Bloomington Mayoral Candidate Roundtable
LIVE & LOCAL on-air 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 23.
The League of Women Voters of McLean County President Kathy Tosh will moderate.
For more information on this and the other elections this year, please click here.
Bloomington Mayoral Candidate Review for this non-partisan race listed below in the same order as the names appear on the election ballot:
Candidate Bios
Ian Bayne
Age: 43
Profession: Real estate banking
Education: Attended University of Massachusetts
Political experience: Worked on Mitt Romney campaigns for governor of Massachusetts (1998-2003); appointed to Middlesex County coordinator for Romney campaign in 2002
What qualifies you to be mayor: As a small business owner, I would have a business approach that is lacking now in government.
Why are you running: I’m very passionate about the city of Bloomington. I’m very passionate about the people here. I want to be a citizen mayor.
Specific things you would change if elected: Reduce the sales tax to 6.5 percent; cut property taxes; repair streets
Tari Renner
Age: 58
Profession: Political science professor at Illinois Wesleyan; mayor of City of Bloomington
Education: Bachelor degree in political science from South Florida; master’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C.
Political experience: Mayor of Bloomington (2013-2017); McLean County Board member (1998-2012); worked for International City Management Association for 30 years
What qualifies you to be mayor: My experience as mayor the last four years and my past experience in local politics for over 30 years.
Why are you running: The city has made great progress (in my term). We are on the right track in so many ways, but it’s incomplete. I can’t leave something halfway done.
Three specific things you would change if elected: Streets and infrastructure; growing the local economy; continue open transparency policy
Robert Fike
Age: 59
Profession: Retired Bloomington firefighter
Education: Bachelor degree in mathematics from Illinois State
Political experience: Ran for Normal Town Council in 1993
What qualifies you to be mayor: I know this city, the community and the people. I’m very goal-oriented and like to set goals and see them get achieved.
Why are you running: I decided the city needed some help because of the tax and spend policy that they had initiated. Taxes were going up too fast and the spending was increasing, almost out of control, on frivolous non-essential items.
Specific things you would change if elected: Hold the line on taxes – there will be no new taxes; eliminate non-essential spending and making across the board cuts except with police and fire; improve the infrastructure.
Kevin Lower
Age: 54
Profession: Automobile Sales/Pilot
Education: Aeronautical degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Political experience: Bloomington City Council (2013-2017); Republican precinct committeeman (8 years)
What qualifies you to be mayor: My background and the fact that I’ve lived here all my life. My heart and soul are in McLean County and I have a real empathy that I was brought up with from my folks for the locals. If McLean County is going to be something, we’ve got to do it.
Why are you running: I believe that we’re currently not going in the right direction. We’re spending a lot of money on things we can’t afford.
Three specific things you would change if elected: Public safety, water system infrastructure; solid waste issues
Diana Hauman
Age: 69
Profession: Retired as owner-operator of training and development micro-business
Education: Bachelor degree in community education and training management from St. Francis College in Joliet
Political experience: Currently serving on Bloomington City Council (appointed in 2014)
What qualifies you to be mayor: I have been in leadership and management positions for a number of years. I have the interest in making our city better. Being a visionary and a good listener.
Why are you running: I believe our city needs a leader, who knows when to lead and when to manage. I have the interest in making our city better than it is.
Three specific things you would change if elected: A long-term vision and plan for what Bloomington should be in five or 10 years; strengthening our relationship with the Town of Normal and working with economic development; make sure we are on a sound financial footing.
Mayoral Candidate Questions
Please submit a question for our roundtable. We will collect them and add the most asked questions to the list that reflect relevant topics of this election cycle.
Bios compiled by WJBC staff.
