By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Two write-in candidates are running for the McLean County Board seat Matt Sorensen has just vacated.

McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael said the two candidates – Mike Sumner and Scott Murphy, both of Downs – filed within an hour of each other Wednesday for the open District 2 seat.

“Write-in candidate names don’t appear on the ballot. A line just appears and folks have to remember whose name to write-in,” Michael said. “Of course, that’s up to the candidates to get that word out.”

Sorensen’s name still appears on the ballot and its the only name that will appear for the March primary. He had until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday to remove his name from the ballot and choose not to.

If Sorensen wins the primary, he has until Sept. 1 to remove his name from the general election ballot should he choose to do so. Sorensen resigned Tuesday from the county board and said in his resignation letter that he refuses to allow current issues to be a distraction to the employees and elected officials of McLean County.

Sorensen had been on the county board since 1992 and had served as board chairman since 2007. He faces wire fraud charges that accuse him of stealing over $400,000 from companies, including State Farm, for consultant work that was never done. Sorensen pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Chicago Wednesday and will appear in court again Feb. 11 for a status hearing.

McLean County State’s Attorney Jason Chambers said if Sorensen is convicted or pleads guilty to the felony wire fraud charges, he would be barred from holding public office.

The deadline for write-in candidates to apply for the March primary is Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].