There’s significant interest in filling the county board seat vacated by former board chair Catherine Metsker last month. Five people have filed applications for the District 1 position representing northern McLean County, including Gridley, Chenoa, Lexington, Carlock, Hudson, Colfax and Anchor.
Jim Fisher is a retired farmer and insurance claims adjuster who said he's lived on a small farm in rural Hudson for many years. Fisher said he is a veteran who served during the Cold War and in Panama during Manuel Antonio Noriega in the 1980s. He also has run for state representative before. He teaches a military science course at Illinois State University and is the GOP Precinct 1 committeeman in Hudson Township.
David Kennedy is a farmer, drainage contractor and a lifelong resident of McLean County. Kennedy has served on the board of Cooksville Grain Company. He wrote he is involved in showing conservation projects at the Farm Progress Show and believes his business experience would benefit the county board.
Andy Ziebarth listed State Farm as his employer.
Ryan McKinsey of Gridley works for El Paso Gridley schools and is a GOP precinct committeeman.
Joshua Lieb is the customer service manager at Taylor Print Impressions in Bloomington, managing estimating, purchasing, pre-press and scheduling. He and his wife own and run a small business, a salon. He said that business experience informs his approach to policies that promote economic growth and support for small businesses. Lieb said in his application he is dedicated to advocating for policies that benefit families and strengthen the community.
The five will make presentations about their interest in the office during the county board's Executive Committee meeting at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13. The vacancy is meant to be filled before the full county board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 16, begining at 5:30 p.m.
The person appointed to fill Metsker’s seat must be a Republican. The unexpired term ends in 2026.
