The tradition start of political campaigns is Labor Day.

The Democratic Party candidate for coroner, Dave Bachmann, has decided to follow in the footsteps of Kane County colleagues and call for a freeze on level of the salary for the office he seeks.

Bachmann’s press release follows:

David J. Bachmann to Ask County Board to Place “Stay” on Salary Increase for Coroner’s Office

McHenry County Democratic Candidate for Coroner, David J. Bachmann will ask the McHenry County Board for a “Stay” regarding the December 1st, post election pay raises that are currently scheduled to take place.

Upon reading Monday September 8th’s addition of McHenry County Blog, Bachmann found there has been a 17% decline in property values throughout McHenry County for homeowners.

If elected November 4th, Bachmann states,

“I will immediately present to McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler asking him to allow me the opportunity to address the entire county board.

“Given the economic climate within our county, the high rate of foreclosures, job losses, many families struggling to come up with this years real estate taxes, I cannot in good conscious, accept the more than generous pay raises that are about to be implemented for many countywide officials.

“We are all in this economic crises together. Perhaps after a year or so, we can again, re-address this issue. However given the rate of pay as provided to our neighboring county Coroners who serve a populous greater than ours, I feel this is the right thing to do. Not for political gain, but as a matter of economic fairness to our hard working tax payers.”

Salaries for McHenry Countywide elected officials are due to rise from the current $89,530 as follows:

McHenry County Auditor, Coroner,
Circuit Clerk, Recorder of Deeds

For the year 2009……………………..$93,111
For the year 2010…………………….$96,836
For the year 2011……………………$100,709
For the year 2012……………………$104,737