By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Community outreach is a top priority for the 19-year old man elected last week to represent northwest Normal on the McLean County Board.

Logan Smith and other Democrats who ran for the county board this fall believe the best way to reach out to constituents is for the board to hold monthly meetings at night instead of the morning.

Smith said working people can’t make morning meetings. Nor will his Heartland Community College classmates be able to attend those meetings.

“It will work for me because I’ll schedule around it, but I can’t have classmates come. They’ll be in class,” said Smith.

County board meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month. Republican Vice Chairman Jim Soeldner of Ellsworth argued it would be dangerous for rural residents to travel dark roads for nighttime meetings in Downtown Bloomington.

The county board meets on the third Tuesday of every month.

Smith defeated Republican incumbent Mark Johnson and Libertarian Alexandra Engle to win the District 4 seat.

Smith considers himself a centrist, and said he’s willing to talk about any issue. He said his biggest obstacle was convincing people that he was a serious candidate.

“I came over that obstacle fairly quickly,” said Smith.

“People realized that I was for real, I’ve done my research, and I was in it to win it.”

Smith is a lifelong resident of Normal and attended the Regional Alternative School in Downtown Bloomington.

As the school’s student ambassador, Smith guided State Representative Keith Sommer and Congressman Rodney Davis, both Republicans, on a tour of the school.

Smith also testified before state lawmakers in Springfield about school funding.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]