By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – There’s a changing of the guard in McLean County government.
John McIntrye of Normal was unanimously chosen as the County Board Chairman on Tuesday filling the remaining year of Matt Sorensen’s term. Sorensen resigned last week as he faces a trial on fraud charges related to his consulting business.
County officials have stressed the charges are unrelated to any county work. McIntrye and the county are ready to turn the page.
PODCAST: Listen to WJBC’s interview with McIntyre here.
“All we have control over is doing a good job for the people and being good representatives,” McIntyre said.
McIntrye, a retired teacher and coach, was first elected to the board in 1980 and served two terms. He returned to the board an as appointee in 2008 and has since been re-election twice. In 2014 he was named Vice Chairman. He said he’s grateful county government is largely non-partisan.
“(It’s) the level of government where we can still enjoy working and concentrating on issues without having to line up across the aisle or having party-line votes on everything,” McIntyre said.
McIntyre said he hoped to continue the county’s efforts in improving mental health care this year.
“We obviously are going to move forward and continue to work on the development of the addition to the jail, to work on better facilities for the mental health patients there and also to expand
and continue to implement our mental health action plan here in this county,” McIntyre said.
Jim Soeldner of Ellsworth was named Vice Chairman. The board was required to name a Republican as its chairman as that was Sorensen’s affiliation.
The County Board is seeking applications for its District 2 vacancy until February 4 at noon. The seat will be filled by a Republican.
McIntyre, who turns 73 on Saturday, is one of many board members who are retired. He encouraged young people to apply for the vacant seat.
“We need new ideas we need people that will come in and find they can spend the time and contribute,” McIntyre said.
The County Board is expected to interview the candidates at its Executive Committee meeting on Feb. 9 and select a candidate at the County Board’s Feb. 16 meeting.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
