(Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Mike Matejka

The McLean County Republican Party recently held a forum for Ward 4 candidates.  During that forum, candidates were asked what I would consider an unfair question: “Do you consider yourself a Republican?”

Candidates for local city councils and school boards run in a non-partisan race.  When voters go to the polls, local candidates are not identified with any party, the only thing on the ballot is their name.

Our political parties need to respect non-partisan elections and not put candidates in the position of having to declare a party.

In my 18 years on the Bloomington City Council, something I came to appreciate was that the body was non-partisan.   There was no party chieftain at City Hall giving “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to particular ordinances.  If one was curious, a council or school board member’s party affiliation could be researched, but it was not relevant to local government.   Instead, as issues came up at City Hall, the council members voted for what they thought was right.  That often meant a shifting majority, with different council members uniting behind different ideas.

It is great if the Republican Party wants to hold candidate forums and let party members listen to and evaluate local government candidates. But don’t ask candidates to declare allegiance to a particular party.   One reason people are attracted to local government office is that they do not have to engage in party politics.

When I was elected I know I got votes from Democrats, Republicans and those who don’t care for either.  I’ve helped on local campaigns where I’ve sat in the room with people of multiple persuasions.  What brought us together was not a party label, but respect for the individual who wanted to serve.

Yes, let’s hold forums and discussions.  Yes, let’s support the individuals we think will best serve the community. But No, let’s not turn local government into a partisan conflict.

Mike Matejka is the Governmental Affairs director for the Great Plains Laborers District Council, covering 11,000 union Laborers in northern Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. He lives in Bloomington with his wife and daughter and their two dogs. He served on the Bloomington City Council for 18 years, is a past president of the McLean County Historical Society and Vice-President of the Illinois Labor History Society.

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