An advocate for more bike and pedestrian travel in Bloomington-Normal and president of Friends of the Constitution Trail Patrick Dullard is objecting the ballot access of the question: ‘Shall the Town be divided into six districts and have one elected official representing each district?’
There were 58 individuals who canvassed the town collecting signatures and 2,193 signatures were collected on 189 petitions.
In a press release from Citizens for a Better Normal, “We are a diverse group covering the political spectrum who care deeply for Normal. We are filing this petition because we believe it is time for voters to decide whether districting is best for the future of our town. Despite our diversity, we were able to work together toward this joint effort, thus proving that the politically diverse can come together to create positive change.”
Patrick Dullard is also a Corporate Agent for Bike Blono.
Friends of the Constitution Trail works for the expansion and beautification of the trail. Through membership, donations, and grants, they help fund drinking fountains, signs, benches, landscaping and shelters.
According to the town’s website, Bike BloNo is Bloomington-Normal’s bicycle advocacy organization, with the mission of promoting the bicycle for everyday transportation. Founded in 2012, they work with local municipal governments to add bike infrastructure on city streets, educate the public about bike safety and rules of the road and put on events to get more people riding bikes.
The Districts referendum challenge will be heard on Monday at 3 pm in the Town of Normal Council Chambers. It will be held before Chris Koos, Kevin McCarthy, and Town Clerk Angie Huonker.
Bike retailer Chris Koos, also the mayor of Normal, serves on the Election Board…who will ultimately vote for or against the question of districting Normal to be on the ballot.
Photo courtesy Gateway Pundit
In 2020, Chris Koos left his bike shop “Vitesse Cycle Shop” open during the pandemic and taunted “nonessential” citizens with a banner that read: “Protestors: Flash Sale.”
“Nonessential” citizens, like Lori Brady, protested the mayor’s bike shop opening despite other businesses being closed.
Patrick Dullard and Chris Koos are mutual friends on Facebook.
Koos, who has been mayor since 2003, recently told WGLT, a media outlet run by RC McBride a Normal Planning Commission Chairman, he does not support the petition and cited flaws within its messaging: Namely, that trustees live clustered in a more affluent area.
The shaded area in this diagram is where the council members live.
