McHenry County Blog

A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Walsh’s Weekly Wrap-Up

Dear Friend,

Please join me from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, January 28th) for a Cup of Joe with Joe in Wauconda.

This event is open to anyone and everyone so come out and let me know what’s on your mind!

More information on tomorrow’s event can be found below.

On Tuesday, President Obama delivered the State of the Union Address to a joint session of Congress. The President’s speech did not give much “hope” to restoring economic security and creating American jobs. We heard the same tired message from the President: more spending, higher taxes, and over regulation. Big government does not and has not worked. Since Obama has taken office, he has kept American families in a downward spiral with no hope of recovery. We need to get the government out of the way so small businesses can create the jobs we need to get this country back on track.

Hope to see you in Wauconda tomorrow!

I work for you,

UPCOMING EVENTS

Cup of Joe with Joe

Saturday, January 28- 8:00-9:30am
Honey Hill Coffee Company
107 S Main St.
Wauconda, IL 60084

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In addition, wearing his political hat, Walsh will hold a Town Hall Meeting at the Schaumburg Library on Saturday afternoon in a 2nd Floor Classroom from 3:30-5. The address is 130 South Roselle Road, Schaumburg.
3:30-5pm

The Illinois Manufacturers Association has a subsidiary which does polling. It’s called We Ask America, run by Gregg Durham.

The findings show Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay narrowly ahead if Cliff Surges 20%-16%. The margin of error is 3.2% in the 800-person automated telephone poll.

The 66th District is the one in which St. Rep. Mike Tryon is running unopposed.

When results for the two state rep. districts are separate out, here are the findings:

• 65th District (the southern one) – 21%-15%
• 66th District (the northern one that goes into Crystal Lake) – 19%-16%.

With almost two-thirds of the likely Republican voters uncommitted, there clearly is going to be an interesting contest.

A press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office:

BURGLAR SENTENCED TO 4 YEARS IN PRISON

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Kitt Lechner, 28, of the City of McHenry was sentenced today to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for two counts of the Class 1 felony offense of Residential Burglary.

Kitt Lechner

Also accompanying them for the residential burglaries were their two young children.

Items taken from the residences included

• jewelry,
• a watch and
• several coin containers.

Kitt Lechner was found in possession of some of the items taken, while others were unrecovered.

This case was investigated by the City of McHenry Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Demetri Tsilimigras, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew Mueller.

I got these emails from 6th District McHenry County Board candidate Michael Stanard:

I first saw the logo of McHenry County Board candidate Michael Stanard on the side of his old red pickyup truck in Marengo's Founders Days Parade.

Someone in McHenry County evidently “turned me in to the authorities.” < smile >

This morning I got a call from Ron Brooks about my using the old Standard Oil icon.

He followed up the the following email.

Mr Michael Standard

It has been brought to our attention that you are using our Trade mark logo of Standard Oil Company on you campaign poster. We are the owners of record of this trade mark with the US Patent office. Please remove the Logo asap from any public uses.

Thank you
Ronald Brooks CEO
Standard Oil Company

I responded as follows:

Ron,

I didn’t mean to step on your toes. I apologize.

I was unaware of your company.

I assumed that brand identity disappeared when BP took control.

As you can imagine, using that vintage icon seemed a natural parody, given the spelling of my surname.

Would you be willing to allow me to continue until the election cycle is complete?

As a practical matter, my use of it will not damage your brand and I would appreciate your good humor and generosity in the matter.

Of course, if you prefer, I’ll stop using it and take it off the site.

Cordially,

Michael

p.s.

If that was you on the phone, I thought it might have been my high school buddy from Dallas, zooming me.

His response was:

Hi Michael

Sure I hpx; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; mpaine truck.
So you have our ok to use”>

And by the way Best Of Luck to you.

Ron Brooks CEO

Cal,

I’d love to know who let Ron know about my promotional materials. Wouldn’t you?

After all, he’s is way out in Dallas, Texas and there is no way on God’s green hearth that he would have discovered it with out a ” little help ” .

Re: http://www.standardoilcompanyusa.com ( It’s a exploring and drilling company. )

I knew politics was a dirty game. In McHenry County it seems petty and small-minded as well.

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This reminds me of one of my 1992 primary opponents objecting to my excerpting a phrase from a Mike Royko column.

He wrote,  “Down in Springfield is an honest young legislator named Cal Skinner.”

When we got a call from Royko’s office, we faxed a copy of the column.

His reaction was something like, “I guess I wrote it.”

Here’s the column, probably from May, 1976:

The following showed up on State Rep. candidate Dave McSweeney’s web site today.

There is no mention of the percentage of those who have not made up their minds.

I asked Gaffney’s campaign manager Nicholas McNeely for his take. Here it is:

McSweeney touted a similar poll with similar results in December of last year and the message is that same, over 50% of the voters in the district are undecided. All this poll shows me is that the voters have largely not focused on any one candidate and the race is wide open.

