Mayoral Candidate Kathleen Lorenz reveals her plans for office if elected

Image courtesy of the Town of Normal official website

NORMAL, Ill. — With 10 years of service on the Normal Town Council, Lorenz feels ready to take on the role of Normal Mayor

“It’s just a gut feeling,” Lorenz said. “I feel ready now based on professional and then council experience.”

Lorenz has an extensive background in nonprofit work, social services, administration, and upper management. She graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering and described herself as a “problem solver” and an “analytical thinker.”

“I’ve taken those industrial engineering skills into more of a social science realm,” Lorenz said.

Focusing on her campaign, Lorenz outlined her platform using what she calls the “Four L’s”:

— Leadership in creating change and fresh roles in office.

— Leaner service in deliveries and fiscal responsibility.

— Leadership needed for residential development and affordable housing.

— Leverage existing tax revenue for mental health.

With these four goals in mind, Lorenz stressed the importance of addressing both the housing crisis and community mental health.

“I think our leadership in this community has been lacking in real proactive working together with the Bloomington and Normal leadership,” Lorenz said. “We need to be attracting developers, not just local ones.”

On Tuesday, March 4, Lorenz spoke at a candidate panel put on by local NPR affiliate station, WGLT, alongside fellow candidates Chemberly Harris and incumbent Chris Koos. She was asked about multiple pressing community issues, including homelessness and the 1% grocery tax.

“Not being spoken so far is the fact that the growing number of homelessness is a direct result of our inaction on addressing the housing needs,” Lorenz said.  “Because who fell out of the system first? The people who are most valuable. We need to lead by working with developers and existing neighborhoods to make sure we have an attainable inventory of housing strategically placed, and at the same time, maintain the integrity of our existing neighbors.”

Lorenz did not give a decisive answer on how she plans to vote on the grocery tax, but she did express concern for how it will impact the county economy.

“What’s going to keep me staying here to buy that car or that new watch,” Lorenz said, “versus going to Peoria, where maybe the [sales tax] is only 9%?”

Municipal elections will take place April 1.