McHenry County Dems Appear To Have Been Used as Conduit for Franks Money

Something that has not been seen before happened to the McHenry County Democratic Party recently.

It started out October with $18,691.03 in the bank.

On October 12th, $10,800 came from Chicago uber-liberal Fred Eychane.

On October 17th. the Dems got another $21,600 from that man’s company, Newsweb Corp.

There were also two other relatively piddly contributions:

  • $1,500 – Illinois Democratic County Chairman Association
  • $1,176.50 – Illinois Democratic County Chairman Association

So, what did the County Dems do with the $32,400 in cash?

Did any go to the Democratic Party’s State’s Attorney candidate, Ray Flavin?

None that I see.

Was it sent to County Board candidates?

Not that I can find, but there could still be a countywide mailing financed with cash on hand at the beginning of the quarter and some of the Eychane money.

Jack Fanks

Jack Fanks

However, $27,400 went to Jack Franks’ campaign fund yesterday.

Eychane also gave Franks $5,400 directly on October 17th.

His Newsweb Corp also contributed $10,800 to Franks on October 17th.


Comments

McHenry County Dems Appear To Have Been Used as Conduit for Franks Money — 7 Comments

  1. It’s Christmastime for Jacko,
    With all his checks on the tree,
    While he eats his cake & steak.

  2. Fred Eychaner and News web contributions to the McHenry County Democrat party is another example of the importance to Democrats statewide of the McHenry County Board Chair position.

    Democrats Jack Franks has been working on increasing Democrat power in McHenry County for a long time.

    Many McHenry County Republicans voters have been supporting him the entire time.

    Yet the contributors to Jack Franks political campaigns have been mainly Democrats.

    On November 6, 2012, the County Executive form of Government referendum was defeated.

    On March 18, 2014, the voter elected (as opposed to board elected) County Board Chair referendum passed.

    On June 6, 2014, the Northwest Herald reported that Jack Franks was advocating the county pass measures to add two advisory referendums to an upcoming election ballot:

    – Convert the County Board from 6 districts, 4 members each (24 members) to 16 districts, 1 member each

    – No property tax hike if EAV falls.

    In that article, Jack Franks was quoted to having said he would not run for County Board Chair in 2016:

    ++++++++++++++

    Northwest Herald

    Franks Asks County For Two Advisory Referendums

    June 6, 2014

    by Kevin Craver

    “Franks made clear that he is not pushing for County Board changes as an effort to run for the chairman’s seat in two years, following the footsteps of former state senators Chris Lauzen and Dan Cronin, now chairmen of the Kane and DuPage county boards.

    ‘What I’m trying to do is reduce our property taxes in McHenry County and make it livable so people don’t leave,’ Franks said.

    ‘I can promise you I am not running for county chairman in 2016.

    This has nothing to do with me.

    This is about good government.'”

    http://www.nwherald.com/2014/06/05/franks-asks-county-for-2-advisory-referendums/a6ejr9p/?view=all

    +++++++

    The Chairman of the McHenry County Democrat Party, Michael Bissett (the husband of Democrat McHenry current County Board District 5 candidate Paula Yensen), is also:

    – Chairman of the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee PAC, which is SBE committee ID 1018.

    – Treasurer of the Friends of Paula Yensen PAC, which is SBE committee ID 21238

    – Chairman of the Northern IL Coordinated Campaign Comm, which is SBE committee ID 19565

    ++++++++++++

    SBE Committee ID = Illinois State Board of Elections Committee ID

    ++++++++++++

    The State Board of Elections reports the state purpose of the Northern IL Coordinated Campaign Committee is, “To support state and local Democratic candidates in Northern IL.”

    The Northern Illinois Coordinated Campaign Committee’s Treasurer is Michael Guthrie, whom was the previous Chair of the Boone County Democrat Central Committee PAC, which is SBE committee ID 610.

    Thus the Northern Illinois Coordinated Campaign Committee covers at least McHenry County and Boone County.

    The Northern Illinois Coordinated Campaign Committee has received contributions from:

    – Fred Eychaner, $30,000 from 2006 – 2009.

    – John Bartman, $1,000 in 2006 while he was employed as a Manager at IDOT.

    – Several unions including AFSCME, AFL-CIO DeKalb County Building and Construction Trades Union, IBEW, Painters, Ironworkers, Laborers, AFL-CIO Northwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades Union, Plumbers & Pipefitters, Sheet Metal Workers, Carpenters, and UAW; $21,420 from 2007 – 2012.

    ++++++++++

    Fred Eychaner and Newsweb combined have contributed $25,700 to Jack Franks PACs (Supporters of Jack D Franks and its predecessor Citizens for Jack D Franks) from 2015 – 2016.

  3. A typo.

    Fred Eychaner and Newsweb combined have contributed $25,700 to Jack Franks PACs (Supporters of Jack D Franks and its predecessor Citizens for Jack D Franks) from 2005 – 2016.

  4. Jack Franks is willing to put Democrat next to his name?

    Must be for outreach that doesn’t include Republican voters.

  5. A Jack Franks contributor (Steve Kling) is the Treasurer and Chair of a “ballot initiative committee” named the “Cut 10 Committee” that was created on August 26, 2016.

    The D-1 Statement of Organization form was signed on August 31, 2016 and appeared on the Illinois State Board of Elections (SBE) website on September 2, 2016.

    The purpose of the political committee is, “To pass a state wide referendum requiring all taxing bodies to reduce their tax levy by 10%.”

    ++++++++++

    Many taxing bodies have substantial underfunded pensions, and / or underfunded retiree healthcare, and / or bond debt.

    To cut their tax levy by 10% would require adjustments.

    Here are some possibilities:

    – Further delaying the funding of pensions and retiree healthcare, which lowers investment return, which requires the taxpayers to eventually pay more to make up the investment return shortfall.

    – Extending the bond payment schedule by refunding the existing bond debt, which requires the taxpayers to eventually pay more in interest to finance the extended debt.

    – Hike other taxes, such as a progressive income tax (higher income taxpayers pay more), which in turn requires a constitutional amendment.

    – Cut services.

    – etc.

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