Vote for
Joe Biden President
Dick Durbin US Senate
George Petrilli 18th Congressional
Scott Stoll State Representative IL93
Judge Emily Sutton, Circuit Court Judge, 9th Court
County Board
Dist. 1 Mike Kirby
Deckle McLean
Dick Marcott
Ken Durkin
Cyndi Helling
Dist. 2 Shirley Camp
Rod McGrew
Selina Mannion
We can get you registered, so you can vote.
McDonough County Precinct Map & Polling Locations
Joe Biden President
Dick Durbin US Senate
George Petrilli 18th Congressional
Scott Stoll State Representative IL93
Judge Emily Sutton, Circuit Court Judge, 9th Court
County Board
Dist. 1 Mike Kirby
Deckle McLean
Dick Marcott
Ken Durkin
Cyndi Helling
Dist. 2 Shirley Camp
Rod McGrew
Selina Mannion
We can get you registered, so you can vote.
McDonough County Precinct Map & Polling Locations
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride – Working for You
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride is an independent, common-sense judge who has devoted his career to ensuring working families get a fair shake. It is critical to vote “YES” for Kilbride’s retention on the November ballot so he can continue to ensure every voice is heard. A former laborer, machinist, and organizer, Kilbride has vigorously defended collective bargaining, protected worker’s rights, and preserved pension benefits. He has increased transparency and access to the court system, including for those who cannot afford a lawyer. Kilbride has a strong record of protecting communities from crime, authoring the majority opinion on a case that upheld barring child sex offenders from visiting public parks. He supported common-sense standards to prevent guilty verdicts from being senselessly overturned, all the while working to make our justice system more just by backing provisions to ensure innocent people are not tragically executed. Since 2000, Kilbride has received more than 60 awards and honors that reflect his commitment to justice, hard work and community, including the prestigious Award of Excellence in the Judiciary from the Illinois State Crime Commission.
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride is an independent, common-sense judge who has devoted his career to ensuring working families get a fair shake. It is critical to vote “YES” for Kilbride’s retention on the November ballot so he can continue to ensure every voice is heard. A former laborer, machinist, and organizer, Kilbride has vigorously defended collective bargaining, protected worker’s rights, and preserved pension benefits. He has increased transparency and access to the court system, including for those who cannot afford a lawyer. Kilbride has a strong record of protecting communities from crime, authoring the majority opinion on a case that upheld barring child sex offenders from visiting public parks. He supported common-sense standards to prevent guilty verdicts from being senselessly overturned, all the while working to make our justice system more just by backing provisions to ensure innocent people are not tragically executed. Since 2000, Kilbride has received more than 60 awards and honors that reflect his commitment to justice, hard work and community, including the prestigious Award of Excellence in the Judiciary from the Illinois State Crime Commission.
Michael Kirby is one or our current Democratic Party representatives on the McDonough County Board for District 1. He has been living in Macomb since November 2009. His educational background includes studies in anthropological archaeology at both Penn State University and Florida State University, where he obtained his master’s degree in 1996. He met his wife Dr. Amy Carr in Macomb and they married in 2013. He currently works as a substitute teacher in various school districts in the region. He has been involved in politics since protesting the first Gulf War in Tallahassee Florida in 1991. He hopes to represent the interests of all the voters of his district on the county board, but particularly the interests of the District 1 voters who vote Democratic.
Cyndi Helling has been a homeowner and an active Macomb community member since 1989. She resides in McDonough County Board District 1 and is semi-retired. Cyndi's professional background includes the past position of Operations Manager for Central IL Broadcasting and past Branch Manager for Adecco Employment Agencies in West Central IL and Southeast IA. Her history of community volunteerism includes: Past member and President for the Macomb Lion's Club and Past President for the LaMoine Valley Human Resource Association. Cyndi is also a graduate of the Macomb Area Chamber Leadership Academy and has also served on the Chamber's Board of Directors along with being a Chamber Ambassador. Cyndi has also served Director's positions for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization and for the Red Feather Lakes, CO Board of Trustees. Additionally Helling was Secretary for SHRM (Society for Human Resource professionals) in Southeast Iowa and was a former Rotarian in Macomb. Cyndi is married to Dan Eilers; a semi-retired musician. Helling is honored to ask for your vote for District 1 County Board. If elected she looks forward to getting to know, understand and make a contribution of time and energy to our McDonough County Board. She feels it is a crucial time for civic involvement and engagement.
Selina Mannion. I did both my undergraduate and graduate degrees at WIU. My mother is a professor at WIU. I have been a substitute teacher for two years. I am returning back to school for my teacher certification.
Deckle McLean
Candidate: County Board District 1. As of November, 2020, I will have been on the County Board for a year and a half -- by appointment. I count myself as still new to the Board, although I have developed some sense for how the Board and the County operate.
My wife and I have lived in the county 38 years. Our three children are now in metro Boston, metro Philadelphia, and metro Kansas City with their own families, which total six grandchildren, the oldest of whom is a college freshman while the youngest is entering 6th grade.
I taught at WIU from 1982 to 2006 as a journalism professor and directed the Journalism Program for 11 years. Journalism education was my second career. My first was in journalism itself – as a reporter and then magazine staff writer at the Providence (RI) Journal-Bulletin and The Boston (MA) Globe. I moonlighted as a journalism instructor at Boston University while I was at the Globe and taught journalism full time in upstate New York before relocating to WIU.
