This looks like the largest percentage victory margin of any candidate in McHenry County.
16th District Congressman Don Manzullo is leading his Democratic Party challenge George Gaulrapp by 2.5 to 1.
Green Party candidate Terry Campbell is picking up a bit over four percentage points.
Don Manzullo addressing a Town Hall Meeting on Health Care at McHenry County College in 2009.
The following press release has arrived by 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo:
Taxpayer Group Names Manzullo a “Tax Fighter” Manzullo receives “A” grade from national group for voting to cut spending, taxes
[WASHINGTON] The National Tax Limitation Committee (NTLC) has honored Congressional Representative Donald Manzullo with its 111th Congress “Tax Fighter Award.”
NTLC President Lewis K. Uhler presented the award to Donald Manzullo in Washington, saying “Donald Manzullo’s votes on tax and spending issues in the 11th ongress earned an ‘A’ grade and the Tax Fighter Award.
Donald Manzullo has led the battle on behalf of taxpayers to stop the passage of ObamaCare and cap-and-trade legislation, to make the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, to eliminate the death tax, to kill the Alternative Minimum Tax, to provide incentives for private savings, investment and job creation and to control the growth of federal spending.
“Donald Manzullo has been a major asset to taxpayers across America during his congressional service, having earned the Tax fighter Award consistently in every session of Congress. Donald Manzullo has had the courage to challenge the orthodoxy of Washington spending and earmarks,” concluded Uhler.
Background information: Since 1975 the National Tax Limitation Committee, a 501(c)(4) grass roots taxpayer activist organization, has worked to limit taxes and spending and to reduce the size and scope of government at all levels. NTLC has led the national movement for constitutional tax and spending limits at the stat and federal levels. NTLC publishes a congressional scorecard at the conclusion of each Congress, as it has for more than a quarter-century.
A photo of the New York Times interactive congressional district map.
Here’s a map with a link to all 435 congressional districts. Click on a district and you will see what odds statistician Nate Silver gives each candidate for victory.
Let’s look at those in Northern and Central Illinois.
McHenry County first.
Don Manzullo is giving a 100% chance of winning reelection over George Gaulrapp. The predicted result is 65% to 33%.
In the 8th congressional district, incumbent Democrat Melissa Bean is given a 96.6% of beating Republican Joe Walsh and Green Bill Scheurer. Silver thinks the vote will be 55% to 42%. Presumably, he thinks Scheurer will get 3%.
In the 14th District, which starts at the McHenry-Kane County line and goes south, Silver gives Randy Hultgren a 62.6% chance of unseating incumbent Democrat Bill Foster. The final percentages will be 50-48, according to his computer model.
In the North Shore district Mark Kirk is vacating to run for the U.S. Senate, Democrat Dan Seals has a 52.7% chance of winning. The vote total is projected to be 49% to 49%.
In the 17th District, south of Don Manzullo’s, one of the most gerrymandered in Illinois, Silver thinks incumbent Democrat Phil Hare has a 73,4% chance of victory. The vote total will be 52% for Hare to 43% for Bobby Schilling, his projections goes.
Republican challenger Adam Kinzinger is estimated to have an 87.5% chance of capturing the 11th District from incumbent Debbie Halvorson. The tally will be 53% to 45%, Silver projects.
Never heard of Lena?
It’s the start of scenic Lena-Galena Road to, well, Galena.
It’s in Stephenson County.
What used to be called the Freeport Journal-Standard reported on the affair attended by 150 people.
The sheriff’s race features a Republican incumbent (David Snyders) and an Independent challenger (Tim Clay). Sort of like the 22nd Judicial District between Associate Judge Gordon Graham and Independent Sally Wiggins.
The challenger pledged not to enforce the seat belt law, claiming it violated the U.S. Constitution.
The next candidates up were those running for Congress in the 16th District, which includes much of McHenry County.
Democrat Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp is challenging long-time incumbent Don Manzullo.
George Gaulrapp at the Huntley TEA Party candidates' night.
Don Manzullo
“Gaulrapp and Manzullo were both in favor of extending President George W. Bush’s tax cuts, and were against Cap and Trade legislation that would limit carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Also, they both supported the creation of a border fence and making English the official language of America,” the article reports.
It then points out some differences between the incumbent and the Barack Obama Democratic National Convention Alternate Delegate.
