Randall (Randy) Knapp has been appointed to the McLean County Board to represent District Five. Knapp Replaces John McIntyre who resigned in September for health reasons.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Knapp said, “I am excited. It’s been a great experience so far. First time in politics. I am a fresh face. All ears. I am excited to go to work for constituents.”
Knapp was appointed by County Board Chair Catherine Metsker.
“I chose the individual that I felt exempliflies Chairman McIntyre best with the skills and the qualities that he brought,” said Metsker. “He is quiet and very thoughtful and has been a part of the community for a long time. And he has a very good business background in a sense, very analytical.
Metsker interviewed four applicants that applied and granted follow up interviews to Knapp and Cathy (Cat)Woods.
“I don’t think one was superior … I tried to bring a thoughtfulness to a good match with what Chairman McIntyre brought to our board,” said Metsker.
Other applicants were Cities 92.9 radio host David Blumenshine and Chad Berck.
Ben Matthews a far-left activist and member of the Illinois Education Association spoke during public comment before the announcement and gave reasons why he did not think Blumenshine or Berck should be nominated.
“David Paul Blumenshine spearheaded a “Stop the Steal” trip to Washington D.C on Jan. 6, 2021 leading a bus full of our neighbors to the nations capital in support of the former President’s claim that the election had been stolen from him,” said Matthews.
“Blumenshine does not apologize for his participation nor acknowledge the reality of what occurred that day and he continues to spout various spurious claims on the conservative radio station which sponsored the trip,” said Matthews.
“Another applicant, Chad Berck, said the comments and conspiracy theories that he shared in a recent interview with that same radio station were ‘based on him quote going off of what was said on the radio (Cities 92.9) and when you hear what is on the radio, you believe what was said on the radio,'” said Matthews.
Ben Matthews was not at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and Blumenshine was. Blumenshine, at the time (Jan 6, 2021) gave an account on the radio what he saw. Since Jan 6 2021, surveillance footage was leaked showing Capitol Police ushering in many rally attendees to enter the Capitol.
“Mr. Berck made it clear he believes Jan. 6 was not an insurrection, not even a riot but ‘just an event staged by the government and that he was glad Mr. Blumenshine led a trip to go support the former president and his false claims of election fraud,'” said Matthews.
Matthews also had a message for Republicans on the board.
“We see you,” said Matthews. “We all see you. You can stop performing for your crowds or clicks and cheers and start representing all of your constituents. We understand your once solid grip on power is fading. But your job here is not to grab for more power but to govern.”
These words were in response to Republicans on the board exercising their ability to not allow an absent Democrat board member to participate in the September board meeting remotely which ultimately led to election by the board of Metsker as Chair.
We asked Metsker if considering how Democrats would react to her nomination to fill the District Five vacancy was part of her calculations in nominating Knapp.
“Absolutely,” said Metsker, “We want to make sure that we have candidates that can work across the aisle, and it really isn’t across the aisle, we work together. I was insistent that, and all of the Republicans, and the Democrats also, wanted to have people they felt were good for the board and that would be good for the county.”
“I am at a point in my life where I want to see if I can give back,” said Knapp.
Knapp has served as a volunteer with Scout Pack 19 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Knapp worked with a group of other local residents and the Coach Landry Scholarship Association to help start a local education scholarship committee to give academic scholarships to students . He would love to see if there is a way to develop more of that.
Knapp has also been involved in prison ministry working with disadvantaged people at the detention center. He looks forward to helping children in this way as part of his work on the county board’s Health Committee.
