Sheila Stocks-Smith

Tuesday, April 9, is Election Day and, if past trends hold true, only a small percentage of voters will head to the polls to select new representatives to guide Springfield’s beleaguered education system. In 2009, a comparable consolidated election registered a dismal 18 percent voter turnout across the entire county. Worse yet, fewer than 4,500 […]

School reform has proven to be tricky business in Springfield. Leading up to Dr. Walter Milton’s hire as superintendent in 2007, Springfield Public Schools were under growing public pressure to reverse declining test scores, improve failing high schools and eliminate large achievement gaps between black and white students, high-income and low-income students and disabled and […]

On Dec 14, 2012, the nation was stunned and sickened by a senseless tragedy that took the lives of 26 innocent people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. This horrific act has again brought the issue of school safety to the forefront across the country. President Obama has outlined an aggressive school safety […]

Signs of an approaching election season are unmistakable as candidate signs clutter our view, TV ads inundate the airwaves and political party conventions monopolize the news. This upcoming Nov. 6 election is important because voters will help decide who gets the nation’s top job while they pick winners for congressional and state legislative seats, some […]

Recently, I was sharing stories with current political candidate about campaigning and musing about how nasty some people can be to those seeking office. Frustration with all things political is spilling over to create a hostile atmosphere toward candidates in general. During my campaign, a woman left a fiery, expletive-filled message on my home phone. […]

Like Captain Ahab, will the Springfield Fire Department ruthlessly pursue its colorless foe? When the top brass of the Springfield Fire Department filed in and took their seats before the alderman to present their budget last week, something struck me about their presence. Within seconds, I realized my senses and sensibilities were awash in whiteness. […]

Last week’s bizarre discussion at the city council committee meeting about the vote to deny employees in civil unions health benefits obscured another important issue raised that night. When Alderman Gail Simpson pointedly asked city budget director Bill McCarty when council members will receive their budget books, there was no mistaking her growing annoyance and […]

Can it be possible that the good ol’ boy political machine is weakening in Sangamon County? Clearly, some kind of change is underway. The normally disciplined and restrained Republican Party engages in open warfare and the Democrats struggle to rebuild after years of intra-party battles and organizational inertia. Despite the gradual decline of political party […]

Get ready voters, election season is here again. Door knocking has already begun as candidates for national, state and local offices pass petitions to get their names on the ballot. Critical offices like president and members of Congress and Illinois representatives and senators are on the ballot during next year’s partisan general elections. Crucial local […]