Manzullo wants to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Gaulrapp thinks national leadership is needed.
Should United Nations laws supersede U.S. Law?
Both agreed they shouldn’t, but Manzullo went further.
“We need to get out of the United Nations, it’s a worthless organization, let’s get out of it,” the article quotes Manzullo.
= = = = =
I have heard of no candidates’ nights scheduled in McHenry County for the fall election. During the spring Patriots United sponsored two, one for the Republican congressional primary candidates and another for county board candidates. The McHenry County Young Republicans also sponsored one.
The following press release has been received from 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo:
Manzullo: Pentagon Continues to Send American Jobs Overseas,
Weaken U.S. Defense Industrial Base
[WASHINGTON] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today said the Pentagon has again flouted the Buy American Act by planning to use American taxpayer dollars to purchase 21 Russian-made helicopters for use in Afghanistan when a less expensive American-made alternative is available, sending American jobs overseas and weakening the U.S. defense industrial base.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Manzullo asked the Pentagon to re-evaluate its procurement policies that have continually allowed the Department of Defense to bypass American companies and purchase foreign products with American tax dollars against the spirit of the Buy American Act, which requires at least 50 percent of all goods and services purchased by the government to be made in America.
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command recently announced its intent to purchase 21 Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters to train Afghans, claiming the Afghans are familiar with the aircraft.
American-made Sikorsky Aircraft says its S-61 model is similar in size and ease of operation and is actually less expensive than the Russian version. United Technologies owns Sikorsky as well as Rockford’s Hamilton Sundstrand, which supplies each Sikorsky S-61 with fuel pumping equipment made in Rockford.
Manzullo said the Pentagon’s decision to buy Russian instead of American helicopters sends taxpayer dollars overseas instead of putting Americans back to work. In addition, it takes business away from an American defense contractor and further weakens the U.S. defense industrial base, the manufacturing sector that makes weapons that protect Americans from our enemies.
Don Manzullo
“If we can’t start converting the Afghans’ helicopter fleet away from Russian technology now, what makes us think that we’ll be able to sell them U.S.-made helicopters in the future? The Afghan forces will be even more reluctant years from now to buy from U.S. sources with a large contingent of Russian-made equipment already in stock,”massive unemployment continues to plague the American manufacturing sector.”
“Now is the time for Afghanistan to bite the bullet and upgrade to better U.S. technology, especially when the U.S. taxpayer is footing the bill and massive unemployment continues to plague the American manufacturing sector.”
For many years, Manzullo has been on a mission to change the Pentagon’s misguided procurement policies that often favor foreign companies over American manufacturers.
As Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, he subpoenaed a 3-star General in 2001 and convinced the Army to cancel a contract for Chinese-made U.S. Army berets and give the work to an American firm.
In 2003, he convinced the Air Force to stop using Russian-made titanium in aircraft procurements, which helped to save the U.S. titanium industry when it was on the ropes.
Finally, he also persuaded the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Pentagon to change their plans to supply the new Iraqi armed forces with American-made M-16s instead of Russian-made AK-47s when using U.S. taxpayer dollars.
Friday night is one of the big ones for the McHenry County Fair.
A friend of McHenry County Blog did some comparison shopping, so to speak.
Photos arrived for the booths of both 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo and 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean.
No one would have expected either U.S. Representative to have been there greeting constituents.
Here’s what the Manzullo booth looking like:
Don Manzullo booth at the McHenry County Fair Friday night.
Manzullo’s booth was staffed and had a wide array of valuable constituent educational material.
Here’s Bean’s booth:
Melissa Bean's McHenry County Fair booth early Friday evening.
No information on the table. No one manning the booth.
Maybe the staffer are unionized.
That looks like the Woodstock VFW next door.
I figured out who the Democratic Party’s candidate for Congress is in the 16th congressional district at the 4th of July Parade on Monday.
A George Gaulrapp volunteer handing out palm cards at the 4th of July Parade.
When I saw a tee shirt advertising Gaulrapp for Congress, I asked the man wearing it where the candidate was on the ballot.
To my surprise, I learned it’s right where I live.
That shows, I guess, the uphill battle that Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp has against incumbent Republican Don Manzullo, who was first elected in 1992, when he defeated McHenry County’s State Senator Jack Schaffer in the mainly Rockford media market district.
