McHenry Aldermen

On April 11, 2011, voters in the City of McHenry were asked if the City Treasurer should continue to be an elective position.

The question that was on the ballot in McHenry.

The vote was 1,390 in favor and 2,761 opposed.

33.49% to 66.51%.

Two-thirds against.

Pretty impressive margin.

At the last meeting of the McHenry City Council, however, a vote was taken to stop electing the position.

The person holding the post after the current term expires will be appointed and paid $1 a year.

Home Rule cities like McHenry can do anything that is not prohibited by state law.

Don’t you wonder what the 2,761 McHenry residents whose wishes were overridden by their elected city officials would think if they found out?

Several of the alderman defended their move that the voters had no idea what they were voting for, were uneducated on the subject, and they are there to make that decision for them.

Next, will the city council deciding on what size soft drinks should be sold by McDonald’s, Burger King and other fast food outlets?

McHenry is not the only Home Rule city to end the election of a city treasurer.

After Crystal Lake City Treasurer Rosemary Kurtz was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives (replacing me), the City Council made the City Treasurer appointive.

Currently, Steven Murgatroyd serves as City Treasurer.  He was appointed City Treasurer to fill the vacancy as a result of the resignation of David Welter on March 1, 2010.