Democratic candidate once off ballot now back in Will County race
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com September 5, 2012 3:56PM
Updated: October 9, 2012 2:23PM
Reed Bible is running for a seat on the Will County Board, and hopes that people will remember not only his name, but his pledge to give back to the community.
Bible, a retired federal agent, says he wants to serve the community with his time and his money.
If elected, he said he plans to give back 10 percent of his county board salary to the county.
Bible was removed from the ballot in July along with seven other Democratic hopefuls when the Will County Electoral Board decided there were problems with the way the candidates were appointed to the ballot.
When Mike Costello, of Plainfield, who was elected to run for the board in the March primary, dropped out, Bible was appointed by local Democrats to fill his place on the ballot.
The electoral board’s decision is pending before the appellate court.
Bible, 59, of Plainfield, said he believes change has to start from the bottom up.
“I just felt that the way that our nation has been going, we just can’t rely upon politicians at the national level to effect change for the better for our society,” Bible said.
“I’m convinced it’s more of a grass-roots effort that’s needed.”
And Bible wants to go first, by pledging to give back 10 percent of his salary, which would be about $2,300, to the county to fill gaps in its budget.
Bible mentioned the Will County Community Health Center, which he said could use some updated equipment and funding, as a potential beneficiary.
“We’re hoping other politicians follow behind us,” said Bible’s campaign manager, Ahmed Salim.
“If 10 politicians do this, you’re talking about potentially $23,000 of county money.”
As for his name, Bible says it wasn’t intended as a play on words.
Reed actually is his middle name, which he started using in college because his first name, Kimberlee, brought too much ridicule from classmates.
“I know it sounds kind of like someone is running a Hollywood movie and you want to come up with a fictitious candidate’s name,” Bible said.
His mother named him Kimberlee, inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s novel, “Kim,” he said.
“Occasionally I’ll use my first initial to honor my mom,” Bible said.
He said his wife gets just as many double-takes when she gives her name: America Bible.
“We’re used to people asking about our names,” Bible said.
For more information about Bible’s campaign, contact him at
rbible4willcounty@yahoo.com.
