Kelby Cumpston

Kelby is a townie, a longtime Ward 7 resident, a husband, and a father to an adopted dog named Frank.

He never thought he would run for elected office. He has been in organizing spaces in Bloomington-Normal for over a decade, but had always taken more of a supporting role. He was the guy that combs through hundreds of pages of city council agendas. He doesn't come from a political family, He doesn't have a political science degree. But he is motivated to run because he sees his neighbors hurting and a city council that does not represent them.

Kelby's heart lies with his community and those most disenfranchised. He has marshaled a two-day march from Decatur to Taylorville to advocate for the rights of our immigrant community. He has fought against payday lenders who prey on the vulnerable. He coordinated grassroots efforts like the Bloomington-Normal Really Really Free Market and the McLean County COVID-19 Mutual Aid project to support and uplift our local community.

Kelby has been a general member of Black Lives Matter Blono for five years, doing what has been asked of him by our Black leaders.

He will carry this into his work on the City Council by listening to all residents of Ward 7 and prioritizing the voices of our BIPOC neighbors. He believes it’s his responsibility to use his privilege as a white man and his seat at the City Council as a way to amplify the voices that are too often silenced in our local government.

As your representative on the Bloomington City Council, Kelby will continue to advocate for the people of Ward 7 and humbly asks for your support and your vote. Let’s build a better community together!