Party of one – Colbert lone elected Democrat on board

Posted

ROCHELLE – An Ogle County Board meeting often looks like a gathering of longtime friends.

There are handshakes and hugs, smiles and laughs.

And Bobbie Colbert is right there greeting her colleagues with those same smiles and hugs. But she is something no one else on the board is – Colbert is a Democrat. In fact, she is the lone elected Democrat for the county.

“Many of my values have been formed by great democratic leaders such as FDR, JFK, Robert F Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Harry Truman,” said Colbert, who moved to Ogle County in 1967 with her husband Joel. “I especially admired Senator's Paul Simon, Bill Bradley and Paul Wellstone.

She met her husband in their hometown of Iowa City. The couple had five children when they moved to Ogle County so Joel could take a job at Rochelle Township High School as a teacher and football coach.

“Rochelle will always be ‘home’ to our family, she said. “I have always been active in our schools, churches and community.”

Colbert was first elected to the County Board in 2002. She sat down to talk about being the rare Democrat in a county dominated by Republican elected officials.

Question: So, what is it like to be the lone Democrat in elected office in the county?

Answer: Lonely! But with county issues party politics seldom enter the picture. Chris Remhof, a Byron Democrat, was elected at the same time that I was. Our votes differed many times.  It is rewarding though, when many people quietly approach me to thank me for representing the party that they believe in.

I will complete 16 years at the end of my term. I've learned so much about county government and treasure many new friendships.

Q: Do other board members ever tease you about this? Does it even come up?

A: Yes and Yes! It's usually in good fun. I can take it and I can dish it out.  

Q: How active is the Democratic Party in Ogle County?

A: I think that we have been fairly active and visible. We hold monthly meetings. We participate in every county parade. We've had a very successful fundraiser every year. We canvass precincts. We register voters.  We campaign for our legislative candidates and attend democratic events in the area and in Springfield.

Q: Do you think there will eventually be more Democrats elected to office in Ogle County? If so, why?

A: I hope so! Ever since the last presidential election, attendance has more than tripled at our monthly meetings. We will have more elected precinct committeemen after the primary. Younger people have been energized. We just need smart respectable candidates that are ready for an uphill battle. I think that the voters are out there. 

Q: Do you have any feelings on the current president and the job he has done?

A: I know that we are to respect the office of the Presidency. I do. But, in my opinion, when that man himself hasn't shown the respect due to this office he shouldn't be the president. His words and actions are a disgrace to the USA. I could really be specific but (this story) isn't long enough!

Q: Nationally, Democrats seem excited about the elections coming up this year. How do you see the chances of the party on a national level?

A: I'm always excited about an upcoming election. Especially when we have qualified upstanding candidates. If the recent state election results are an indication, it looks like 2020 will be a Democratic year!