Will county board make-up bring big change?
Updated: November 8, 2012
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY -- The election may have changed the numbers a little, but the new Champaign County Board will remain in democratic hands. WCIA-3's Jessica Shaw finds out if there will be any differences.
The county was redistricted and the board downsized. Democrats have gone from a three vote margin to two. Members say, if you want to know what that means when things come to a vote, just take a look at the record.
"If you go back and look at most of the records, you'll find a lot of people voting both ways."
Recent changes on the board won't make much of a difference. Instead of nine districts, there are now eleven, and instead of three board members per district, each now only has two. Democrats will hold a two vote margin of 12-to-10.
Retiring board member, Brendan McGinty, helped with the redistricting. He says the percentages are so small, it won't change that much when it comes to party lines.
"12 over 10 versus 15 over 12. It's very close to the same."
It's not to say red or blue doesn't make a difference.
"Party lines do come up on large items no matter how much you think it doesn't. It does."
But, with big items, like the nursing home or the satellite jail, both sides will have to compromise.
"People are going to have to talk to their colleagues before they can get something passed."
"They don't look at it like, 'this is what the democrats do.' It's, 'this is the issue, how do your constituents feel?'"
Board members say big issues usually call for a consensus. Everyone has to agree to a solution, so it's not like the board's majority will be able to just push things through.
The county was redistricted and the board downsized. Democrats have gone from a three vote margin to two. Members say, if you want to know what that means when things come to a vote, just take a look at the record.
"If you go back and look at most of the records, you'll find a lot of people voting both ways."
Recent changes on the board won't make much of a difference. Instead of nine districts, there are now eleven, and instead of three board members per district, each now only has two. Democrats will hold a two vote margin of 12-to-10.
Retiring board member, Brendan McGinty, helped with the redistricting. He says the percentages are so small, it won't change that much when it comes to party lines.
"12 over 10 versus 15 over 12. It's very close to the same."
It's not to say red or blue doesn't make a difference.
"Party lines do come up on large items no matter how much you think it doesn't. It does."
But, with big items, like the nursing home or the satellite jail, both sides will have to compromise.
"People are going to have to talk to their colleagues before they can get something passed."
"They don't look at it like, 'this is what the democrats do.' It's, 'this is the issue, how do your constituents feel?'"
Board members say big issues usually call for a consensus. Everyone has to agree to a solution, so it's not like the board's majority will be able to just push things through.
