McHenry County Blog

You’d think there was a hot primary election in Grafton Township today.

There were mailing from both incumbent John Rossi and challenger Linda Moore.

Both distributed literature door-to-door.

Moore had made phone calls on Wednesday, Friday, Monday and today.

I’d post a picture of the Chezak Elementary School polling place for three precincts at 11:45 this morning, but I have uploaded so many photos onto Google’s Blogger that now I must pay an annual fee.

I paid it yesterday afternoon, but, apparently, it has not been processed yet, so please imagine a big room that is empty, except for bored judges from three big precincts.

Grafton Township Precinct 12 had 24 voters, Grafton 19 a mere 5 voters and Grafton 20 – 10 voters.

39 in all.

My own precinct is numbered Algonquin Township 7. I was the fifth voter at 3:30 this afternoon before picking up my son. I think Algonquin 19 had twelve.

And, coincidence of coincidences, both Algonquin 19’s GOP committeeman Joe Stecker and I were voting at the same time. Both of our polling places are at the Crystal Lake Park District’s Main Beach House.

The judges couldn’t get past the front gate until 6:30 AM. It was cold standing outside trying to find someone with a key.

And the one they found?

The park district employee with the snow blower.

The judges didn’t indicate that anyone was disappointed in not being able to vote that early.

And, why are there township primaries?

In a sentence, incumbent Algonquin Township Assessor Forrest Hare’s overwhelming write-in defeat of the winner of the 1973 Republican Township caucus in 1973. Details are in these stories:

Democrats in Nunda and Algonquin Township selected their candidates in caucuses on pretty much the coldest night of the year. Don’t know how many people showed up at each, but I’ll bet it was not many.

You’d think there was a hot primary election in Grafton Township today.

There were mailing from both incumbent John Rossi and challenger Linda Moore.

Both distributed literature door-to-door.

Moore had made phone calls on Wednesday, Friday, Monday and today.

I’d post a picture of the Chezak Elementary School polling place for three precincts at 11:45 this morning, but I have uploaded so many photos onto Google’s Blogger that now I must pay an annual fee.

I paid it yesterday afternoon, but, apparently, it has not been processed yet, so please imagine a big room that is empty, except for bored judges from three big precincts.

Grafton Township Precinct 12 had 24 voters, Grafton 19 a mere 5 voters and Grafton 20 – 10 voters.

39 in all.

My own precinct is numbered Algonquin Township 7. I was the fifth voter at 3:30 this afternoon before picking up my son. I think Algonquin 19 had twelve.

And, coincidence of coincidences, both Algonquin 19’s GOP committeeman Joe Stecker and I were voting at the same time. Both of our polling places are at the Crystal Lake Park District’s Main Beach House.

The judges couldn’t get past the front gate until 6:30 AM. It was cold standing outside trying to find someone with a key.

And the one they found?

The park district employee with the snow blower.

The judges didn’t indicate that anyone was disappointed in not being able to vote that early.

And, why are there township primaries?

In a sentence, incumbent Algonquin Township Assessor Forrest Hare’s overwhelming write-in defeat of the winner of the 1973 Republican Township caucus in 1973. Details are in these stories:

Democrats in Nunda and Algonquin Township selected their candidates in caucuses on pretty much the coldest night of the year. Don’t know how many people showed up at each, but I’ll bet it was not many.

I happened across the following letter to the Crystal Lake Herald that was published February 9, 1977, prior to the Algonquin Township primary election that pitted appointed incumbent Ed Traub against Forrest Hare’s former top assistant Bob Kunz.

I thought some might be interested in it.

You may remember the debacle (Article 1, Article 2) for the local Republican Party when Forrest Hare “lost” the 1973 caucus by four votes and no recount was allowed by the township central committee. Hare ran a write-in campaign and easily beat the establishment candidate.

Below was one of my father’s contributions to Bob Kunz’ campaign. He was running against appointed incumbent Ed Traub, appointed when Forrest Hare resigned to go into private enterprise.

Editor:

Noting Ed Traub’s letter to the editor in Friday’s paper, it appears desirable to really set the record straight.

If Traub does not have a bad memory or if he did not reduce the taxes on those 200 or so properties last year, then he should promptly bring suit against somebody for forging his name on records which are at the courthouse.

It was reported to me that abatements (tax reductions) were signed by a person named Traub, purporting to be the Algonquin Township Assessor; and the handwritten information on the forms corresponded to the signed name.

In addition Supervisor of Assessment Hogge confirmed to the reporter that the abatements were made by Traub. Hogge would have no reason to such a thing to harm a friend.

Traub actually confirmed in his letter that the 11 per cent multiplier was not added to his home, just as I had stated.

Traub is wrong when he says “the 1975 assessment on which you paid taxes some months ago were…the work of Hare.” Only the initial base was provided by Hare; the extra 11 per cent was added by the courthouse, the group from which Traub is an alumnus.