An announcement from Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Carolyn Schofield, who is running for McHenry County Board in District 2:

Carolyn Schofield

Dear Friends;

This is the official kick-off to my campaign, “Schofield for McHenry County Board District 2.”

You know me as a friend, neighbor, and Crystal Lake City Council Member, working diligently to represent the citizens of Crystal Lake.

Many of the issues that affect our quality of life extend beyond the Crystal Lake borders:

• Adoption of the Crystal Lake Watershed into the County Storm Water Management ordinance;
• Support of health and safety issues of groundwater protection;
• Working with local policy makers on the potential regulations of coal tar sealants across.

This leads me to the reason I am running for County Board.

• Thoughtful Representation: I will continue to represent the citizens of Crystal Lake while positioning myself to address the issues that extend beyond our borders.
• Two-Way Communication: I will continue to listen to the thoughts and concerns of all residents, and respond to in a timely manner.
• Leadership with Integrity: I will strive for transparency in government, place emphasis on safety, and maintain a consistent approach on addressing issues. As a County Board member I will continue to work with integrity while striving to protect our valuable resources.

I am running a true grassroots campaign.

Most of you know me personally; you know I am not a “typical politician.”

In 2007, then Planning & Zoning Commission Board member Carolyn Schofield voted with all of her colleagues against the McHenry County College Baseball Stadium proposal. That rejection resulted in the need for a supermajority vote, which Mayor Aaron Shepley and his allies on the City Council could not muster when Ralph Dawson added his vote to those of Jeff Thorsen and Brett Hopkins.

My involvement in local government started ten years ago, as a city planning commissioner, to “give back” to the community that I love.

Today, I continue for the same reason.

It has been rewarding to facilitate the process and literally bring local government to your backyard.

I enjoy hearing the thoughts and concerns of my neighbors while sitting at a ball game or a school event.

It is even more rewarding when I can address your thoughts and concerns by providing solutions.

Crystal Lake has benefited from many of those ideas.

I would like to continue this accessibility and expand it to the County level.

I have so much more to say and I would be honored to speak with you individually. You can also hear more about me at the Northwest Herald election central site.

I want this election to be about you, and I would like the honor to represent you as a District 2 County Board Representative, but I need your help!

• Help get the word out by forwarding this message;
• Encourage people to educate themselves on the local elections;
• Share my literature with friends and neighbors;
• Display my yard sign, and help me find good sign locations;
• Your campaign contributions will be graciously accepted;
• Vote in the Republican primary on Tuesday, March 20;

Every little bit helps!

Thank you for your support and I look forward to the opportunity serve you on the McHenry County Board!

Carolyn Schofield
815-341-2440  carolyn.schofield@sbcglobal.net

A press release from the McHenry County Young Republicans:

A Chance to Get to Know the Candidates That You Will Be Voting For On March 20

Crystal Lake, IL – Jan 26 – The McHenry County Young Republicans Are Excited to Announce That We Will Be Hosting a Series of 3 Candidates Forums.

By now we all know where the presidential candidates stand on the issues, but how many of us can say we know where all the candidates for the local and state offices stand.

It is extremely important that we select the right candidates in the primary if we want to elect outstanding candidates in November.

We can’t just depend on those postcards we get in the mail; we need to see them in action!

With the help of the McHenry County College Political Theory and Debate Group, we will give the voters an opportunity to do that, with our series of 3 Forums.

All 3 events will be held in the McHenry County College Conference Center at 7pm:

• Friday, February 3 we will be hosting the candidates for McHenry County Board Districts 2, 3 and 4
• Saturday, February 4th we will be hosting the candidates for McHenry County Board Districts 5 and 6
• Saturday, February 11th we will be hosting the candidates for Illinois State Representative in the 52

Admission to this event is free. All members of the community are encouraged to attend.

For more information contact our chairman at:

eriksivertsen@mchenryyoungrepublicans.com

If you would like to know how you can help get the word out about these events, please join us for our meeting this Sunday January 29th at The Cottage in Crystal Lake at 7pm.

Contact Information (for press members only):

Erik Sivertsen – Chairman
McHenry County Young Republicans

eriksivertsen@mchenryyoungrepublicans.com 815-271-1698

Woodstock VFW Town Hall Meeting.

An email from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Dear Friends,

If I don’t have the opportunity to see you over the weekend, I look forward to visiting with you soon.

State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay talks to McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler and Jim Thompson, long-time Republican Precinct Committeeman and one of the intitators of the first Tea Party Demostration in Crystal Lake. In the background are Precinct Committeemen Bryon Javor and Jake Justen.

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay brought her campaign for the Illinois State Senate to Lakewood’s Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria Thursday night.

Chatting near the entrance was State. Rep. Mike Tryon with District 2 County Board candidate Tom Wilbeck and Precinct Committeeman Tom McDermott.

