Champaign County Board’s New Top Republican Explains Support For Top Democrat

The Champaign County Board’s new Republican vice-chairman says his caucus backed Democrat Pattsi Petrie of Champaign for county board chair, because they thought she was the best of the two Democrats seeking the job.

Jeff Kibler of Champaign says Republicans turned to Petrie after it became clear that he couldn’t attract the two Democratic votes needed to combine with GOP votes to win the post himself.

Kibler says Republicans thought Petrie showed better vision and teamwork capabilities than the Democratic caucus’ nominee, Josh Hartke, also of Champaign.

“Between the two candidates, Pattsi has always provided, or has always been open to suggestions”, said Kibler. “While we don’t necessarily always agree by any stretch, we were looking for someone who was the most open to the ideas that would come from the Republican caucus and be inclusive.”

Petrie was elected to the post at the county board’s organizational meeting Monday night, with support from the ten-member Republican caucus, plus votes from herself and Democrat Astrid Berkson.

Kibler says Republicans backed Petrie with no promise of “quid pro quo” on her part. But Petrie chose Kibler as county board vice-chairman. And Kibler says she seems receptive to his suggestions of putting Republicans in leadership posts in committees where they have expertise. He says having the minority party in some leadership positions helps members work together on issues important to both parties.

Petrie is the third Democrat to be elected Champaign County Board Chair with largely Republican support since Democrats first won a majority of seats in 2000.The previous two are Barb Wysocki in 2004 and Alan Kurtz in 2012. Like Petrie, Kurtz selected a Republican (Jon Schroeder) as vice-chairman.