Manzullo and his wife Freda were in the parade riding in a convertible.
Congressman Don Manzullo and wife Freda in Crystal Lake's Independence Day Parade.
The man said that Gaulrapp was up ahead. I had missed him.
Figuring this was the best chance to get a photo, I hurried to catch up.
Past the gravity defying Jesse White Tumblers I went, but not without picture taking slowing me down.
I spotted the candidate, but he was making good time.
He was right behind the McHenry County Democrats’ float throwing candy at the crowd from the bag over his shoulder.
I caught a better candy throwing pose than this, but the photo turned out fuzzy.
Perhaps Freeport and the rest of the congressional district has rules that are less nanny-like than Crystal Lake’s.
George Gaulrapp
I did manage to get a decent close-up and, unlike Mark Kirk, he wasn’t wearing a hat.
George Gaulrapp got resistance for being a Democrat while handing out candy to this family.
Accepting the candy, one man sitting in the shade said, “I like your candy, but not your politics.”
The parade handout of the Democratic Party candidate for Congress.
Gaulrapp tried to offer a rebuttal, handing him his piece of literature.
He suggested the man did not know where he stood on the issues.
But the pace of a parade is not conducive to such conversations.
Especially as the Jesse White Tumblers packed up its mats and mini-trampolines and started moving toward his fast disappearing float.
After I got home, I looked at his handout and found the following issue statements:
Whether reading his platform would convert the skeptical Crystal Lake man I don’t know.
The other side stress he was running to “put America back to work.”
His web site address–www.gaulrapp4congress.com–was also given.
And, Gaulrapp didn’t have time to stand around and find out if his positions would convince the spectator.
Playing candy man, Democratic Party opponent to Congressman Don Manzullo hurries after the local party float.
He was off giving away more candy.
16th District Congressman Don Manzullo and his wife Freda were in Crystal Lake for the July 4th Parade Monday. He's coming back to the area Friday in a format conducive to listening.
16th District Congressman Don Manzullo is coming to town Friday and invites constituents and others to public meetings.
Perhaps Congresswoman Melissa Bean will hold similar meetings.
Perhaps not.
She hasn’t held an open meeting in McHenry County since before last summer when she refused to have any “you all come” Town Hall meetings on the Health Care bill she supported.
Manzullo Continues His “America Speaking Out” Tour
through McHenry County on Friday
Congressman urges residents to attend meetings in Harvard, Algonquin and CL
Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) is inviting McHenry County residents to join him Friday for citizens meetings in Harvard, Algonquin and Crystal Lake to help him craft a new agenda for America focused on strengthening our economy and putting Americans back to work.
The meetings, a continuation of Manzullo’s “America Speaking Out” tour across northern Illinois, will be held on Friday, July 9 from:
“America Speaking Out” is a new program to encourage Americans to offer ideas on a new way forward for our nation. The ideas will be used by House Republicans later this summer to craft a new agenda for America.
Manzullo will kick off the meetings with some brief remarks and then turn it over to the citizens to get their ideas on how to return America to prosperity. Other topics could include their thoughts on fiscal responsibility, American values, national security, or anything else they want to suggest or discuss.
Citizens can print off an America Speaking Out comment sheet, fill it out with their ideas, and bring it to the meeting. Manzullo will have a “suggestion box” to drop off the ideas and will post them on large white boards as the meeting ensues. Photos of the white boards will be posted on Manzullo’s webpage after the meeting.
Citizens can also visit Manzullo’s America Speaking Out webpage here where they can post their ideas or vote on other ideas that have been posted.
“Too many Americans are still out of work and are frustrated they are not seeing action from Congress to help our economy recover and thrive again,” Manzullo said. “I encourage citizens to come out to Harvard, Algonquin and Crystal Lake and ‘speak out’ with their ideas on a new way forward for our country.”
Congressman Don Manzullo will get his wish that Guantanamo terrorists not be transferred to the Thomson Prison in his 16th District. His press release below explains what happened in Washington Friday:
U.S. House Votes Overwhelmingly to Prohibit Transfer of GITMO Terrorists to United States
Manzullo supports fully utilizing Thomson as federal prison without terrorists
[WASHINGTON] The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly today to prohibit the transfer of the GITMO terrorists into the United States, scuttling the Administration’s plan to close GITMO and move the terrorists to the state-owned Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois.
