NORMAL – Three candidates are all vying for the title of Mayor for the town of Normal.
Council member Chemberly Harris, Incumbent candidate Chris Koos and Council member Kathleen Lorenz are the three people residents of Normal can vote on in the upcoming consolidated election.
Below is why the candidates are running, the issues they believe are most necessary to address, and what they want for the town of Normal.
Chemberly Harris
In speaking about her main mission in running for Mayor, Harris had positive things to say about the town and its residents.
“This is actually a diamond in the rough is what I always love to call this place,” Harris said. “There’s so much here. This is a gem in the central part of Illinois, and it’s time that we shine like we are the gem that we are.”
As far as the main issue Normal faces, Harris said it’s the housing crisis, and wants to form and sustain partnerships to address it.
“I think it’s the same issue everyone’s facing,” she said. “I think when you talk about number one issue, it’s housing. For every community, that looks different. I want us to be strategic so that we truly solve this crisis or this issue we have here so that we are good in the long run.”
Harris said the race has been fairly unique due to the political climate.
“This has been a very interesting race, I will say, because we look at the total environment right now, political environment, and I think it plays also into the consolidated elections.”
Chris Koos
Koos talked about what he said he could bring to the table as Mayor.
“The strongest thing I can bring to residents is my experience on the job and the fact that I still have a passion for the community and a passion for the job,” Koos said.
When asked about what the most prominent issue that needs to be addressed in the town of Normal is, Koos said housing, and that the town isn’t alone in the issue.
“It’s the same in normal as it is across the country,” He said. “We’re in uncertain times and people are nervous and they want stability in their lives. So I think that that’s probably the most important thing to do right now is have that stability and make people feel comfortable about where they live.”
Koos said the race has gone “very well” and he has confidence in his team.
“I’ve got a pretty strong network of stakeholders and friends who are working for me on this campaign. So I feel pretty confident.”
Kathleen Lorenz
Lorenz addressed first and foremost what made her want to run for Mayor.
“In public service, you want to serve the people, the residents and the businesses,” said Lorenz. “But why did I throw my hat in the ring really is because I felt in my gut that it is time for fresh leadership.”
As far as the most immediate issue in Normal, she said the housing crisis and the need to work with the town’s twin city to make progress.
“I think for our community is this housing availability,” she said. “We have to work with Bloomington as a Twin Cities to solve this rather complex problem, but I believe it’s doable.”
Lorenz said this race has been clean, and there is a mutual respect between the candidates that she hopes continues.
“We’re all colleagues right now, and I’m glad that that sense of civility has prevailed,” she said. “It’s been a good race, a clean race, and I hope it finishes that way.”
The consolidated election is April 1.
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