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WGLT's reporting on the November 2020 election cycle.

'Common Sense' Political Action Committee Makes First Moves In B-N

Common Sense logo
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The Common Sense McLean County PAC officially formed Sept. 11, according to filings with the State Board of Elections.

The priorities of a new political action committee are starting to take shape.

The Common Sense McLean County PAC officially formed Sept. 11, according to filings with the State Board of Elections. It’s led by Randy Butts and Matt Reynolds, who list a Bloomington P.O. Box as their mailing address. They declined comment recently when reached by WGLT.

“We simply have no further information to share beyond that which is available at the Illinois State Board of Elections,” they said over email.

The Common Sense PAC “supports candidates for office in McLean County beholden to a singular philosophy that government operates best when its officials forget party rhetoric and employ common sense in decision making,” according to its Facebook Page.

So far, the PAC is most closely aligned with Republicans.

State election filings show a “Randy Butts” from Bloomington has contributed financially to campaigns for McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp, state Sen. Bill Brady, former Gov. Bruce Rauner, and former McLean County auditor candidate Trisha Malott. All are Republicans. Butts was also a sponsor at the recent McLean County Republican Party picnic.

Knapp’s campaign committee was one of the first contributors ($1,000 on Sept. 23) to the Common Sense PAC, records show.

The Common Sense PAC has so far publicly targeted two candidates on the November ballot.

It has sent mail to voters in support of Republican McLean County Board chair John McIntyre and attacking McIntyre’s Democratic challenger, Rachael Lund.

The group’s lone Facebook post is a video attacking incumbent McLean County Auditor Michelle Anderson, who is herself a Republican. But she has come under criticism from other elected Republicans, who tried unsuccessfully to knock her off in the March primary. Anderson faces Democrat Rob Fazzini and Libertarian Kevin Woodard in November.

Common Sense is at least the second political action committee to form in Bloomington-Normal in recent months.

WGLT previously reported on Responsible Cities PAC, which plans to recruit, finance, and otherwise support candidates only in nonpartisan races like city council.

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Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
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