An amendment to the Department of Defense (DOD) authorization bill passed 282-131, with 114 Democrats joining 168 Republicans in approving the amendment that would prohibit the Administration from bringing any GITMO terrorists into the United States.
“Today’s overwhelmingly bipartisan vote reaffirms Congress’ strong opposition to moving the GITMO terrorists inside the United States, and it basically scuttles the President’s plan to move the terrorists to northwest Illinois.
Inside Thomson Correctional Center.
“This is what I expected when the Administration first announced the plan last November to bring the GITMO terrorists to Thomson and why I fought to separate the terrorist element from the legitimate plan to open Thomson as a stand alone federal prison without the terrorists.
“I was concerned the controversial GITMO side of the plan would swamp our efforts to open it as a federal prison and create much needed jobs for the people of northwest Illinois.
“I was relieved when I received a letter back from the Administration in March stating they planned to purchase and open Thomson as a federal prison even if they could not get authorization from Congress to move the GITMO terrorists there.
“With today’s devastating vote against moving the terrorists, I again call on the President to proceed with purchasing Thomson and fully utilizing it as a federal prison without the terrorists.”
In a letter to President Obama earlier this week, Manzullo said another 750 maximum security federal inmates could be incarcerated at Thomson if the Administration allowed the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to use the three pods (200 cells in each pod) currently set aside for GITMO terrorists. The BOP is planning to house 1,800 maximum security federal inmates in the other five pods at Thomson and would welcome the additional space.
“Housing an extra 750 federal prisoners at Thomson would create more civilian job opportunities while further reducing the current 52 percent overcrowding in the federal prison system’s maximum security division,” Manzullo said. “I strongly urge the President to fully utilize Thomson as a federal prison without the terrorists.”
That’s what the 16th District Congressman’s press release below says.
Manzullo Urges President Obama to Fully Utilize
Thomson as a Federal Prison Without Terrorists
[WASHINGTON] With Congress continuing to oppose moving GITMO terrorists inside the United States, Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today called on the President to purchase and fully utilize the vacant Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois as a maximum security federal prison without the terrorists.
In a letter to President Obama, Manzullo said another 750 maximum security federal inmates could be incarcerated at the state-owned Thomson facility if the Administration allowed the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to use the three pods (200 cells in each pod) currently set aside for GITMO terrorists. The BOP is planning to house 1,800 maximum security federal inmates in the other five pods at Thomson and would welcome the additional space.
“Housing an extra 750 federal prisoners at Thomson would create more civilian job opportunities while further reducing the current 52 percent overcrowding in the federal prison system’s maximum security division,” Manzullo said. “It is my understanding that the federal prison population is expected to grow by 10,000 to 14,000 inmates over the next two years. This has become a critical safety issue that reduces the guard to prison ratio, and jeopardizes the security of our federal personnel who work in these facilities. I strongly urge the President to fully utilize Thomson as a federal prison without the terrorists.”
Manzullo’s letter to the President comes on the heels of another strong bipartisan vote in Congress this past week against bringing the GITMO terrorists into the United States. On Thursday, the House Armed Services Committee voted 59-0 for the FY 2011 Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 5136) that includes the following language: “(t)he committee firmly believes that the construction or modification of any facility in the U.S. to detain or imprison individuals currently being held at Guantanamo must be accompanied by a thorough and comprehensive plan that outlines the merits, costs and risks associated with utilizing such a facility. No such plan has been presented to date.” As a result of this unanimous legislative action, even Illinois Governor Pat Quinn acknowledged to the Chicago Tribune on Friday it is less likely the GITMO terrorist detainees will come to Illinois.
Manzullo suspects the outrageous price tag of moving the GITMO terrorists to Thomson — $350 million – is also a driving force behind Congress’ opposition to the plan, along with concerns that moving GITMO to Thomson will simply transfer the threat and hatred to northwest Illinois.
“With this latest bipartisan vote in Congress, it is apparent the President will not get the Congressional support he needs to move the terrorists to Thomson,” Manzullo said. “I strongly urge him to free up the extra pods at the prison so we can house another 750 federal prison inmates and further reduce the extreme overcrowding in the federal maximum security system.”
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