Peoria County Board makes several appointments to Team Peoria County
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Three new faces will take on prominent roles within Peoria County government in areas of education, finance and assessing properties.
At their Thursday night meeting, the Peoria County Board approved three new appointments to administrative positions within the courthouse. Two of them the regional superintendent of education and the county treasurer, will serve until an unexpired term is finished in 2026.
After that, they could opt to run for election or step aside.
The board appointed George McKenna to serve as the next Regional Superintendent of Education beginning on June 1. He will replace Beth Crider who is retiring.
McKenna has served as the Assistant Superintendent at the Peoria County Regional Office of Education since 2016 and will finish Crider's term which expires in next year. She has been in the top educational spot for the county since 2016.
His education career spans three decades. Before coming to the county's regional office, he served in school district around the state in many capacities including principal, assistant principal, dean of students and as a special education teacher.
He received his doctorate in education leadership from Western Illinois University; a master's degree in special education from Illinois State University; and a bachelor's degree in physical education from Millikin University
The board also appointed Branden Martin to the position of county treasurer beginning on July 14. He will replace Nicole Bjerke who retiring after eight years in the position and after more than 27 years in the office.
Her term ends in 2026 when the seat will be up for election.
Martin has lived in the region for his entire life. An entrepreneur with more than 28 years of experience in launching and managing businesses in a variety of industries, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Peoria Area Association of Realtors.
He also sits on the boards of the Downtown Development Corporation and the Peoria Historical Society. Martin is also the vice-chair of the city of Peoria's planning and zoning commission.
The third appointment and the only one that is not an elected position of supervisor of assessments. Chad Jones will take over for Dave Ryan, who is retiring, on May 20.
Jones is a life-long Peorian and began his tenure with the county in 2019 as a member of the Board of Review. Since 2023, he's been the chief deputy in the assessor's office.
He's also worked in real estate since 1995. Jones is a graduate of Peoria High School and holds a business degree from Eastern Illinois University. His appointment runs through April 30, 2029.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
2 days ago
- CNBC
Republican Party has nearly five times more cash on hand than the Democrats
The Republican National Committee has almost five times the cash on hand as its Democratic counterpart, as Democrats seek to regain their footing following a disappointing 2024 cycle. The RNC reported having $72 million on hand at the end of May, compared to just $15 million for the DNC, according to campaign filings out Friday. While the RNC has for months held a cash advantage over the Democratic National Committee, the $57 million gap is the widest disparity between the two parties since at least July 2020, according to California Target Book's Rob Pyers. It's still early, but the GOP's cash edge could give the party an early boost as it looks to build out campaign infrastructure ahead of next year's midterms. "The single most important thing the DNC can and should be doing right now is raising money," Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod told CNBC. The filings come as the DNC has faced internal tension since President Donald Trump's return to the White House. Earlier this month, leaders of two large labor unions each declined their nominations to continue serving on the committee, dealing a blow to Chair Ken Martin. Martin has also overseen internal divisions over ex-DNC Vice Chair David Hogg's bid to challenge sitting Democratic incumbents. Hogg stepped down from his role earlier this month amid backlash. Some Democrats say that the fundraising gap underscores deeper concerns within the party. "The base of the party and donors alike do not have confidence in the direction of the party," said Cooper Teboe, a Democratic strategist in Silicon Valley. Teboe said that the party has not presented "a positive, inspiring vision." The DNC, however, points to a surge in grassroots support. The party says it raised roughly $40 million in individual donations since Martin became chair in February, a record for that four-month period. The contributions go to a range of areas, according to the DNC, including "building up critical infrastructure from tech to organizing to in-state investments for critical, target races." "This is only the start, but it's a record-setting start that allows Democrats to meaningfully invest in every part of the country," Martin said in a statement. The DNC's war chest is roughly double what it held during the same period in 2017, suggesting there is time for them to catch up. "The goals Chair Martin has set out — investing in all 50 states and building the state of-the-art infrastructure necessary to win back the White House in 2028 — are ambitious and necessary, but they can only be achieved by raising money," Elrod said. Looking ahead, Teboe said that Democrats may be successful in next year's midterms "as a reaction to Trump's overreach but it will take a new generation of voices to get the party out of this mess." "Those voices will emerge in the 2028 primary and we will have the chance to rebuild a stronger Democratic Party outside of the influence of the old guard that seems incapable of understanding what motivates normal Americans," he said. The Republicans' money advantage comes after a 2024 election cycle during which Tesla founder Elon Musk poured nearly $300 million into helping elect Republicans. Musk's surge of donations to help elect Trump certainly took some pressure off the rest of the party's fundraising apparatus. It's unclear what the RNC might have decided to pay for last year's elections, were it not for Musk's millions. Musk last month said that he was going to do "a lot less" political spending in the future. It's also unclear how Trump will use the millions he has raised in a group of PACs since he won the November election. Should Trump choose to donate to Republican candidates and get out the vote efforts next year, the RNC could again find itself under less pressure to shell out cash than the DNC. But Trump's financial support has traditionally not been geared towards helping the party at large. Rather, Trump has contributed relatively small amounts to help elect his closest allies. He has also played a significant role in Republican primary races, endorsing MAGA candidates who, in some cases, have struggled to win the backing of moderate Republicans and independent voters.
