Patriots United is hosting an October 18th event that will put proponents against opponents of the County Executive form of government.
State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) proposed a referendum to fundamentally change the form of county government.
The 2010 billboard that set State Rep. Jack Franks off.
Some think it’s part of a hot feud with McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, who refused to give Metra Board member Jack Schaffer the bum’s rush when Franks called for all Metra Board members to resign after the Phil Pagano scandal.
Others think it is because Franks took high offense at the billboard posted by Schaffef’s billboard company, Liberty Outdoor, as close to Franks’ office on Route 47 as possible when John O’Neill was running against Franks for State Rep. in 2010…that the feud with Koehler started there.
In any event, the McHenry County Republican Party’s failure to run a candidate against Franks gave him room to play and he decided to take on county government and create a post that he just might end up having a personal interest in.
Not just keeping options open, but creating a new one.
So, put October 17th on the calendar, 6-9 at MCC.
Too bad they are charging a fee for this event. It also starts a little early for working folks.
Admission fee?!
And who is really sponsoring this event?
The “Patriots United” website is completely devoid of information pertaining to citizens associated with it.
It seems to be a right-wing front group of sorts.
A 401C4 not for profit corporation which is currently NOT in good standing with the State of Illinois, whose president is one Brian Kelly, owner of Bulk-Lift Corp in Carpentersville.
Even if the right tries to snatch this issue, it will remain a concern to all citizens of the County.
I would caution all who attend this event to be mindful of the true intent of its sponsor.
As onerous a choice as this referendum may be, citizens are being sucked into a debate that they know nothing about.
There are long-standing personal issues between opposing sides in this debate that have little to do with the form and function of County Government.
No opportunity for educating the public was made prior to introducing this binding referendum.
Its passage could be calamitous for our County, forcing the County Board into an adversarial relationship with its “Executive” for years to come.
It happened in Will County.
As Republican candidate for Will County State’s Attorney David Carlson told me recently, “Don’t let it happen in McHenry County”.
This is a bi-partisan issue with long-term effects on McHenry County Government. If it has merit, then let it be debated and analyzed sufficiently in public before a final vote.
As Kathleen Bergan Schmidt (D-Nunda Township) characterized it, don’t pull this “Trojan Horse” into our camp.
I don’t care who hosts it, this referendum needs to be looked into.
I don’t understand why we need another tax dollar sucking position in county government.
We already have a county board with a chairman.
We vote for our reps on the county board.
I’ve been trying to find out what the deal is with this county executive and it looks like he/she will have the power to override the decisions of the board.
So what is the point of us voting for reps if they cannot make any progress without the fear of being overruled, and why would we want to put that kind of power into one persons hands?
With a county executive we face either the Republican or Democrat parties putting a whole lot of money into getting their man elected to this powerful position so they can advance their party objectives.
And who gets to pay for this additional position, that persons benefits and retirement package, and the supporting personnel?
Wouldn’t the extra expenses result in yet another tax increase?
Seriously an admission fee? So much for educating Voters and letting them hear both sides…