Born in Syracuse, NY, Jim Rogal spent many of his formative years right here in Normal while his father taught at Illinois State University. His mother operated a private piano studio and was choir director for the First Presbyterian Church in Normal. Jim was active with Boy Scout Troop 19, while attending Fairview Elementary and Parkside Jr High. He started for the Normal Mites Football team, played saxophone in the school band, and was on the Jr High track team.

After Jr. High, Jim’s family moved to LaSalle, IL where he graduated from high school, lettering in Football all 4 years and track his senior year.

Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in English, then a master’s degree in Political Journalism at the University of Illinois at Springfield. He met his wife, Jenni, while working at the student newspaper.

After graduation, Jim worked on the 1996 campaign of US Senator Dick Durbin. He then joined the policy and communications team of the Illinois State Senate. Jim was the communications staffer for Senators Larry Walsh of Joliet, Patrick Welch of Peru, and George Shadid of Peoria, as well as staffing the agriculture committee. He also served as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Senate President where he worked on special policy issues and on election law legislation.

In 2009 he moved to the Illinois Department of Corrections as a policy advisor. He enjoyed working with the Illinois General Assembly on criminal justice and budgetary issues.

In 2015, Jim and his family moved to Normal. They settled only blocks from where Jim had lived growing up. Jim began working for the Laborers Union. His focus was research and education, specifically informing apprentices and members on policy issues impacting them in Illinois. He currently works for their Health and Safety Fund.

Since returning to McLean County Jim has stayed active. He chaired the elections committee for the McLean County Democratic Party from 2018-2021. He was elected to the Normal Library Board in 2019. He supported ending fines and fees for overdue material and the library’s move to digital and curbside service when the pandemic started. Jim was required to resign from the board after his appointment to a vacancy on the County Board in 2021.

On the County Board, Jim has focused on County infrastructure and property. He is working to expedite projects that improve both urban and rural communities. He is proud of our county’s leadership in renewable energy. He is committed to improving both public lands, and their accessibility to all.

Jim and Jenni live in Normal and with five children. Their kids are active in music, sports, 4-H and the Bloomington-Normal NAACP Youth Council. The Rogals are members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal.