Tag: BEC

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Tonight 7/27/26

By Diane Benjamin Agenda: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4118/files/agenda/13925 Bills and Payroll: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/32747/639203237356830000 Below is a payment to the Bloomington Election Commission which is paid by County taxpayers, not City of Bloomington: Of course no one has oversight over this office, especially not the people paying the bills. Taxation without representation! The only item on the Regular Agenda is […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Diana Hauman Needs Removed From BEC Board

By: Diane Benjamin See that “non-partisan” right in the title? https://bloomingtonelectionsil.gov/about-us These are the 3 commissioners: . Does anyone think Diana Hauman is going to make a non-partisan ruling if there is a ballot dispute between Kevin Lower and Jennifer Brown when she is openly rooting for the Democrat? Can she be non-partisan in ANY […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Township Rabblerousing AGAIN

By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Sonny Garcia called for a special meeting of the Bloomington Township to get this on the ballot: https://blnnews.com/2024/05/15/want-to-see-the-petition-signers/ That effort failed because citizens of Bloomington Township outnumbered his ilk. Time for Bloomington Township voters to do it again! This time the organizer is Zach Gittrich who appears frequently around town. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

League of Women Voters Survey: Impact on McLean County Elections

By: Diane Benjamin The League of Women Voters is conducting a survey aimed at creating a Commission like the Bloomington Election Commission is handle all elections in McLean County. They want to take the responsibility away from the elected County Clerk and hand it to unelected bureaucrats that CAN NOT be held accountable by voters. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Proof Bloomington is Growing Government

By: Diane Benjamin If you live in Bloomington and haven’t reviewed the proposed budget, now would be a good time: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/32355/639074561303430000 PDF page 21: . Every chart in the budget would be more informative with a ten year history instead of just a comparison with the previous budget. First note: The population isn’t changing. What […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

5 Things you need to know

By: Diane Benjamin 1) Illinois lawmakers who propose unConstitutional laws should be kicked out of office: https://ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?GAID=18&DocNum=2820&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=164963&SessionID=114 Senator Laura Fine proposed SB2820 Creates the Prohibited Hiring of Federal Immigration Officers Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency may not hire as a law enforcement officer any person who was hired as a federal immigration officer […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Evidently No One At the County Knows How to Get Rid of the Current Auditor

By: Diane Benjamin This one is easy, but read this first: . The current Auditor has a surety bond. That bond is required for her position and is paid for by taxpayers. Michele Anderson has now cost the County money because she didn’t do her job. The County can make a claim against her bond […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why We Should Abolish the Bloomington Election Commission

By: Diane Benjamin Unless “Chad” is now a female name, the local League of Women Voters have let men conquer their spaces. Maybe they can’t find enough women to fill roles in the organization. Maybe they should change their name to reflect who they really are. The League is going to study the two local […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why did Lizzy refund a contribution?

By: Diane Benjamin Continuation of this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/11/29/alleged-illegal-activity-at-mclean-county/ Lizzy is Elizabeth Johnston. She plans to be the new County Board chair since the Democrats are now the majority. (I told you this is going to be fun!) The text messages below are between Trevor Sierra and Lizzy Johnson. Trevor is requesting a refund for the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Election Commission: Some Good Some Bad

By: Diane Benjamin My church in Bloomington is a voting location. Yesterday they had a large number of poll workers and machines – larger than previous years. The crew sets up for the election the night before. We had some members there to move a lot of furniture out of the way. I don’t remember […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: If this doesn’t prove why BEC needs abolished, nothing will

I thought surely the camera did something like take still shots, so I asked. This was the response: There isn’t a link on their website to the Live Stream. By: Diane Benjamin Remember this pic? That picture is from this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/10/31/is-this-safe-and-secure/ See the poll with what looks like a camera on the left side? […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: Bloomington Election Commission Strikes again

At least 1 of these people is a BEC judge taking a smoke break yesterday instead of trying to get people through the long line to vote: By: Diane Benjamin Elections for President happen every 4 years. Evidently BEC doesn’t realize that because they failed to plan for a lot of people showing up again. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

3 Way Mayors race in Bloomington

By: Diane Benjamin No one new filed in Normal. The deadline is close of business on Monday. Current mayor Mboka Mwilambwe filed for reelection: https://bloomingtonelectionsil.gov/2025-consolidated-elections/ Who circulated petitions is always interesting. Former Alderman Joni Painter circulated for Mboka. Did you know current Ward 1 Alderman Jenna Kearns is an attorney? She was one of the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

