CARE
As a board member of Citizens Active for a Responsible Electorate from 1987-1989, he was a steadying influence among a group of spirited Oak Parkers. As CARE president from 1989-1992, Les Golden attracted candidates to field complete slates for every contested election, built a precinct organization, obtained the election of 5 Oak Parkers to office, led to the CARE majority rule (with ally Bud Corry) of the Oak Park park district, which instituted a pesticide ban in April, 1991, that exists to this day, and sponsored overflow forums on tax reform at the public library and village hall. In three years, CARE obtained a core vote of 40% of the core vote of the established party in Oak Park, in existence since 1951. Les also founded the Taxpayers United Party of River Forest (TURF), which led to two River Forest residents serving on their boards.
As president of Oak Park's CARE Party, Les Golden earned the reputation of an indefatigable slate-maker. While other interest groups had difficulty in finding candidates, Les Golden's passion and knowledge of issues enabled him to attract individuals to form complete slates for every Oak Park election -- library, park district, village board, elementary school, high school -- that was contested during his tenure.
Not only did Les thereby provide an alternative to the voters, but he challenged the ruling elite of Oak Park politically and financially. When the word was out that Les Golden was fielding a slate, the ruling elite knew it was time to raise some money.
These activities got Les interested in seeking office himself, in particular to allow him to extend the pesticide ban to the entire state of Illinois.
When a local newspaper, the Wednesday Journal, debuted the Shrubtown comic strip, Les Golden was the basis of the Moe Silver character, the tireless slatemaker for the LOVE Party.
Oak Park's CARE Party | some Shrubtown comic strips
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That's what "getting others to follow" means.
Les Golden Home Page | Les Golden for Park District Home Page | email Les