Recently, I received an announcement of the Republican Party stating that the list of candidates on its release represents the “Republican Team” of York Township.

The caucus that “approved” this group of candidates does not consist of all the registered Republicans. The caucus is not a democratic way of selecting candidates. It is an inadequate method as a substitute for the primary procedure, for it provides only a one-time choice for Republicans to attend, whereas a primary permits candidate selection throughout specified hours of the day.

When a printed list of candidates on a ballot is distributed at a caucus, this becomes a slate, not a “team.” Such conduct by a party denies voters the right of participation because of time restraints.

Illinois legislators should abandon the caucus in favor of the more democratic primary.

Perhaps the Republican voters excluded from caucus participation should cast their votes for the Democratic ticket or independents to express their opposition to the controlled caucus method, which does not reveal the candidates’ qualifications for the various offices. Some of the candidates hold full-time government positions and are not available for voters’ concerns.

Perhaps the time is long overdue to abolish township government, because it is a duplication of county government activities and adds additional tax-gouging on the backs of the taxpayers.

John Rowley

Lombard