About the County Board:
The County Board is the central legislative body of our Champaign County government. There are 11 districts, and two board members elected to each district. The County Board makes decisions about how the county’s money is spent; money that comes from your tax dollars. They also have oversight of county offices, as well as facilities and roads. They work with the County Executive to appoint positions throughout county government.
District 5 is the only County Board district that is currently represented by a Democrat and a Republican. Republican incumbent Jon Rector is running against Democrat Jordan Humphrey.
Humphrey grew up in Champaign, attending Unit 4 Schools. He received an Associate’s Degree in Speech Communication from Parkland College and a BA in Political Science from University of Illinois Springfield. He has experience as an organizer for political campaigns as well as legistlative campaigns for non-profit organizations. Currently, he is an intern with the Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office and also works for Developmental Services Center. From his Facebook page:
Your representative in local government should be more than just a political figure- you deserve a servant for the public good, a tireless advocate for dignity, and a home-grown champion for your values on the County Board.
Rector grew up in Champaign, and received a BS and MBA from Eastern Illinois University. He is the CEO of Rector Insurance in Champaign. He serves on various boards and committees including the Champaign County Sheriff’s Merit Commission, the Cunningham Children’s Home Advancement Committee, and the Champaign County Sub-Committee to end Veteran’s Homelessness. Rector was appointed to the board in 2015 to replace Jeff Kibler. He has previously run for Champaign City Council and Champaign County Clerk.
From his Facebook page:
The need to help others was always front and center in my household, and that is what led me down the path of community service and public service.
Here is their recent Candidate Forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters, NAACP of Champaign County, The News Gazette, and WILL.