Nothing like free eats to bring out a crowd.  And Lou Manati’s pizza.  What a treat!

State Rep. Mike Tryon chows down on Lou Manati's deep dish pizza. Also at the table, from left to right, are Republican Precinct Committeeman Rita Heuel, John O'Neill's wife Basia and Bo Strom, CEO of OnTarget, the shooting range going up north of Route 176.

The event featured high-profile politicians like State Rep. Mike Tryon. Tryon would be one of the State Representatives in the 33rd State Senate District.

Karen McConnaughay addresses the crowd.

McConnaughay outlined her accomplishments during her seven years in office.  They included achieving a better bond rating from the two major agencies.

Lots of folks from Grafton Township at this table. I see Randy Hutlgren's top campaign guy, Joe Calomino, front right, sitting across from his neighbor Dave Broxterman. To his right is Sue Russell. At the back left is Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore and Township GOP Chairman Tom Paznaski. At the head of the table is Anthony Paladino, co-captain to Precinct Committeeman Sam Paglini, who is sitting at his left.

Lots of talk about politics, of course.

County Board member Donna Kurtz was working the other back table, shaking hands with District 3 County Board candidate Joe Gottemoller here.. At the end is Precinct Committeeman and campaign consultant Cheryl Meyer. Local businesswoman Terry Greeno is front right, NRA leader Rich Young front left. To his left is Don Drzal, Huntley School Board member and write-in candidate for Precinct Committeeman

People looking for yard sign sites.

Campaign assistant Becky Kress can be seen to the left of Karen McConnaughay's back. John McGuire, his two daughters and a friend round out the group.

Others discussing court proceedings and Judge Gordon Graham’s order to pay a couple hundred more thousand dollars to the Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen and (their expensive investigators at Quest) who had no case against State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi.

McHenry County Republican Central Committee Treasurer Fred Wickham was discussing things with Karen McConnaughay. Wickham Interiors' Lynn Wickham was present, too.

At the end of event, campaign assistant Becky Cress was handing out McConnaughay tee shirts.

Grafton Township Republican Central Committee Tom Poznanski held up one of the McConnaughy tee shirts for me.

A press release from Congressman Don Manzullo:

Rep. Manzullo Earns Another Endorsement from Major Conservative Group in Illinois

[ROCKFORD] – Touting his lifetime 100% pro-life voting record, the Illinois Citizens for Life, federal PAC has endorsed Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) over his opponent in the March 20 primary election.

Ralph Rivera

“We are aware that throughout your years in the U.S. House of Representatives, you have had a 100% pro-life voting record.

“Additionally, we know that you have been a sponsor or co-sponsor of numerous pro-life and child sexual abuse protection legislation,” said Ralph Rivera, Chairman of the Illinois Citizens for Life, federal PAC, in a letter of endorsement to Manzullo.

“All of these fine accomplishments are what leads us to a determination that you are certainly deserving of our endorsement for re-election in the 2012 elections.” Click here to read the full text of the endorsement letter.

Manzullo, a long-time member of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, authored legislation signed into law several years ago requiring Title X-funded family planning clinics to follow state-mandated reporting requirements for child abuse and molestation.

The law was inspired by the case of a 13-year-old Crystal Lake, IL girl who was repeatedly molested by her middle school teacher, whose crime was shielded by the confidentiality requirements of Title X.

Manzullo and his wife, Freda, were part of a small group that formed Rockford’s first crisis pregnancy center in the early 1980s. That center spawned two other centers in DeKalb and Freeport.

Don Manzullo and his wife Frieda in Crystal Lake's 4th of July Parade in 2010.

“I am extremely proud of my 100% pro-life voting record and thankful to the Illinois Citizens for Life, federal PAC for their recognition and endorsement,” Manzullo said.

“My wife, Freda, and I have always maintained that being pro-life means we must also be actively involved in the issue.

“In the early 1980s, we joined with a group of friends to create Rockford’s first crisis pregnancy center, which spawned two other centers in DeKalb and Freeport.

“The centers provide assistance to women in difficult situations and provide counseling and a host of other services for the mother and father involved, including the babies.”

The endorsement from the Illinois Citizens for Life, federal PAC is the latest in a string of endorsements Manzullo has received from conservative organizations in this year’s primary election. He was endorsed earlier this month by the

• Illinois Conservatives, a group of about 4,000 young conservatives throughout the State of Illinois, as well as
• Family-PAC Federal, Illinois’ leading pro-family organization.

In addition, Manzullo

• received a perfect grade of A+ from Americans For Prosperity (his opponent received a B) and
• maintains a score of 84 from Heritage Action (his opponent scored 62) in the latest legislative scorecards from the conservative organizations.

An analysis of all 949 roll call votes last year showed that Manzullo voted 79 more times to cut $209 billion more in wasteful Washington spending than his opponent in 2011.

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Manzullo is running against freshman Congressman Adam Kinzinger.