The Republican primary race for McLean County Board District 1 pits the mayor of Carlock against a longtime member of the Illinois Farm Bureau board.
Running in the March 20 primary are Carlock Mayor Jeremiah Houston and Gerald Thompson, a third-generation farmer who lives east of Bloomington. Thompson said he wants the job to be a voice for those in the rural area.
The District 1 seat is now held by Don Cavallini, who is stepping down. The district stretches across the northern half of McLean County and dips down to a couple points in the Town of Normal.
Thompson ran as a write-in candidate against Cavallini four years ago over Cavallini's winter absences from meetings. Thompson received 30 percent of the vote, and he said he wants to try again. A wide variety of Republican county officeholders have endorsed Thompson.
Houston introduced himself as a former Democrat, current mayor of Carlock, and bus driver for First Student in the Unit 5 school district. Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner has endorsed Houston.
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