Kathy Michael

Member For

1 year 6 weeks

Website:

McLean County Pundit

Contact:

Red County Editor -
McLean County, IL
kathymichael@verizon.net

BIOGRAPHY

Kathy Michael, founder of mcleancountypundit.com and President of Michael Consulting, is a political and business consultant from Bloomington, Illinois. She has served as a Republican Precinct Committeeman, and on the McLean County GOP Executive Committee. She is a regular political commentator on WJBC (1230) radio, and has provides a weekly political commentary on conservative radio Cities 92.9. She also writes a weekly email political newsletter, The Michael Report.

Kathy created her local blog when spending concerns in McLean County, Illinois were increasing; including questions about delays in the releasing of financial statements from the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, which billed as a money-maker, still today is a huge financial drain on the city. The Coliseum issue alone caused those on the City Council who voted for this project, to be defeated. Kathy was Political Consultant and Campaign Manager for five successful City Council elections whose victories changed the face of the City Council from liberal spending Democrats, to conservative Republicans.

The beginning of the grassroots training which helped determine Kathy’s success in campaign consulting came from work with GOP candidates including Bob Dole, Ronald Reagan, IL Congressman Tim Johnson and IL Supreme Court Justice Ben Miller (retired), who pulled off an upset Primary victory for the high court. Having grown up in central Illinois, in the small town of Lexington, in farm country in McLean County, Kathy learned early on that talking with people, going door-to-door and shaking hands with the voters was the way to win elections. That’s still the way to win, she says. It’s all about grassroots.

In 2004, Kathy was appointed McLean County Campaign Co-Chair for Bush, and that year saw the largest turnout of Republican voters in McLean County’s voting history. Other successful campaign management work included hotly contested races for State’s Attorney and Sheriff. In McLean County, Kathy has a 10-2 win/loss record.

As President of Michael Consulting, Kathy’s most recent work included lobbying successfully for local businesses and residents against a gravel pit proposed in McLean County, and helping to get a form-based code zoning proposal put on hold in Bloomington/Normal, which would have had a negative effect on existing business owenrs.

Kathy is nearing completion of her first book, “So You Want To Run For Office? A Beginner’s Guide,” due to be published in 2010 and is proud to be a contributing writer for Red County.

COMMENTARIES

Chicago Cubs In First Place!

By Kathy Michael | 07/26/09

It may be for just one day, but we loyal Cub fans will take what we can get! read more »

1 Comment | Related Topics »McLean County (IL) |

Against the Restrictive Form-Based Code-Where do busness owners go from here as Normal City Planner Says, "We Can't Work With That"

By Kathy Michael | 07/24/09

"And the truth shall set you free." For full disclosure, I'm a consultant/lobbyist for several business owners along what is known as the Main Street Corridor in Bloomington/Normal. This "corridor" is the 7-mile stretch of Main Street, which is also State Highway 51. It runs the length of Main Street from one end of Normal on the north, ending at the south end of Main Street. Businesses along the... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »McLean County (IL) |

Poll Results: Public Says No To Form-Based Code for Main Street Businesses

By Kathy Michael | 07/23/09

Much like the public response against the building of the controversial and now financially-strapped Bloomington US Cellular Coliseum years ago, a recent poll conducted by Bloomington/Normal businesses along Main Street, shows this same public is against the form-based code proposed for business owners along Main Street. Several months ago, a couple of business owners on Main Street in along what is called the Bloomington/Normal Main... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »McLean County (IL) |

U of I Scandal- Blaming the Victim Our General Assembly Style

By Kathy Michael | 07/22/09

By Kathy Michael Contributing Writer: Smileys Pundit A few years ago, when it appeared that the University of Illinois was going to lose, not only Chief Illiniwek, but the right to use any connection to Native Americans, I suggested that the University of Illinois adopt a new team name: the Crooks. The suggestion was a Swiftian modest proposal, but recent events suggest it’s time to resurrect the proposal in... read more »

1 Comment | Related Topics »McLean County (IL) |

U of I Trustee Dorris Suggests Resignation of U of I President

By Kathy Michael | 07/22/09

David Dorris, a trial attorney who lives in McLean County (LeRoy), and is a University of Illinois Trustee, suggested in testimony Tuesday regarding the scandal plaguing this venerable institution that the University's President, "resign or be replaced." During his testimony, Dorris was asked if anybody should be fired. Dorris answered in the negative, because there was a lack of clear policy in the case. But he told The... read more »

2 Comments | Related Topics »McLean County (IL) |

Wind Farms Update

By Kathy Michael | 07/21/09

Submitted by Contributing Writer John Ackerman, Tazewell County Board Member The Dedication of Rail Splitter Wind Farm Earlier today I had the pleasure of joining representatives of Horizon Wind Energy and Rail Splitter Wind Farm and other local elected officials at the dedication of Rail Splitter Wind Farm. This newest development to Tazewell County is now operational. There are a total of 38 towers here in Tazewell County and 29 towers to... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »McLean County (IL) |

1994 in Reverse? Will Democrats Implode?

By Kathy Michael | 07/20/09

The Illinois GOP is showing some signs of life. Just a short 8 years ago, we were red, not the bright blue we are now. Blagojevich has had an impact, to understate the obvious. Voters now see that going to prison for Illinois Governors is an equal opportunity for all political persuasions. Add to that, Democrats control both our House and Senate, and we are in a financial mess; much like California. The... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »McLean County (IL) |

Illinois Young (GOP) Guns

By Kathy Michael | 07/19/09

Following in the footsteps of Republican Congressman Aaron Schock, the youngest Congressman on Capital Hill at age 27; are two other young Illinois GOP guns who may be shaping of the future for a possible Illinois GOP comeback: Adam Kinzinger (Age: 31) At age 20, while a student at Illinois State University, Kinzinger became one of the youngest people ever elected to the McLean... read more »

1 Comment | Related Topics »McLean County (IL) |

Blagojevich Replacement Quinn Gets Mixed Reviews

By Kathy Michael | 07/19/09

Republicans and Democrats alike, remember Illinois Governor Pat Quinn from 25 years ago as a gadfly; a wanna-be that never quite made it. He's now our Governor, replacing Rod Blagojevich. You all know that story. From the Chicago Sun Times SPRINGFIELD -- When Gov. Quinn, Illinois' accidental governor, signed the state budget last week, he completed the most important test of his seven-month governorship and put the final piece... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »McLean County (IL) |

Illinois News Wrap-Up WLS Talk Radio=-Biggest Loser

By Kathy Michael | 07/17/09

The Washington Post CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- So what does the U.S. Supreme Court gain and lose by exchanging Justice David Souter for Sonia Sotomayor? In Souter, it is losing a graduate of both an Ivy League college and law school; someone with law firm practice as a civil litigator as well as experience as a government prosecutor; a person known as a fine trial judge; and someone who came directly to the Supreme Court from a judgeship on... read more »