Attack on Use of Taxpayer Resources to Advance Campaigns Broadens

As readers know, the folks who want McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi out of office have prevailed upon Associate McHenry County Judge to appoint a special prosecutor to probe whether taxpayer resources were used to promote his campaign.

That special prosecutor is following up on leads, McHenry County Blog has learned.

But another front has opened on the issue.

Nunda Township tax fighter Gerry Walsh is taking on Nunda Township Supervisor John Heisler.

Walsh filed a complaint with the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) against the Nunda Township Supervisor Friday.

Walsh says Heisler allowed his Nunda Township office to be used for the Nunda Neighbors for Open Space meetings (a pro-tax increase group) in February and March. Apparently that information was on McHenry County Blog. (I’m not sure if the Nunda Neighbors for Open Space is the same group, Nunda Neighbors, that successfully found commercial zoning on Route 176 west of Burton’s Bridge in 2007.)

“I had planned to ask the Nunda Neighbors rep about how much they paid for the room at the preliminary hearing at the ISBE on September 16 (Walsh vs. Nunda Neighbors),” Walsh emailed me, “but no one showed up. My suspicion is that they are going to plead nolo contendere (no contest) about this election violation.

“The Hearing Officer said that the use of the Supervisor’s office for a campaign meeting was unusual, but a separate issue.

“I handed John Heisler a letter on September 18th asking about how much Nunda Neighbors paid for the use of his office for their campaign meetings.

“As of this morning, he hasn’t responded. That is why I filed the complaint with the Illinois State Board of Elections.”

“The reason I haven’t responded was that the letter was not addressed to me,” Nunda Township Supervisor John Heisler told McHenry County Blog.

“It was addressed to Bridgett Provenzano. I got a copy of a memo he had addressed to my clerk.

“I handed it to my attorney Jim Militello and he advised me that it was addressed to Bridgett, not me, and I need not respond.”

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The photo is from the Nunda Township Republican Picnic.


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