6 Things You Need To Know

By: Diane Benjamin 1) Another reason to abolish the Bloomington Election Commission: You can not vote with a paper ballot in Bloomington until election day. The entire rest of the County can at either the County Clerk’s office or at the mall. It will take a little longer because they have to look up what […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

See where the money comes from

By: Diane Benjamin If you can’t decide who to vote for, see where their biggest contributions came from. That is who will be telling them how to vote and expecting a payback. Illinois Sunshine is the easier place to find out: https://illinoissunshine.org/ It also shows connections to other committees established by candidates. There is tons […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Election Commission has a sample ballot now PLUS more you need to know

By: Diane Benjamin https://bloomingtonelectionsil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24GILBLO_SPECIMEN_FINAL.pdf Unlike the County where the Clerk in charge of elections is actually elected, BEC has this disclaimer on their site: https://bloomingtonelectionsil.gov/november-5th-2024-general-election/specimen-ballot On the County website you can locate what YOUR ballot will look like, it won’t have every office like BEC’s does. That is the difference between being able to hold […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Want to see the petition signers?

By: Diane Benjamin Lots of people have asked me who is responsible for last night Bloomington Township meeting. The meeting was called because it only takes 15 valid signatures to force a township meeting. Maybe those who think the Bloomington Election Commission should be abolished should put a question on the November ballot! There are […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Like paying other people’s bills?

By: Diane Benjamin The entire County is going to be taxed to fund the airport. This was passed in Springfield without a vote from the County residents and by representatives that don’t represent them (Chung and Koehler). Remember: Taxation Without Representation? Details here: https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/cira-authority-expansion-means-new-tax-for-rural-mclean-county-property-owners/article_e7aeccb8-3339-11ee-966e-fb07c1b7d8e3.html The County is also forced to pay for the Bloomington Election […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Too good not to post

By: Diane Benjamin Kelby Cumpston does a good job recapping Bloomington’s agenda on Facebook before meetings. I like reading his views since they can be insightful. I have no idea why Greg Koos made the comment below because the Bloomington Election Commission isn’t on the Agenda. Does Greg know BEC couldn’t tell candidates how many […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Grossinger Motors Arena isn’t and more

By: Diane Benjamin Budget book 2 – PDF page 132 https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/29127 The paragraph below sure sounds like the City let Grossinger Motors off the hook for naming rights long before the contract was over last summer. Grossinger is still on the building anyway. The City still refers to it at Grossinger anyway. The EXCESS reserves […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Leroy passed a resolution opposed to CIRA last time

By: Diane Benjamin Every small town in McLean County should pass the same resolution now. See what Leroy passed in 2018 when CIRA wanted to tax the entire County: Not everyone who uses CIRA lives in McLean County but they aren’t being taxed. Every small town and city in the County can’t afford to have […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More reason to abolish BEC

By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Election Commission has a long history of failing at their one job: Elections. Just in November they couldn’t tell candidates for Bloomington Council how many signatures they needed on petitions because of redistricting. In 2022 BEC requested and increase to their budget of $550,000. BEC has had a hard time […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Fly on the wall: BEC

I heard the Bloomington Election Commission can’t tell candidates in revised wards how many signatures they need to run! I also hear candidates are told to consult a lawyer – sure, for a job that pays $2,300 a year. Brilliant. (You have ONE job) I wonder if they know the law?  (10 ILCS 5/29-4) (from Ch. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Try again to abolish BEC

By: Diane Benjamin Only slightly over 60% of registered voters in McLean County bothered to vote. (35,980 out of 59,448) Evidently 40 year high inflation and Pritzker tax increases weren’t enough pain for the other 40% I can’t tell you how many registered voters in Bloomington bothered to show up. Not only did it take […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Early Voting Starts today

By: Diane Benjamin Voting 6 weeks before the actual election date is merely a ploy to bank votes from uniformed voters. Do not vote now, the ballots aren’t even available yet to preview before you vote. The ballots were likely delayed by petition challenges. Only those who want to be uniformed vote before campaigning even […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington: Questions that won’t be asked tonight

By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington could have a short meeting tonight: http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1163&Inline=True Some highlights: Is anyone going to ask why businesses keep leaving downtown for the East side? Is anyone going to admit the City Core is Veterans Parkway not downtown? Sick Leave Buy Back is still being paid, it just can’t be used to spike […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Part 3 Bloomington-Is BEC screwing up elections?

