Voting is underway, and Bloomington’s east side must select a new McLean County Board representative for District 10. Republican Chuck Erickson served the area for over a decade, but is vacating the seat, opening the door for one of two new candidates to fill the role.
Republican Mark Clauss and Democrat Erica Larkin are battling it out to represent the district. Both are new to politics and said they will rely on experts to steer policy decisions.
Background on Larkin
Larkin is a mom, postpartum ambassador, substitute teacher and former auditor, who’s been in the community for more than 15 years. She announced her candidacy more than a year ago and said her interest in childhood early intervention programs at schools inspired her to run.
“I want to be a vote for keeping the kind of programs that we have, that we're lucky to have, and make them better,” she said, adding both of her children have benefited from programs at Lifelong Access and Easterseals Central Illinois, which have benefited from county grants.
In addition to early intervention, Larkin said she’s interested in mental health and green energy efforts in the county, adding she’s excited to take part in the county’s behavioral health efforts.
Background on Clauss
Clauss, a longtime State Farm employee who has lived in Bloomington for over 30 years, entered the race in June. He announced his candidacy when Republican Ross Webb dropped out to accept a job offer in another town. Clauss said the McLean County Republicans approached him about stepping up.
“I thought through pros and cons, and having not really been involved at this point, thought it was a good opportunity to try to get involved and, you know, kind of give back to the community serve,” he said.
He thinks his business experience will be an asset in problem-solving for the government sector. His primary focus is keeping taxes low, spending them efficiently and maintaining a safe environment that encourages people to live here.
Policy
Regarding policy, both said they take the lead from subject experts, but where Larkin has already made up her mind on several issues — including an affirmative on removing the office of elected county auditory via ballot referendum — Clauss said he’s still deciding.
“I haven’t seen a lot of details on why — either for, or against,” he said, adding he supports a proposal to save the county money, but is concerned about removing a needed role. The ability to add the role back later, he said, also is something he’s keeping in mind as he contemplates his decision.
Larkin said she’s supported the referendum since before it was on the ballot. Knowing she wanted to run for public office and coming from a background in auditing, she added she initially eyed a run for county auditor. After all, the role also is under consideration on this year’s ballot. But she changed her mind.
“It doesn't make sense to have the general public picking somebody on popularity or how charming they are to be the auditor,” she said. “It's somebody that should be qualified and well interviewed and hired in.”
On One Earth Energy's proposal to develop a carbon capture pipeline once a state moratorium lifts, Larkin’s stance is less firm. However, she leaning toward yes.
“The more I learn about it, the more I think it should be a higher-level decision, and so state level or federal level even, but where the decision lays right now is with McLean County, and as much as I know I think they're as safe as it's going to be,” she said. “It seems like a good decision.”
Clauss said he needs more information before he advocates for or against the project, and he thinks the public deserves it, too.
“It might sound like a great idea until it's your backyard, then you might feel differently,” he said. “So I think the best thing is the transparency and the information. Try to get as much facts on the table.”
He said the same about his approach to mental health initiatives in the county and any efforts to help ease the housing shortage. He pointed out that housing is not a county issue alone and nonprofits, the city and town will all need to collaborate to make a difference.
Something the county could do, he added, is evaluate where potential housing could go — including farmland.
Larkin thinks funding area nonprofits, such as the McLean County Regional Planning Commission or the Bloomington-Normal Community Land Trust, could help.
She pointed out that part of her campaign promise is to help connect people to resources when the county isn't in a position to help. For example, when she was door-knocking and kept getting requests for help fixing roads — which is under the city's jurisdiction.
“It doesn't stop with me,” she said. “I can make the request to the city. I can go to the Bloomington City Council and ask them to fix things."
As residents cast their ballots, Clauss said his strength is his ability to collaborate.
“I think I'm a pretty typical person. I don't have all the answers yet, but I think I do a pretty good job of relating to a lot of different people,” he said.
Early voting is ongoing and Election Day is Nov. 5, which is the last day to cast a ballot.
