Meet Mark Shelden. The biggest three to define him: he is an active members of Holy Cross Catholic Church., a supportive dad to his son, Ethan and a loving husband to his wife, Mary.
He’s been involved in politics almost since he can remember. He was elected as Champaign County Record of Deeds in 2016. Prior to that he had his own technology and political consulting business. He also served as Chief of Staff for former Congressman Tim Johnson and as the Champaign County Clerk.
Mark grew up in Rochelle, a small town in northern Illinois, and came to Champaign in 1983 to attend the UI. He loves the outdoors and sports. They are big hikers, and do camping every year.
Thank you, Mark, for your great service and love for Champaign-Urbana.
Questions:
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: My parents weren’t involved in politics but they were always involved in scouts, church, you name it, and they’re doing it for the community. My parents always talked about and instilled in all of us, their 4 children, the need to give back to the community. The question is how we will do that, and for me, politics are one way for me to give back to the community. But I always emphasize to people that there’s so many ways and nobody should make politics as the only way to give back to your community. My first political mentor was our neighbor, Bob Holkrin. He was very involved in politics and he was the State Central Committeeman for the 16th congressional district. In 1976, when I was 12, we didn’t have a TV in our house and I was laying on the floor at his house, watching Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford debate. At that point it was a very big deal. Bob took me under his wing and because of him, I got to meet Gerald Ford, a lot of other cool people and I got my first secret service pin. Then I came to UI and became involved in this community. My second political mentor is Tim Johnson, we’ve worked close together.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Champaign-Urbana, and what do you love there?
A: We don’t go out too often, but when we do, we go to Hickory River and I get the Brisket. They can never go wrong with that. For some special occasions, we go to Biaggi’s and when we go out with family we go to TGI Fridays, because it kind of suits everybody. The Courier Café is also a nice place.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Champaign-Urbana?
A: I moved here January of 1983. I started here working, trying to make money so I could afford to attend college.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Champaign-Urbana?
A: One interesting guy is Theodore Gray. He is a co-founder of Wolfram Research and his biggest claim to fame was making the Periodic Table of Contents.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: My catholic faith is really important so I want to go to Rome, Vatican City or Holy Land someday. I really love the country, I love the national parks. I’ve done back country camping in all sorts of places but I have not been to Yellow Stone.
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: Nobody has all the answers and if you come up with good answers, that’s going to be because we’re talking and collaborating.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: I kind of gave you where I want to go, so that would be on my bucket list, though my job probably makes it impossible for me to leave for any extended period. I really want to do The Way of St. James, which is a network of pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried. It was kind of famous in the movie called “The Way”.
Q: What current / former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Champaign-Urbana?
A: There’s so much happening in a university town, and the University is always there for the community, which is really cool.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: I see myself here. I can’t imagine life without the friends I have made, my involvement in my church community and politics, which are so important to me- so I’ll be here. I really enjoyed my work and what I do in the office. And building more community in this community.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: My wife knows this. When I left high school I worked in Alaska, first at a crab factory and then a salmon cannery. I was a belly slicer, and my job was to slice the bellies of the female fish. My brother, who was four years older, has previously worked in Alaska, and I followed suit.
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: Family, rooted, and comfort.
Q: If you had a full time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?
A: I am only covering 20% of the housework that I’m aware of, but there’s probably much more going on that I’m not aware of. I would want a housekeeper for my wife, not for me.
