The district that used to be Dan Brady’s has changed up quite a bit and there’s a Livingston County board member looking to run in the newly redrawn 105th district.
“When you look at the 105th and the way it was a year ago under Dan Brady its demographics today are going to be completely different. The 105th that Dan Brady had pretty much encompassed the Bloomington-Normal area and a little bit north, what they did when redistricting was extend that northern boundary almost up to just south of LaSalle, Peru. South Streeter is where the new boundary of the district and it does not include, or encompass Bloomington-Normal proper just the northern portion of Normal. Right around 55 Towanda, over towards Lexington. It’s really a new district and it’s big. It’s spread out,” said Mike Kirkton.
Kirkton graduated from Gridley High School and went to college on an army scholarship. Kirkton went to a small military college out west and was commissioned as second lieutenant.
He then was able to finish finish his four-year degree at Illinois State, got a bachelor of science in Political Science.
He then went on active duty and spent the next 26 years in uniform. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. army, he was an infantry officer by trade and retired in 2005.
“Been all over the world, been to a lot of places. Some places I don’t want to go back to, but I got to see the world,” said Kirkton. “
I served my nation for close to 30 years and it’s just another opportunity to serve my community. You talk about how does that translate, well for a young officer I was ingrained with what we call our seven Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. When you leave the army those just don’t go away. I carry those with me everyday. I carry those into my elected position on the Livingston county board. It’s part of my life. I’m going to bring it into being a state representative of the 105th district.”
Does Kirkton want to see changes in Springfield, and how does he feel about the Dan Brady- ran district?
“That’s a good question, but I don’t think it’s a fair question. The 105th district that Dan Brady represented, is not the 105th district that I’m representing. The demographics are completely different. It comes with its own set of challenges; the constituents and voters have their own set of issues that’s different than what Dan Brady would have seen a year ago,” said Kirkton.
Kirkton said working with the other side of the aisle (Chicago Democrats in Springfield) is all about treating people with dignity and respect.
“You provide your argument, you provide your facts, and what you think is best. It goes to vote sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It’s water under the bridge, you move on to the next issue. You just listen and provide the facts and issues as you see them and do the best that you can. Then once it goes to a vote and it’s done, everyone goes behind that vote and we go on to the next issue,” said Kirkton.
Kirkton said he thinks the most important thing to do is to listen.
Mike Kirkton, a veteran and current Livingston County board member, appeared on the Morning Rush Jan.12
“I have all these great plans that I want to do as a representative, but I think the most important thing I could do right now is just listen,” said Kirkton. ”
It’s frustrating, because we are operating on a series of executive orders. We fix that in the House of Representatives every two years by voting in or out those individuals that we want. Same with the governor every four years we elect a new governor and try to make changes, because this has not worked for us. So let’s exercise our right to vote as Americans and residents of the state of Illinois and vote in a new governor.”
