Another Normal Town Council member will challenge Mayor Chris Koos in the 2025 election.
Kathleen Lorenz announced Monday she plans to run for mayor in the April 1 election. Lorenz is currently in her third term on the town council, having first been elected in 2015.
In an interview with WGLT, Lorenz said she believes the timing is right for "new leadership and a fresh perspective" in the town.
"I do believe that I bring a fresh perspective. I bring a history as a council member — I think an effective one. In 2023, I sat for reelection as a council member and the voters rewarded me with a lot of votes," she said. "So, I think what that tells me is that my style of being a council member has resonated well with the residents and business community."
Lorenz said if elected, economic growth and development would be among her first priorities.
"We're doing well as a community — Normal and Bloomington and our Central Illinois region — and so from a government perspective, that means being ready and able partner for our business community, for our economic development team to help make things continue to happen and sometimes even remove impediments right from any sort of growth," she said.
A six-year, former community investment director for United Way of McLean County and co-chair of the McLean County Housing Coalition, Lorenz emphasized the continued "collaboration and coordination" between local government, nonprofit and other groups in addressing an ongoing shortage of housing in the twin cities.
Lorenz currently works as director of administration at Home Sweet Home Ministries in Bloomington.
"We have a variety of issues from unsheltered [people] to not enough homes for workforce coming to our community," Lorenz said. "Under my leadership — and I think anybody that knows me well knows that I'm very collaborative, I seek partnerships, I want coordination — this would be something I would be very proactive about, should I be successful in this candidacy."
Town Council member Chemberly Harris has also announced a run for mayor.
The incumbent Koos has held the position since 2003.
The election is April 1.
This story will be updated.
