Both the Trades & Labor (all AFL-CIO affiliates) and the Livingston & McLean Counties Building & Construction Trades Council have made their endorsements. They differed on the Bloomington Mayor's race. For Bloomington Mayor the Trades & Labor endorsed Jackie Gunderson, the Building & Trades Mike Straza. All their other endorsements were in agreement.
After surveying the candidates and an Assembly zoom meeting that was Facebook live broadcast, the Trades & Labor voted to endorse incumbent Mayor Chris Koos in Normal and Jackie Gunderson for Bloomington mayor. The municipal elections are non-partisan.
The odd numbered wards are up for election to the Bloomington City Council. Business owner incumbent Jamie Mathy was endorsed in Ward 1, NAACP activist Willie Holton Halbert in Ward 3, Normal Community High School social studies teacher Patrick Lawler in Ward 5, director of Spiritual Care and Ethics Committee co-chair for Carle BroMenn Medical Center/Carle Eureka Hospital and appointed incumbent Mollie Ward in Ward 7 and retired Illinois State University educator Tom Crumpler in Ward 9.
In Normal the Town Council are elected at large. The endorsed candidates include two incumbents, business owner Kevin McCarthy and State Farm employee Chemberly Cummings, plus Bradley University instructor Brad McMillan.
Heartland Community College trustee candidates endorsed are Joshua Crockett and Catrina Parker. For the two year term the Building & Trades endorsed Cecilia Long.
With the concurrence of the Illinois Education Association, Unit 5 School District candidates Ketrica Coleman, Stan Gozur and Ericka Ralston were endorsed. In Bloomington District 87 the endorsed candidates are Brigette Beasley Gibson, Chuck Irwin and Elizabeth Fox Anvick.
For Normal Township the races are partisan. The Democratic slate was endorsed in Normal, incumbent Sarah Grammar for Township Supervisor, Pat Turner for Clerk, incumbent township trustees Arlene Hosea, Dayna Schickendanz and Sally Pyne plus newcomer Mary Wurhmann.
“The candidates we endorsed best reflect organized labors’ values, and we look forward to helping them win their seats of government so they can get to work improving the lives of all working families across McLean Co.” said Trades & Labor Vice-President Adam Heenan.
