Labor leader sworn in as newest McLean County board member

Posted on July 16, 2021

BLOOMINGTON – A labor leader is the newest member of the McLean County Board.

The board Thursday night approved Chairman John McIntyre’s appointment of Jim Rogal to represent District 4, covering west and northwest Normal.

Rogal replaces Logan Smith, who resigned in June to accept a job out of state. Smith is a Democrat, so his replacement had to come from the same party. Republicans continue to hold an 11-9 majority on the county board.

Rogal will serve the rest of Smith’s term, which expires in December 2022.

Rogal works for Laborers International Union of North America, and is vice president of the Normal Public Library Board. He previously worked at legislative liaison for the Illinois Department of Corrections, and was special assistant to the chief of state for the Illinois Senate President.

Interim county administrator, county board agree on six-month deal

The county board also entered into a six-month agreement to keep Cassy Taylor as the county’s interim administrator.

Taylor will make an annual base salary of $172,798, plus she’ll get $550 per month as compensation for use of her personal car when doing government business.

Taylor used to be the top assistant for Administrator Camille Rodriguez, who recently resigned to lead the health department in Boulder, Colorado.

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