Rock Island Today

Ken Grenier hopes to give back to the Rock Island community he has called home for the last five decades by serving as the voice of the people in determining where the county goes from here.

“I would hope to make sure the interests of Rock Island County constituents are represented fairly,” Grenier, running as a Republican for the Rock Island County board in District 14 told the Rock Island Today. “I’d like to give back to a county that has provided a safe, secure, and hospitable environment for me and my family for over 50 years.”

For Grenier, the job starts with advocating for fiscal responsibility, while maintaining the high level of services and standards residents have come to know and appreciate..

Ken Grenier

Grenier said his candidacy is also all about assuring transparency and finding a way to streamline operations for the county.

“Passing a budget is an important step for moving Illinois forward toward fiscal responsibility,” he added. “The next goal needs to be moving toward a balanced budget. I’m concerned that the level of bi-partisanship in passing this budget may be electioneering in the face of the upcoming November elections. Hopefully, the legislature can move past the way things seem to have always been and make Illinois Great Again.”

Over the last five decades, Grenier has become virtually a fixture in the community.

He spent 25 years as a Deere & Co. executive, while also finding the time to coach his sons in soccer and basketball and remain active in his church.

More recently, Grenier has taught a variety of computer science courses, joining the St. Ambrose University (SAU) faculty in the late 1990s, where he ultimately became chair of the department and was part of the faculty group that brought the first master’s degree in computer science to SAU.

Now retired. Grenier spends much of his time traveling to visit his four adult children and eight grandchildren. He also serves as a substitute teacher at nearby Alleman High School and tutors St. Ambrose students in computer science.

“As a member of the county board, Ken will support reducing the size of the county board, maintaining the county's first-class recreational facilities, promote fiscal responsibility in all county services, and most importantly be a listener to his constituent's' ideas and concerns,” his profile statement reads.