2nd candidate emerges for Bloomington City Council seat

Posted on September 26, 2022

*Jordan Baker told 25 News he works in the district office for State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington). (Photo courtesy Jordan Baker)*

BLOOMINGTON – A recent Illinois Wesleyan University graduate is the second candidate to announce plans to run next year for the Bloomington City Council.

Jordan Baker wants to represent Ward 6, which covers much of the downtown area and parts of Bloomington’s west side.

Baker announced his plans last week on his Facebook page and in a news release.

Already in the race is former Pekin City Council member Cody Hendricks, who teaches history at Olympia High School in Stanford.

Both men are competing to replace incumbent Ward 6 Councilwoman De Urban, who was appointed to the position last year and is not running in next April’s municipal election.

Baker pledges to advance ideas that are best for the community, without political or personal agendas.

“Everyone wants a safe home, a downtown to be proud of, and a community where everyone belongs,” Baker said in his news release.

“My campaign is focused on the priorities of the community: public safety, housing supply, infrastructure, and business development.”

Baker told 25 News Now he works in the district office for State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington).

A lot of what Baker said he does for Barickman carries over to city council work in terms of public service and being available for constituents.

At Illinois Wesleyan, Baker’s major was political science. He said one of his professors was former Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner.

Baker, a Georgia native, graduated from IWU in 2020.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…