My calling card has been my law degree from Boston College Law School. I taught communication law for decades and much of my academic writing has been on mass communication law issues, in particular those related to defamation and invasion of privacy. My undergraduate degree is from Harvard University. Instead of practicing law, I entered the Providence Journal’s crash-course professional journalism training program two days following law school graduation, and never looked back. I grew up in Jersey City, NJ, where I was born.
Since 2006 I have served on the board of the WIU chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA), taking two turns as board president. I also wrote five mystery novels available through Amazon. I continue to work on books, non-fiction currently.
When I volunteered for consideration as an appointed county board member, I did so with community service in mind -- no agenda other than helping the county pay its bills, provide its services, and meet its challenges. I do have concerns regarding the county and these might double as planks in a platform.
One concern: how the county can meet the challenge presented by the coronavirus recession. We do not know yet whether this recession will be long or deep; but the latest indications are that it will not be quick. Its direction will depend in part on the course of the virus. We also do not know how recession conditions elsewhere will impact this county.
Another concern: the future of W.IU. The economic health of the county and city is linked to the health of the university, but universities in WIU’s tier are in a nationwide shake-out and at least a few will close. Some steps to strengthen WIU will fall chiefly to the University and its Board, such as choosing as its next permanent president a tactician effective in crisis conditions. Other steps will involve the city and county, such cheerfully welcoming current and potential students of color from upstate, while boosting this area to other constituencies elsewhere in the state.
Yet another concern: continued growth of McDonough District Hospital. A good hospital is a key element in the attractiveness of the area to companies, college students, and, some would suggest, retirees.
A fourth concern: the durability of a courthouse that has already exceeded its expected longevity. Could it become a money-pit? Maybe!
Candidate: County Board District 1. As of November, 2020, I will have been on the County Board for a year and a half -- by appointment. I count myself as still new to the Board, although I have developed some sense for how the Board and the County operate.
My wife and I have lived in the county 38 years. Our three children are now in metro Boston, metro Philadelphia, and metro Kansas City with their own families, which total six grandchildren, the oldest of whom is a college freshman while the youngest is entering 6th grade.
I taught at WIU from 1982 to 2006 as a journalism professor and directed the Journalism Program for 11 years. Journalism education was my second career. My first was in journalism itself – as a reporter and then magazine staff writer at the Providence (RI) Journal-Bulletin and The Boston (MA) Globe. I moonlighted as a journalism instructor at Boston University while I was at the Globe and taught journalism full time in upstate New York before relocating to WIU.
My calling card has been my law degree from Boston College Law School. I taught communication law for decades and much of my academic writing has been on mass communication law issues, in particular those related to defamation and invasion of privacy. My undergraduate degree is from Harvard University. Instead of practicing law, I entered the Providence Journal’s crash-course professional journalism training program two days following law school graduation, and never looked back. I grew up in Jersey City, NJ, where I was born.
Since 2006 I have served on the board of the WIU chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA), taking two turns as board president. I also wrote five mystery novels available through Amazon. I continue to work on books, non-fiction currently.
When I volunteered for consideration as an appointed county board member, I did so with community service in mind -- no agenda other than helping the county pay its bills, provide its services, and meet its challenges. I do have concerns regarding the county and these might double as planks in a platform.
One concern: how the county can meet the challenge presented by the coronavirus recession. We do not know yet whether this recession will be long or deep; but the latest indications are that it will not be quick. Its direction will depend in part on the course of the virus. We also do not know how recession conditions elsewhere will impact this county.
Another concern: the future of W.IU. The economic health of the county and city is linked to the health of the university, but universities in WIU’s tier are in a nationwide shake-out and at least a few will close. Some steps to strengthen WIU will fall chiefly to the University and its Board, such as choosing as its next permanent president a tactician effective in crisis conditions. Other steps will involve the city and county, such cheerfully welcoming current and potential students of color from upstate, while boosting this area to other constituencies elsewhere in the state.
Yet another concern: continued growth of McDonough District Hospital. A good hospital is a key element in the attractiveness of the area to companies, college students, and, some would suggest, retirees.
A fourth concern: the durability of a courthouse that has already exceeded its expected longevity. Could it become a money-pit? Maybe!
Ken Durkin was appointed to the McDonough County Board on February 19, 2020, to represent District 1. He and his wife, Charlotte, have been full-time residents of McDonough County since 1982. They met during their studies at Western Illinois University, have been married since 1984, and have two daughters, both Macomb High graduates. Ken graduated from WIU with a M.A. and a B.S. in Law Enforcement Administration. He also completed graduate work in Higher Education through SIU. After 34 years of service, Ken retired from Western Illinois University, School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration in 2016 where his primary duty was serving as internship coordinator. His wife retired in 2016 after 30 years of service as a special education teacher with the Macomb School District. Ken looks forward to continuing to represent all McDonough County residents in a positive and productive manner, especially those within District One.
Shirley Camp has been a homeowner in McDonough County since 1975. She is the daughter of Bernard and Lela Camp and has one sister, Judy Rogers, and two brothers, Rick and Bob Camp. A graduate of Bushnell-Prairie City High School, she has a strong farm background and was a member of 4-H for 10 years. She has lived most of her life in McDonough County Board District 2. Shirley worked for the University of Illinois Extension for 40 years retiring in 2010 and currently serves as an editorial assistant for the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, a professional journal for nutrition educators. Shirley is a graduate of Western Illinois University and has a Masters’ Degree from the University of Illinois. In 1991 Shirley completed an internship in dietetics at the University of New Mexico. During her career she served many leadership roles in professional organizations including the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and Epsilon Sigma Phi. Shirley promises that; “If elected, I will endeavor to represent the residents of my district and the county and will strive to see that matters of concern are brought to the county board”.