Renner Announces Plans To Run For Mayor

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By Jeff Muniz

A McLean County Board Member and former Congressional candidate wants to become the next mayor of Bloomington.

Tari Renner says today that he wants the city's top job.

Whether it's hanging up on the county and starting it's own 9-1-1 call center or finding a new water source outside Lake Blooomington, Tari Renner says Bloomington is becoming a bad partner.

He said, "We have 192 local governments and taxing authorities in McLean County and Bloomington is the 800-pound gorilla. We have long term water needs. Bloomington was very close to getting an arrangement with some of the rural townships and partly because of a political control issue, Bloomington walked away from the table. I think we need to go back to the table."

Renner is currently chair of the Political Science Department at Illinois Wesleyan University. He says it's time for change since he says city leaders are dysfunctional.

"This is not an anti-Steve Stockton election. It's just I have some very different ideas and style and I govern very differently than the current mayor."

Renner wants a more open governmental process...televised council meetings and minutes released much quicker.

"I think the city of Bloomington needs electric paddles to the chest to get moving and get more functional in the future."

One Bloomington Alderman agrees saying it is time for a change at the top. He says Bloomington needs a mayor that will make decisions quickly.

Allen Gibson said, "He (Steve Stockton) is always trying to satisfy everybody and we stretch items out that we should address and vote them up or down and go onto the next one. And, we're just not getting there right now."

Gibson won't say if he'll support Renner. He just thinks by next April voters will be looking for someone new to lead Bloomington.

Current Mayor Steve Stockton could not be reached for comment as he's in Washington D.C. on an economic development trip.

Recently, Stockton said he was undecided about seeking a second term.

Council Members Steven Purcell and Jim Fruin are also exploring runs for mayor.

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