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Town Council Member Lorenz Stakes Position In The Middle

Normal Town Council member Kathleen Lorenz said she embraces her status as a potential swing vote on the council on a number of issues.

Speaking Tuesday on WGLT's Sound Ideas, Lorenz said the role is both empowering and stressful and requires a specific approach to attract coalitions in the center.

"I have to be better at explaining my rationale at the table. I think that's something I need to challenge myself to do better at," said Lorenz.

One example of that extra communication, Lorenz said, is her recent vote on a property tax levy. She initially voted for a smaller levy, but after discovering it could impact the town's bond rating, she changed course in the final vote on the levy and supported restoring some of the proposed funding.

Lorenz said she favors long-term strategic thinking over short-term philosophically pure positions on votes. She highlighted Stan Nord's vote against a six-year Community Investment Plan because of his objections to funding for the Trail East and underpass projects in Uptown. Lorenz said a no vote is also a vote against a whole lot of road repairs.

She cautioned against letting the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Lorenz also said she thinks relationships between council members are getting better. Lorenz said it seems as if council members are getting past the friction and hurt feelings displayed in recent retreats to set the policy agenda for next year.

"I think it's improving. We've had a couple sessions of strategic plans with an outside facilitator. And in both cases we have had some heart-to-heart talks that I think are making improvements. I see it. I feel it," she said.

Lorenz cautioned against taking ideological approaches to issues that prevent compromise. She says collaboration requires a willingness to compromise and a lack of that prevents governmental bodies from getting things done.

lorenz-full.mp3
Listen to the full interview with Kathleen Lorenz.

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WGLT Senior Reporter Charlie Schlenker has spent more than three award-winning decades in radio. He lives in Normal with his family.