Skip to content
Menu
Planet Stahl
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • My account
  • Scholorship Fund
  • Shop
  • Candidate Stahl
    • Campaign Donations
Planet Stahl

“Why are you running?”

Posted on February 17, 2022
Mary Burris and I at KAM Shooting Sports in Morton IL

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

 

Related

Archives

Eric Stahl

Twitter

Tweets by Planetstahl

  • May 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • June 2015
  • January 2015
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • February 2013
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • November 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • January 2006
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • June 2005
  • May 2005
  • September 2001
  • May 2001
  • April 2001
  • March 2001
  • February 2001
  • January 2001
  • December 2000
  • November 2000
  • October 2000
  • September 2000
  • August 2000
  • February 2000
  • November 1999
  • Cancer
  • Candidate Stahl
  • Digital Divide
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Grief
  • Health
  • History
  • Home Improvement
  • Libertarian
  • Local News
  • Music
  • Pets
  • Scholarship Fund
  • Social Commentary
  • St. Jude
  • Throwin' Wrenches
  • Trail Team
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Work
Eric Stahl

©2025 Planet Stahl | WordPress Theme by Superb WordPress Themes