About Jake Leonard
BORN:
November 21, 1986 in Aransas Pass, Texas
WHERE HAVE I LIVED?:
Prior to moving to Illinois in August 1993, I lived in Rockport and Galveston, Texas. I've lived in various communities in Montgomery (Nokomis, Coalton, Fillmore), Christian (Pana), Shelby (Shelbyville, Herrick) and Fayette (Ramsey) counties. From August 2005 until January 2009, I was a resident of Canton and LaGrange in Lewis County, Missouri. Currently, I live in Nokomis.
WHERE DO YOU WORK?:
General manager and senior I.T. technician, Heartland Internet Media Networks
Freelance journalist and broadcast media personality
Staff reporter, editorial assistant, and distribution driver, Pana News Group
Editor-in-chief, Heartland Newsfeed
General manager/program director, Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network
Contributing writer for three online news outlets (Midwest Sports Network, Ambush Sports and Overtime Heroics)
I've worked in information technology since 2004, broadcast media since 2005 and journalism since 2009.
EDUCATION:
LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:
POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND CAMPAIGN HISTORY:
CAMPAIGN HISTORY:
November 21, 1986 in Aransas Pass, Texas
WHERE HAVE I LIVED?:
Prior to moving to Illinois in August 1993, I lived in Rockport and Galveston, Texas. I've lived in various communities in Montgomery (Nokomis, Coalton, Fillmore), Christian (Pana), Shelby (Shelbyville, Herrick) and Fayette (Ramsey) counties. From August 2005 until January 2009, I was a resident of Canton and LaGrange in Lewis County, Missouri. Currently, I live in Nokomis.
WHERE DO YOU WORK?:
General manager and senior I.T. technician, Heartland Internet Media Networks
Freelance journalist and broadcast media personality
Staff reporter, editorial assistant, and distribution driver, Pana News Group
Editor-in-chief, Heartland Newsfeed
General manager/program director, Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network
Contributing writer for three online news outlets (Midwest Sports Network, Ambush Sports and Overtime Heroics)
I've worked in information technology since 2004, broadcast media since 2005 and journalism since 2009.
EDUCATION:
- 2005 graduate, Nokomis High School
- Pursuing Bachelor's degree in communication, University of Phoenix
LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:
- Rotary Interact Club Alumni (2004-2005)
- Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Alumni (2004-2005)
- Circle K International Alumni (2008-2009)
- Society of Professional Journalists (since 2017)
- Kiwanis International (since 2009)
- Association of Computer Repair Business Owners (since 2015)
- Nokomis Chamber of Commerce (since 2018)
- Downtown Nokomis Association (since 2018)
- Online News Association (since 2020)
- Illinois News Broadcasters Association (since 2020)
- Rotary International (since 2021)
- Rotary eClub of Central Illinois (since 2021)
POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND CAMPAIGN HISTORY:
- Learned about libertarianism during 2008 presidential election from Congressman Dr. Ron Paul
- Voted consistently for Libertarian candidates since 2010
- Became member, Libertarian Party of Illinois in 2013
- Was Illinois state campaign coordinator for Steve Kerbel's campaign for the Libertarian Party nomination (2015-16)
- Became member, Libertarian Party U.S. in 2016
- Became Deputy Candidate Recruitment Director for the Libertarian Party of Illinois in September 2017
- Mid-Illinois regional coordinator for the entire 2018 slate of Illinois constitutional officer candidates (2018)
- Promoted to Candidate Recruitment Director for the Libertarian Party of Illinois in March 2019
- Promoted to Political Director for the Libertarian Party of Illinois in November 2019
CAMPAIGN HISTORY:
- Ran for Nokomis City Council as a write-in candidate (2015), made ballot in 2019 re-attempt
- Ran for state representative (IL-95) as a write-in candidate (2016)
- Ran for Nokomis CUSD #22 Board of Education (2017)
- Elected Libertarian State Central Committeeman for the 13th Congressional District (2018-2020)
- Ran for Montgomery County Clerk as a write-in candidate (2018)
- Ran for Montgomery County Board District 2 (2020)
- Ran for Mayor of the City of Nokomis (2021)