S. citizen, and regularly review their voter-registration lists. Federal laws already make it a crim inal offense for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. And every credible study shows that the incidence of voting by noncitizens is minuscule. There are times when each of us can act to support democracy and the right to vote. Use your “power of one” to fight this attempt at voter suppression. Jane Santogrossi is president of the League of Women Voters of Champaign County. There will be a new location for the County Clerk and Recorder's Office in July. The office will move from the Brookens Administrative Center to the Bennett Center located at 102 E Main St. in Urbana. The office will be closed while the relocation takes place July 7 to July 18. The new office in the Bennett Center reopens on July 21. 
League volunteer, Carol Baxter, and president, Jane Santogrossi, collaborated on our first League podcast that aired May 25 on all 7 Illini Media Group radio stations. Jane spoke about the League and our local work; she also discussed the federal SAVE Act and why the League opposes it. Carol provided information about voter registration and voting options. Both encouraged people to make sure they’re registered and ready to vote in the March 17, 2026 primary! The podcast is about 20 minutes long and available at this link—the link will take you directly to the podcast. Just click on the arrow to the left of the title and play!  The Big Ten Law schools have coordinated a series of panel discussions that examine the Rule of Law in 2025 after an unprecedented series of executive orders, legal interpretations, and administrative actions by the Trump administration over the last several months.
Distinguished panelists will present a broad range of perspectives and nuanced views on the rule of law during a period of constitutional, legal, and governmental recalibration. Dates and Topics
The University YMCA has announced its Friday Forum series for programs in September through December. This fall the theme is Democracy. The Friday Forum series is series is held at the University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St, Champaign, from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm. Free lunch is provided.  The League of Women Voters of Champaign County is one of the cosponsors of this series and will have a voter information & registration table at some of these events.
|
|
Follow LWVCC
|
Support LWVCC
|
Contact LWVCC
|
© 2026 LWV Champaign County