By: Diane Benjamin A Facebook friend asked why I didn’t include this in previous stories. Since I still don’t understand the ramifications of what attorney Jeff Jurgens stated Monday night, this just gives me another reason to say the Bloomington Election Commission needs abolished. The City is changing Ward maps to equalize population in the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Election Commission Must GO

By: Diane Benjamin I recently filed a FOIA request with the Bloomington Election Commission. In case you missed this story, the COUNTY pays the bills for Bloomington’s Election Commission: Bloomington Proved BEC is a WASTE of Money   The only thing this office does is elections. There might be three elections this year, there might […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington pushed BEC out of the Government Center

By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Election Commission got their space in the Government Center downgraded when Bloomington offices moved in. Now they got pushed out so Bloomington’s Legal Department can move in. BEC (which shouldn’t exist because it duplicates the services of the County Clerk) is moving to the building next door: https://www.instantstreetview.com/@40.479618,-88.993312,178h,-2.59p,0z,wpb1CabIaO1Ad8groyQ-XQ The address […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Since eliminating BEC isn’t on the ballot:

The below was sent by the local GOP, Democrats likely sent it out too. People who demand the law be followed are needed, BEC needs a watchdog. Here is the news release from the BEC.  DATE: November 24, 2021SUBJECT: Announcing commissioner position vacancy on the City of Bloomington Board of Election Commission The Bloomington Board […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

BEC’s New Director

By: Diane Benjamin It took a long time for the Bloomington Election Commission to name a new Executive Director, the last one quit in May. I’d still like to know why Tim Mitchell quit suddenly and why it took so long to replace him. Did they have trouble finding a qualified applicant? The new Executive […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington bills approved tonight

By: Diane Benjamin Bills and Payroll: https://www.cityblm.org/home/showpublisheddocument/26488/637588526176300000 Wasn’t Sick Leave Buy Back abolished? Buy local? Not when Amazon can deliver office and cleaning supplies with a mouse click. This is what the City spent in one month: Even administration participated: Remember when the Coliseum was sold as it would pay for itself? https://blnnews.com/2017/01/28/coliseum-who-to-blame/ Hint: It […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

BEC needs abolished now

By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Election Commission need to be abolished now. The Executive Director Tim Mitchell is no longer there – effective today. From all appearances he did not give any notice. An employee said by phone Tim chose to work outside the office, whatever that means. I do know the County is moving […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

UPDATE: Large turnout for Ward 7 primary! 301 people

If you love Jenn Carrillo’s version of governing, you will love Kelby: By: Diane Benjamin I wonder how the poll workers kept up with so many voters exercising their constitutional right to pick their representatives: Keep doing this voters and somebody is going to propose abolishing elections because they are just too expensive and people […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

What the election said

By: Diane Benjamin Most pollsters have no credibility. The one who got 2016 right was https://www.thetrafalgargroup.org/ Trafalar predicted a Trump win in 2020. In the future, pollsters need to be marginalized. They intentionally over-sample those who produce the results they want to see. Media has no credibility. The majority of the media misled the public […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Sick Leave Buy Back isn’t gone!

By: Diane Benjamin https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=25362 I thought there was a deadline for City of Bloomington employees to retire if they wanted to spike their pensions, but evidently it’s still happening: These two employees will receive much higher pension benefits merely because nobody at the City stopped them. This fleece has cost Bloomington taxpayers MILLIONS of dollars […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Since Bloomington staff won’t just answer a simple question . . .

By: Diane Benjamin It was pretty easy to determine the COUNTY was paying for the Bloomington Election Commission for this story: https://blnnews.com/2020/10/08/you-cant-make-this-stuff-up-bloomington-election-commission/ I emailed the Bloomington Finance Director just to verify and didn’t receive a response until yesterday: That is 7 days after I wrote the story! This is the document they sent, you have […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

How BEC is fixing their error

By: Diane Benjamin Remember the ballot error that caused the Bloomington Election Commission to shut down early voting? https://blnnews.com/2020/10/01/early-voting-suspended-in-bloomington/ I received questions from people who had early voted with the ballot that left off retaining two judges. Some were worried their vote would be invalidated. I emailed BEC to see what the plan is. This […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

You can’t make this stuff up: Bloomington Election Commission

By: Diane Benjamin Did you notice the Democrats weren’t crying “Voting Suppression” when BEC shut down early voting for days to fix their ballot problem? What would they have said about Republican Kathy Michael if the County would have shut down early voting? Did you also notice there is no one voters can hold accountable […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: Nailed it! Early voting suspended in Bloomington

By: Diane Benjamin I think that boat has sailed BEC. If you have a problem with your ballots everybody who has already voted has a problem. How many ballots have you mailed? The specimen ballot on the BEC website does have a problem – two questions are missing: https://www.becvote.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/General-Election-1120.pdf Anyone who has already voted did […]