By: Diane Benjamin
George Wendt will not be on the McLean County Board after the November election.
He was soundly defeated in Bloomington and the County:
Brian Loeffler received a total of 1,318 votes, George Wendt received 677.
Proving that election can be bought, Regan Deering funded a large part of her campaign herself. It worked, she defeated Chuck Erickson. From IllinoisSunshine.org
Deering received a total of 2,787 votes, Erickson received 2,252.
I hope Regan Deering is better than Dan Caulkins in responding to constituents. I’ve emailed Caulkins 3 times on the same issue without even a confirmation of receipt. Go away Dan.
Chuck Erickson is the top contributor to his own State Rep campaign (just under $8k). He also has the same top Republican donors and PACs that back local Republican campaigns. I can’t fault Deering for putting her own money into the campaign, which one could argue on the flip side that she can’t be “bought.”
I’m more worried about candidates in races where a Republican can knock off a Democrat and get the legislature in out of Democrat super majority status.
Gerrymandering makes that impossible
Isn’t Leoffler related to Kelly Leoffler who was investigated for insider trading along with her investor husband while she was in Congress representing the State of Georgia and is worth multi-millions?
That makes him guilty? They aren’t the Bidens
Relax, asking the question. That’s right, all McLean County families are pure as the driven snow. Just like nationally, little difference between most in politics. Your reaction to the question speaks volumes. Farmer friends of yours?
Never met him or anyone in his family
Loeffler is a well known farmer and generally good guy. Wendt was a good board member and nice, but he’s also very old and has been around forever. Sometimes people just want a change.
I was going to vote for Erickson, but then he was graded at a B by the ISRA. When you look at his record, he’s wishy washy on gun rights. We don’t need that, so I voted for Deering. Also, Chuck’s immigrant motion at the county board was kind of an insincere stunt. I don’t think we should be spending money on migrants, but there were other ways to accomplish that goal.
Grundler isn’t mentioned here but he’s being a huge baby in the media about his loss. Mike O’Neil is known in the area. He also just bought some signs to advertise. The only signs I saw for Grundler were small ones placed close ish but still legal to the polling place on Election Day. I don’t think O’Neils spending was on par with Deering.
Does it suck that it takes cash to get elected? Yes. Is it getting out of hand? Maybe. Is it the system we have to work in? Also yes.
There was another race on the ballot where I think the winner spent about half of one of the other candidates, so sometimes it isn’t all about the money.
These paid politicians like Dan done even READ or write email (staff or interns or generated AI responses that are nonsense or fake narrative responses are all you MIGHt get. (LaHood – like BRADY is bad too)
This is our Republican folks – paid actors $$$
Durbin doesn’t even respond to what is sent to him. I get canned talking points regardless of the topic
Actually Durbin (staff) responded to a couple of my emails eventually
Nonsense scripted narrative
He/they get paid regardless
A waste