Welcome
John D. Poling is running to represent District 7 on the McLean County Board. John and his husband, Robert Lowery, along with their dogs Pippin and Annabelle, live in the Fairway Knolls area of Bloomington. John has taught history at Parkland College since 2003. He is a proud twenty year member of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
John’s community involvement goes back over 35 years when he served as president of his local Jaycee chapter, one of the largest in the state. He has also held leadership positions with civic organizations, such as GLAD, the Gay and Lesbian Association of Decatur and is an active part of the performing arts community where he has acted, written plays, and directed theatre productions.
John currently serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals for the City of Bloomington, helping its residents navigate zoning challenges. As a young man, the Jaycees creed taught John that service to humanity is the best work of life, and now he is ready and eager to put that credo to work as the newest member of the McLean County Board.
Why I'm Running for County Board
My ties to McLean County go back more than 40 years; attending college, starting a career, performing in local theatre, and serving on community boards, I have spent some part of the last four decades in one of Illinois’ most outstanding regions. Now, I’m ready to give back to the county has given me so much.
I am proud to announce my candidacy for McLean County Board District 7. I’m running to make sure my district constituents, and everyone in McLean County, have a local government that truly works for them. I’ll be your voice at the table, focused on protecting your economic interests and making sure county decisions reflect what matters most to residents.
Now more than ever, we need to find smart ways to ease the cost of living by keeping property taxes reasonable, using tax dollars wisely, and maintaining the county services people rely on. I believe in making thoughtful, long-term investments in our infrastructure and ensuring our first responders have the resources they need to keep our community safe and healthy.
As a college history instructor who has taught Western Civilization for over 20 years, I’ve spent a career exploring the roots of democracy and civic responsibility. I believe our government works best when citizens are informed, engaged, and represented by people who truly care about their communities. You have my guarantee I will do everything in my power to keep democracy strong in McLean County.
Volunteer Sign Up Form
This campaign runs on community power - YOURS
Whether you're up for knocking on doors, making calls, sending postcards, fundraising, or pitching in however you can, we'd love to have you on the team.
How would you like to be part of making the difference?