When you have over $122,000 in the bank over six months ago and have been raising funds since, you can pay for a lot of direct mail in a re-election campaign.
You can also afford to do some polling to see if there is a need to spend a lot or a little money to fend off a primary challenge.
Ken Koehler and Lyn Orphal, incumbent county board members, have already sent out mailings.
They know they are being severely challenged by McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz.
From the mailing I got today from Keith Nygren, I’d assume he thinks the challenge by Zane Seipler is strong.
Otherwise he wouldn’t spend the money so far ahead of the election.
Certainly, Nygren is winning the sign war.
Here’s what the address side of his mailer looks like.
It touts that he’s running for re-election and “doing the right thing.”
The other side has more detail, emphasizing “42 years police experience.”
Nygren lists the offices he held in Crystal Lake, culminating in being named chief and his service as McHenry County Sheriff.
Where he worked before he came to McHenry County, however, is left off the piece.
He also tells of his FBI training and that he is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.
He talks about the “units’ he has created: Drug Enforcement, Gang, Accident Investigation, Truck Enforcement, Major Case Investigations and Fugitive Apprehension.
Under “Other Accomplishments” are listed
- Secured numerous grants totalling $17 million plus
- Jail Expansion/Rental program – $51 million plus for you the taxpayer
- New radio communications system
- Grant funding allowed McHenry to double jail capacity
Have you ever heard the song “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” by Jim Croce? This Sheriff’s race reminds me of that. You have Nygren (Big Jim Walker) who has established himself as the tough guy around the county. Big man, drives a fancy car and everyone is scared of him. Nyren (Jim) screws over a young guy named Zane (in the song Zane would be “Billy McCoy”, “but down home they call him Slim”)In the song “Slim” didn’t know he was supposed to be afraid of “Jim”. Same situation here. Zane has no fear when it comes to Nygren. “…and when the cuttin’ was done the only part that wasn’t bloody was the soles of the big man’s feet.” The song ends with the chorus changing to “You don’t mess around with Slim”. With everythng I have read and heard, when the cuttin (elections, lawsuits and investigations) is done we are all going to be singing “You don’t mess around with Zane!”.
The people have waited a long time for a fight like this. Politics in this county will never be the same.
AMEN Lars, let’s hope the voters figure it out.
Wasn’t the “New Radio System” required by law? I’m pretty sure Nygren had nothing to do with that