Hey you! Yes, YOU, should #RunForSomething!
- Jen McMillin
- Aug 8
- 4 min read
🎙️ Sunshine Strategies Radio Episode Title: Back Roads & Ballots – A Case for Local Office Air Date: August 7, 2025
Hello, friends — and welcome to Sunshine Strategies Radio! I’m your host, Jen McMillin.
Every week, we shine a light on what’s really going on in our communities, our country, and our democracy. We make sense of the headlines in a way families can actually understand — and we talk about how ordinary people, just like you and me, can build a better future, starting right where we live.
Because democracy isn’t just something we vote for every four years. It’s something we practice every day.
🛣️ Back Roads & Ballots: A Case for Local Office
One of the unexpected joys of remote work — especially when you live in the middle of Illinois like I do — is the headspace it creates for thinking. I find that space behind the wheel, out on the back roads.
When you’re off the highway, life slows down a little. You notice things. Who’s working from home. Who’s raising kids. Who’s patching the road. (Also, fair warning: it is oil and chip season — so please, slow down.)
These drives remind me that government isn’t just some drama playing out on cable news. Government is the township road commissioner who keeps you from losing a tire. It’s the school board deciding what our kids learn. It’s the library board protecting your right to read.
That’s what I was thinking about this week — as I drove past a county road crew and waved at a man I’m 90% sure is running for re-election. He probably won’t have an opponent. Most of them don’t. And that’s a problem — but also a big opportunity.
Because here’s something most people don’t realize: 📣 It’s petition season in Illinois.
And that means you — yes, you — could be on the ballot next year.
🗳️ Hundreds of Local Offices Are Up for Grabs
You might have seen a Senate or congressional candidate post about filing petitions. But what they don’t tell you is that hundreds of local offices are up in 2026:
School board member
City council or village trustee
Township supervisor, clerk, trustee, or assessor
Park or library board
County board member
Precinct committeeperson
And a whole lot of these seats go uncontested — or unfilled. That means the decisions shaping your neighborhood are being made by default, not democracy.
If you’ve been feeling powerless, overwhelmed, or just plain pissed off at what’s happening in D.C., in Texas, or in your own school district — here’s my ask: 🎯 Run for something.
🛠️ So, How Do You Actually Run?
It’s simpler than you think:
Pick a position. Contact your county clerk or visit elections.il.gov to see what’s on the ballot. Choose a role that interests you.
Pick a party — or don’t. If it’s a partisan race (like county board or township trustee), you’ll need to file under a party. But hear me loud and clear: you do not have to follow the party line. If you win, you help shape what that party looks like locally. Don’t want to affiliate at all? You can run as an independent — it’s tougher in Illinois, but it is possible.
Gather signatures. This is the petition part. You’ll need anywhere from 25 to a few hundred signatures, depending on the office. The deadlines for partisan offices come up in late fall — so now’s the time to get started.
File your paperwork. You’ll submit your petitions, a statement of candidacy, and (optionally) a statement of economic interest. That’s it. You’re a candidate.
Start talking to your neighbors. They’re not looking for perfection — they’re looking for someone who gives a damn.
💡 Real Change Happens Here
While social media’s busy yelling about billionaires behaving badly, real change — the kind that improves our schools, libraries, and neighborhoods — happens in local government.
You don’t need a fancy degree. You don’t need to be rich. You just need to care enough to show up.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign? ✨ This is it.
And if you’re ready to run — do it. If you’re still unsure, reach out to me, your local party, or that friend who won’t stop ranting about politics at book club. We’ll help.
📻 And Now: What’s Real for Central Illinois Families (August 1–7, 2025)
Let’s run down the biggest news you need to know this week:
1. 🎡 The Illinois State Fair Is Back
Opening day is August 7! Highlights include a pickleball tournament, nightly concerts, and free camping coupons from IDNR. Budget tip:
$2 admission + $2 rides on “Twosday” (Aug 12)
Free days for veterans, kids, seniors, and more
Discount entry books available online and at select locations
2. 🏥 Medicaid Cuts Loom Large
Illinois hospitals — especially rural ones — are warning of serious fallout from looming federal Medicaid cuts. If you rely on Medicaid or work in healthcare, keep your eye on this one.
3. 🤖 Illinois Bans AI as Mental Health Providers
Illinois passed the WOPR Act, banning AI-powered “therapy” apps from diagnosing or treating people. Mindfulness apps are still fine — but anything pretending to be a licensed therapist could get fined up to $10,000.
4. 🏛️ Texas Democrats Seek Refuge in Illinois
Over 50 Texas lawmakers fled to Illinois to block a redistricting vote back home. Governor Pritzker welcomed them, stirring both praise and pushback from downstate lawmakers.
5. 🚲 Route 66 Trail Expansion Rolls On
McLean County’s Route 66 Trail expansion is underway — great news for families looking to walk, bike, or roll between more connected towns.
🔎 Headlines Fast & Focused
Local action: The state fair isn’t just fun — it’s community building.
Health care & tech: Big changes are coming for how we access care and support.
Democracy alert: Petition season is here. It’s time to build power where it counts.
🎙️ That’s it for this week’s Sunshine Strategies Radio. I’m Jen McMillin — reminding you that democracy isn’t a spectator sport. It’s something we do — in our neighborhoods, our counties, and yes, even on the back roads of Illinois.
See you next week. And hey — maybe I’ll be seeing your name on a ballot real soon.
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