Candidates Converge on Carmel

Local candidates to attend first ever campaign fair

This afternoon, immediately after the final bell rings at 3:00, Carmel students will have a unique opportunity to meet local candidates right here at school.

Candidates from four local campaigns will be in the Black Box Theater after school today to talk to students about the important issues facing our state and our nation. Campaigns will also be recruiting volunteers to help out during the home stretch of their campaigns.

Representatives from the Mark Kirk and Tammy Duckworth campaigns for U.S. Senate will be there, along with representatives from Bob Dold and Brad Schneider’s respective campaigns for the highly competitive Illinois 10th Congressional District seat. Both races have garnered national attention, so it’s a great opportunity for Carmel students to talk to the campaigns.

Local state representative campaigns will also be here.

Candidates for what is expected be one of the closest races throughout the state will be here. Current Illinois 59th House District Representative Carol Sente is expected to attend, along with her opponent, political newcomer Dawn Abernathy.

The other state house race that will send candidates today will be for the Illinois 62nd House District. Current representative Sam Yingling and challenger Rod Drobinski are both Carmel alums and the race is a rematch of the 2014 election in which Yingling narrowly edged out Drobinski by four points.

The campaign fair is the second event sponsored by the Mikva Foundation, which provides grant money to local schools to help educate students on government and civics. Carmel was the first Catholic high school to receive this grant back in 2013.

So far this year, the social studies department hosted a watch party for the first presidential debate. Future events are also planned, including a mock election on November 8th, election day, at the school.

Today’s event opens at 3:00 sharp. There is no official end time, but it is recommended that students arrive as early as possible to get a chance to talk to all the campaigns.