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Cowboys likely delaying this $40 million annual investment for a reason
Cowboys likely delaying this $40 million annual investment for a reason For the Dallas Cowboys, re-signing Micah Parsons to a new multiyear deal should be a no-brainer. In just four years the former first-round pick has established himself as one of the NFL's most feared pass rushers. Parsons' presence on the field has a ripple effect across the defense. Offenses have to scheme and strategize how to neutralize the 26-year-old playmaker, limiting options offensively and creating opportunities for teammates on defense in the process. He adds value to others and that's darn near priceless. Darn near. After Myles Garrett inked a four-year extension over the offseason the market on a top tier pass-rusher sits at $40 million annually. This is something Parsons knows quite well as does owner Jerry Jones. Rumors of a general agreement have been running rampant for quite a while now, yet no announcement has been made and a contract has yet to be signed. This state of limbo is causing fans to squirm and the media to speculate. There's no saying for sure exactly what the holdup is in this situation but there are a few pretty clear reasons as to why a done deal would take so long to become official. Or perhaps I should say $332,000 reasons. Every day a dollar stays in Jones' portfolio is a potential for profit for the Cowboys owner. Based on estimates from Investopedia, an investment of $40 million stands to make an average of 10% in annual profit. That equates to 0.83% profit per month and a $332,000 monthly return. That may not sound like much for a billionaire like Jones but that adds up. Looking back at the negotiations between CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott, in both instances the market had been set and salary parameters were outlined far in advance, yet the Cowboys took their time, preferring to wait until the eleventh hour to make it official. All that time the money was working for Jones. There may be other details to iron out and other factors in play but Jones clearly likes to hold onto his money as long as humanly possible and it's not hard to see why. You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
Democrats' main fundraising committee so cash-strapped it's considering borrowing money: ‘Really f–ked'
Democrats' main fundraising committee is losing big donors and so cash-strapped that its officials have discussed borrowing money just to keep the lights on, with one source spilling to The Post that if things don't turn around before the 2026 midterms the party is 'f–ked.' 'We are six months in and we're drowning,' a source close to the Democratic National Committee told The Post about the current rate of contributions. 'The RNC was so cash-heavy and hitting us day after day after day when Biden was president.' 'We have no clear path or plan,' they added. 'The midterms are going to come before we know it, and then we're going to be really f–ked.' Advertisement The DNC's struggle to message against the Trump administration and rather public leadership infighting — including the recent departure of former DNC vice chair David Hogg — has also led some of its largest donors to taper off their contributions, the New York Times first reported. This has dovetailed with high-profile donor defections, such as Pershing Square Capital Management CEO Bill Ackman, Jacob Helberg, and prominent former Democrats backing President Trump in the 2024 cycle. In response to the reported cash-borrowing discussions, DNC Chair Ken Martin told the Times, 'That's certainly not our plan right now,' adding, 'I don't know if we'll have to at this point.' Advertisement 5 DNC Chair Ken Martin has faced a rocky tenure at the top of the Democratic Party machine. AP 5 Democrats are still dealing with the fallout from donors after the 2024 election. Getty Images 'It is incredible that [Martin] has not sought to bring all the factions of the party together. He assumed the chairmanship after being opposed by the Democratic leader of the House, the Democratic leader of the Senate, organized labor leaders and many of our country's leading governors,' a DNC official told The Post. 'And so you would assume after he becomes chairman… he would try to bring all of the party officials together and unite the party. And he's doing just the opposite.' Advertisement 'It could have an impact on governors races, it could have an impact on the midterm elections. It's totally unnecessary,' the official added. 