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Normal may need council primary
By Mary Ann Ford
mford@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL -- There could be a primary election in February in Normal. Seven people have taken out petitions for three seats on the Normal City Council.

If all of them return completed petitions during the week of Dec. 11-18, it would force a primary election on Feb. 27. The general election is April 17.

Normal residents recently picking up nominating petitions include: Layne Connell; Chuck Scott; Melissa Fasig; and R. Michael McFarland. David Polley and current council members Jeff Fritzen and Sonja Reece were the first to pick up petitions.

The seats of Fritzen, Reece and Parker Lawlis are expiring.

Connell, of 1101 Whitaker St., is a security guard, umpire and referee for four sports, and a homemaker. He previously ran for a seat on the board of trustees for Heartland Community College and is vice president of the Bloomington-Normal Officials Association.

Connell said there is no major issue prompting him to run for a council.

Scott, of 310 Kelly Drive, is executive director of facilities management at Illinois State University. It is his first time seeking public office.

He believes serving on the City Council would “enhance already good town and gown relations.” In his role at ISU, he works closely with the directors of many Normal departments and knows the town’s construction codes.

He is interested in the downtown redevelopment and said a council seat would give him the opportunity to help shape the face of the community. He also supports the town’s design standards and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program and believes the town’s parks master plan and Constitution Trail extension through ISU will help make Normal a more pedestrian-friendly community.

Fasig is a stay-at-home mom and works part-time as special events coordinator for Marc Center. She has not decided if she will return the petition.

McFarland, of 1812 Fort Jesse Road, took out a petition for a council seat in 2002 and threw his hat into the ring to fill the unexpired term of McLean County Treasurer Jim Boylan, who died in 2003. McFarland did not return the petition for the City Council race and then assistant treasurer Becky McNeil was appointed to Boylan’s post.

McFarland, assistant vice president of Regions Bank, said he has a passion to serve. He wants to be involved in upcoming issues facing Normal, including the proposed east side highway corridor and the strong business development currently under way downtown and in north Normal.

Polley took advantage of a new law allowing firefighters to seek election or be appointed to public office. He has been a firefighter for seven years. He has questions about the status of planned parks and road projects and wants to educate residents on the roles of public safety providers.

Fritzen is seeking a sixth term on the board because he wants to continue his involvemente in the completion of some of the projects started during his recent tenure, including the Community Enrichment Committee, the parks’ master plan and the downtown hotel.

Reece wants to see residents get more involved in the town and wants to make sure the community stays financially sound through all the economic development. She is seeking her fifth term on the council.

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Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

normal wrote on Oct 24, 2006 11:03 AM:

" Good to see some competition. "

to pantagraph reader wrote on Oct 24, 2006 9:40 AM:

" So it is your opinion that Reece, Fritzen and Lawlis specifically are not on the "side of the people"? They are the only ones up for election so we can only assume that you are referring to them. And specifically what have they done that was against "the people"? "

pantagraph reader wrote on Oct 23, 2006 8:18 PM:

" Maybe now we can get some people in there that will be on the side of the people for a change. "
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