Election Day is April 1!

Dan Brady

Mr. Brady has been engaged in Bloomington civic life for most of the last 30 years.  Mr. Brady shows a clear understanding of all the issues facing Bloomington and has already begun researching and exploring ideas to address them. 

He feels that one of his biggest assets is his list of contacts, developed over his years as a State Representative.  He would use them to bring home State support and to help the General Assembly understand the local impacts of State laws and regulations. 

He shared with the RCP citizen panel that the mayor should prioritize the following:

• Bringing builders back to Bloomington, streamlining permitting processes, removing governmental red tape, and offering incentives; 
• Working “night and day” on all six phases of the Downtown Streetscaping project, including securing funding; 
• Tightening the City’s belt, demonstrating accomplishments and successes to residents before asking voters to approve any future tax increase.

Jenna Kearns

Jenna Kearns’ two years’ experience on the Bloomington Council are apparent. She is a polished elected official. She clearly understands issues facing the City, seeing them from a variety of perspectives, and is an effective communicator. She demonstrates respect for City staff and understands what the relationship should be between elected Council members and paid staff. 

Ms. Kearns shared with RCP’s citizen panel the following priorities: 

• Either develop or hire expertise in navigating State and Federal systems to create affordable housing; 
• Pursue the Downtown Streetscape and infrastructure projects to help reroute and/or trap water to prevent destructive flooding like neighborhoods experienced a few years ago; and
• Seek revenue sources other than growth of Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV). She is interested in the results of a Public Works Department study on completing more work in-house vs. contracting with outside individuals and firms as one possible way to save money.

Roger Bedeker

While he is new to City government, Mr. Bedeker's skill set – and his involvement with Illinois Special Olympics and many other community organizations – gives him the edge in the race for the Ward 9 Council seat. His communication style of “Yes, and …” will keep conversations moving. 

He told the RCP citizen panel that he would prioritize efficiency in local government and wants to see the City talk to front-line workers about how to save money in their jobs and departments. Mr. Bedeker said he would spend every City dollar locally if he could, but if forced, Bloomington should take inspiration from communities outside McLean County that have successfully faced “our” issues. 

He shared the following thoughts with the RCP citizen panel: 

• Downtown is the heartbeat of Bloomington; 
• The underperformance of Grossinger Motors Arena should not stop the city from completing other projects downtown;
• Completing the Downtown Streetscape plan in phases is a sound approach that will enable City leaders to learn from each phase before moving to the next;
• Increasing taxes cannot be the default answer for generating City revenue; and
• If the City must cut costs, it must also maintain a personal touch and remember the impact of such cuts on human lives.
  
   

Ms. Bergner is an enthusiastic supporter of Heartland Community College (HCC), possessing solid knowledge of its programs and educational opportunities and embracing the importance of lifelong learning. Ms. Bergner supports creative means for offering education to HCC’s diverse service area. She is an advocate for four-year transfer program offerings and for career and technical education that provide job opportunities without pursuing a four-year degree.

In running for HCC trustee, Ms. Bergner seeks public office for the first time. However, her commitment to and engagement in the Bloomington-Normal community have been present for decades. She has served on the boards of the League of Women Voters and of the Immigration Project. These experiences should provide a solid foundation for her as an HCC trustee.

Ms. Bergner views a trustee’s core responsibility to be “helping lead the college into the future, keeping the quality and fiscal responsibility that have been the hallmark of HCC.” Ms. Bergner acknowledges that she would represent and be accountable to a number of constituent groups including students, taxpayers, and business and industry. She recognizes the importance of fiscal responsibility, quality academic offerings, and responsiveness to business and industry needs. Ms. Bergner is quite aware of HCC’s many student support services and fully embraces those resources for enhancing a student’s potential for successful and rewarding outcomes. 

Ms. Hood began serving on the HCC Board of Trustees upon her appointment in 2017. She won election to the Board 2019 and has since served on the Finance Committee, as Finance Committee Chair, and as Board vice-chair. She has served in leadership positions for the statewide association for community college trustees. 

Ms. Hood embraces HCC’s absolute “student focus” and emphasis on student access and success. She recognizes the importance of providing programming throughout the HCC district and of offering degree and certificate programs that facilitate advancement to four-year education as well as offering career and technical education in demand locally and beyond. 

Ms. Hood sees the potential for competency-based education, which would credit students for their work and life experiences. 

She shared with the RCP citizen panel that if re-elected, she would prioritize the following: 

• Strategic planning; 
• Establishing general policies and standards; 
• Advocating for the college and ensuring its accountability, growth, and relevance; 
• Maintaining HCC’s strong financial position; and
• Conservative budgeting in accordance with strategic financial and capital plans.

Mr. Whitt’s six years as an HCC Trustee give him valuable insights into the College’s Vision and Mission. His commitment to HCC and to the community college experience are evidenced by his trustee leadership training with national and State associations and by the volunteer leadership roles he has taken with those organizations.

Mr. Whitt is a strong advocate for both traditional academic programs that launch individuals toward four-year degrees and for career and technical education enabling people to upgrade their job skills in high-demand workforce segments. 

He told the RCP citizen panel that if re-elected, he would prioritize the following: 

• Establishing policies and goals for the College and ensuring that leaders achieve them;
• Maintaining HCC’s strong financial position and responsible stewardship of its fiscal resources;
• Creative recruitment of high school graduates in the face of their declining numbers; 
• Increasing educational opportunities for adult learners; and
• Taking advantage of distance learning capabilities and of on-site training opportunities for business and industry.