'Either he changes tactics and mends fences very quickly or he ceases to be relevant.' The latest federal records show that by late April, the DNC's war chest shrank to just under $18 million — approximately one quarter of the cash currently in the RNC's coffers. Party members complained to the Times that the newly installed Martin has been so preoccupied with navigating internal divisions and pursuing financial boondoggles in territories as remote as Guam that he's been unable to lead the party effectively. Since being elected DNC chair in February, Martin's tenure has been dogged by controversy over Hogg's decision to have his 'Leaders We Deserve' group unleash $20 million to fund primary challenges against incumbent House Dems in safe blue districts. Advertisement 5 The latest federal records show that by late April, the DNC's war chest shrank to just under $18 million — approximately one quarter of the cash currently in the RNC's coffers. Getty Images Martin publicly opposed Hogg's bid to defeat incumbents he deemed ineffective, which had irked many rank-and-file Democrats in Congress. He attempted to get Hogg and other top DNC brass to sign a neutrality pledge, but the 25-year-old refused to oblige. Then, last month, the DNC Credentials Committee weighed a complaint against Hogg and Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta, claiming that they had been improperly elected to their posts in February in violation of the party apparatus's gender parity rules. That panel then recommended the DNC hold new elections to remedy the issue, but Hogg opted to step down on Jun. 11, citing 'fundamental disagreement' with fellow party officials over his role as vice chair. Kenyatta won back his perch unopposed. In a statement issued from his political action committee, Hogg said 'It's okay to have disagreements,' but that 'What isn't OK is allowing this to remain our focus when there is so much more we need to be focused on.' 'Ultimately, I have decided to not run in this upcoming election so the party can focus on what really matters,' he added. 5 David Hogg's bid to meddle in Democratic primaries while serving as vice chair at the DNC sparked sharp divisions within the party. Getty Images for Fast Company Hogg's departure was preceded by a leaked Zoom call, in which an exasperated Martin could be heard complaining about the challenges he faced as DNC leader. 'I'll be very honest with you: For the first time in my 100 days on this job, the other night I said to myself for the first time, 'I don't know if I wanna do this anymore,'' Martin said on the leaked audio, a copy of which was obtained by Politico. Advertisement Hogg hasn't been the only one to part ways with the DNC this month. Two of the most influential union heavyweights have also jumped ship from the struggling institution. Randi Weingarten, chief of the American Federation of Teachers, and Lee Saunders, head honcho for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, declined offers to stick with the DNC as at-large members. 'While I am proud to be a Democrat, I appear to be out of step with the leadership you are forging, and I do not want to be the one who keeps questioning why we are not enlarging our tent and actively trying to engage more and more of our communities,' Weingarten wrote in a June 5 letter to Martin. 5 Earlier this week, it emerged that teachers' union boss Randi Weingarten opted to forgo an invitation to remain on the DNC. REUTERS Advertisement Alarmingly for the DNC, many deep-pocketed donors have been reluctant to open up their coffers to the party machine amid internal fighting and frustrations with the 2024 election and fears of backlash for donating to Democrats. 'They want us to spend money, and for what? For no message, no organization, no forward thinking,' one donor griped to The Hill earlier this year. 'The thing that's clear to a lot of us is that the party never really learned its lesson in 2016. They worked off the same playbook and the same ineffective strategies and to what end?' Despite the struggles, many Democrats are standing by Martin's leadership of the party machine, for now. Advertisement 'Ken Martin has been a great boots on the ground Democrat for a very long time, but he's somebody who plays it safe, and a lot of us sided with him on the David Hogg thing, because everybody secretly thinks David Hogg is an ass anyways,' a Democrat close to the DNC added. Still, as midterm elections approach, Martin faces a rapidly narrowing window of time to sort out the DNC's internal strife and finances. Reps for the DNC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
