The candidacy of veteran Cook County Deputy Sheriff Mike Mahon for the Democratic Party nominee for McHenry County Sheriff started my thinking about how Lake in the Hills village government and politics is an incubator for Democratic Party partisan campaigns.

If you ever wonder the importance of village office, consider the upward mobility of those involved in McHenry County Democratic Party politics from Lake in the Hills.

One could consider it the powerhouse of McHenry County Democratic Party politics.

And, it’s all “non-partisan.”

First Paula Yensen ran for state representative against Republican Mike Tryon in 2004.

Then, Jim Kennedy ran for county board against Tina Hill and Perry Moy, unseating Moy.

Next, Paula Yensen ran for county board against Virginia Peschke and John Jung.  She beat Jung (or is up for a re-match this year, if he wins what could be a four-way GOP primary).

And even prospective Democratic Party sheriff’s candidate Mahon gained his electoral baptism by fire by running for village trustee.  He lost but it looks like he is running for something much bigger, where, if victorious, Democrats would be in control of one of the most powerful courthouse offices.