Voter turnout in the municipal election in McLean County was notably high, about 25% of registered voters. It was even higher in the Town of Normal. Nearly half the precincts had turnout above 40%.
Normal Mayor Chris Koos said the high interest factored into large margins of victory for moderates and progressives, adding the reason for those across-the-board wins was more than the understandable interest in the Unit 5 referendum or town council races.
"Not only in Normal, but in Bloomington and other communities that had elections throughout the United States, there was a palpable pushback against this ongoing negativity that had been generated in federal, state, and local politics," said Koos.
In 18 of the 26 precincts in Normal, turnout was above 30% of registered voters. Just four precincts in Normal had turnout below the county average. One precinct topped 50% voter turnout.
Koos said during an interview for WGLT's newsmagazine show Sound Ideas he's not sure there will be a long-term shift in such elections.
"I would hesitate to say it was a philosophical shift because I think the attitudes that people brought to the voting booths were already there. Some hadn't voted in local elections. I would say people just got tired of the negativity and the hate that was being generated by the far right," said Koos.
One of the critiques of Normal town government leveled by the losing town council candidates during the spring campaign was that the council lacked a diversity of thought and approach to government.
Next month, newly-elected council member Andy Byars will replace the often-dissenting voice of Stan Nord. Byars sounded much like the other two successful candidates in last week's municipal contests. But the mayor said he does not think the critique from Nord and challengers Marc Tiritilli and Karl Sila is merited.
"I think there is diversity of opinion. It is very clear to me we do not always agree on every issue and our votes have shown that," said Koos. "The Rivian purchase and the underpass issue. There were concerns on the underpass issue. There have been some 4-3 votes and some 3-4 votes."
There is always merit to having the conversation about diverse ideas, Koos said.
Homeless situation
The issue of people who are unhoused recently rose in prominence when police forced people in a tent encampment along the Constitution Trail near downtown Bloomington to move on.
Koos said it would be a good goal for the community to have some transitional and emergency housing apart from the shelters to take overflow from the shelters, or to temporarily accommodate those who are not allowed in the Safe Harbor shelter run by the Salvation Army or at Home Sweet Home Mission.
"Homelessness is a complex issue. There are people that genuinely need housing. There are a few people who don't want housing. They are content to live the way they are," said Koos, adding the town's role should be limited.
"I think supportive of agencies that can do that. We're not really capable in a professional sense to take on a project like that," said Koos.
Support from the town, he said, would depend on the agency that takes on the project and what it needs. It could include monetary support, or assistance and backing in applying for and administering grants.
"We're open to propositions on that," said Koos.
