I was at KAM shooting sports in Morton the other day to support some friends who are running for county positions in the upcoming election. The event was sponsored by the Lady Republicans of Tazewell County.
Party politics as a county should be fairly mundane but, like everything lately, can get a little heated due to national news. I have said it before, the Republican Party in Tazewell County runs the gambit of positions and I am not at ease to hear party members railing against each other.
Politicians don’t have to agree on 100%, 90%, or even 75% of every piece of legislation in order to work together. We need candidates and legislators willing to overlook national news and set aside differences for the betterment of the county… Not the “marching orders” of a party!
While I was talking to a few people… I had one current member of the county board ask “Why are you running?”
I looked at her and had to think about that for a second. It was a valid question for certain but not one I prepare for. I have been so caught up with the Broadband Committee that I was not ready to talk about anything else. I had to switch gears and started with my outraged COVID parent outline, small business advocate, and Libertarian pragmatism about minding the checkbook for our next generation of citizens in Tazewell County.
It was bumpy, disjointed, and probably sounded like an ideologue.
The point that stuck with me on the whole conversation was that I don’t think like a politician. I don’t sit around and hone out perfect answers to questions like this. I will have to work on that. When you hire somebody for a job like a county board, you should know what you are getting. The R or D wrapper on the package is enough for most people. Independents freak people out because they are not betrothed to either major party.
If you vote Stahl for County Board. Here are a few things you get.
- Representation for the rural citizen. I have lived in rural southern Tazewell County for nearly 25 years. Our problems and issues are not the same as Pekin, Morton, and Washington’s. I am working to raise the voice of the outliers.
- Transparency. I feel that lots of legislation and money move through our county with little conversation or public scrutiny. It’s my job and the board’s job to make sure everyone knows what’s going on in layman terms.
- Advocate for small businesses and promote local. We should be working as the unified front with all the Chambers in the Tazewell to advertise all the great parks, culture, and entertainment options we have in Tazewell County. I have and will continue to promote our county whenever possible.
- CONNECTTAZEWELL.com I will dedicate myself to broadband in our county. Beyond ARPA money that was set aside for our county, we will be seeing opportunities for grants and incentives over the coming years to advance our infrastructure. If we want our kids to stay here… If we want new investment… We need to get with the times and make it feasible to do business in the 21st Century. Fiber Broadband HAS to happen.
All of this should be obvious as I am a small business employee with kids who are transitioning from Deemack HS to College. My Wife, Angela is born and raised in Delavan and we have no plans to “escape” Illinois. I want to be part of the planning that makes Tazwell County a place where people want to live. Not a place to be from.
If you need more info… Go back to my other posts or shoot me an email at eric(at)planetstahl.com