Regarding homes that were not on the assessing rolls, Traub should be aware that most (and maybe all) of that fault lies with the Supervisor of Assessments who is currently on the pan for not having passed occupancy permits along to the township assessors.

Traub’s acquaintanceship with Algonquin Township assessments if he isn’t aware of the uprising in the late 1950’s when some 800 to 1000 attended a mass meeting in Cary to demand legal assessments.

Attorney Tom Henley started his local practice on that project. The people got but a bare bone tossed to them, just sufficient to calm them down. Some of us think the battle is worth continuing until preferential taxation ceases and we are all treated fairly.

Traub misreads my intent, but is entitled to his opinion. It is not my desire to “Control and manipulate assessments.” Quite the contrary is the case. I want to see such practice cease…throughout McHenry County. And, especially, I don’t want it Algonquin Township. That’s why I so strongly favor the election of Bob Kunz.

Sincerely,

Cal Skinner, Sr.

Kunz won that primary election and is running unopposed for re-election as Algonquin Township on February 24th.

= = = = =
My father could certainly write better than I.

I happened across the following letter to the Crystal Lake Herald that was published February 9, 1977, prior to the Algonquin Township primary election that pitted appointed incumbent Ed Traub against Forrest Hare’s former top assistant Bob Kunz.

I thought some might be interested in it.

You may remember the debacle (Article 1, Article 2) for the local Republican Party when Forrest Hare “lost” the 1973 caucus by four votes and no recount was allowed by the township central committee. Hare ran a write-in campaign and easily beat the establishment candidate.

Below was one of my father’s contributions to Bob Kunz’ campaign. He was running against appointed incumbent Ed Traub, appointed when Forrest Hare resigned to go into private enterprise.

Editor:

Noting Ed Traub’s letter to the editor in Friday’s paper, it appears desirable to really set the record straight.

If Traub does not have a bad memory or if he did not reduce the taxes on those 200 or so properties last year, then he should promptly bring suit against somebody for forging his name on records which are at the courthouse.

It was reported to me that abatements (tax reductions) were signed by a person named Traub, purporting to be the Algonquin Township Assessor; and the handwritten information on the forms corresponded to the signed name.

In addition Supervisor of Assessment Hogge confirmed to the reporter that the abatements were made by Traub. Hogge would have no reason to such a thing to harm a friend.

Traub actually confirmed in his letter that the 11 per cent multiplier was not added to his home, just as I had stated.

Traub is wrong when he says “the 1975 assessment on which you paid taxes some months ago were…the work of Hare.” Only the initial base was provided by Hare; the extra 11 per cent was added by the courthouse, the group from which Traub is an alumnus.

Regarding homes that were not on the assessing rolls, Traub should be aware that most (and maybe all) of that fault lies with the Supervisor of Assessments who is currently on the pan for not having passed occupancy permits along to the township assessors.

Traub’s acquaintanceship with Algonquin Township assessments if he isn’t aware of the uprising in the late 1950’s when some 800 to 1000 attended a mass meeting in Cary to demand legal assessments.

Attorney Tom Henley started his local practice on that project. The people got but a bare bone tossed to them, just sufficient to calm them down. Some of us think the battle is worth continuing until preferential taxation ceases and we are all treated fairly.

Traub misreads my intent, but is entitled to his opinion. It is not my desire to “Control and manipulate assessments.” Quite the contrary is the case. I want to see such practice cease…throughout McHenry County. And, especially, I don’t want it Algonquin Township. That’s why I so strongly favor the election of Bob Kunz.

Sincerely,

Cal Skinner, Sr.

Kunz won that primary election and is running unopposed for re-election as Algonquin Township on February 24th.

= = = = =
My father could certainly write better than I.

I remember when I was following the quality of real estate assessments more closely that a margin of error of 10% for an assessor in Illinois was excellent.

Algonquin Township Assessor Bob Kunz, first elected in 1977, consistently did that well.

Even with a margin of error of 10%, however, people’s assessments could vary enough that would result in loud disagreements at the checkout counter if sales taxes were administered the same way.

Think of a sales tax rate of 5%. (I know that’s history, but the number for the example work better than with Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley’s 75% city sales tax hike included.)

If there were a margin of error of 10% that means three people standing in line buying $100 worth of stuff could pay sales taxes of

4.5%
5.0% or
5.5%

That would be OK with the tax man because he would get $15, the same he would if everyone paid 5%.

Let’s play the same game with a $1,000 property tax bill. (Does anyone have one that “low” today?)

With a 10% margin of error and people with the same valued home, the first would pay $900, the second $1,000 and the third $1,100.

That’s how bad a good assessor distributes the property tax burden.

While Algonquin Township’s long-time Assessor Bob Kunz is still in the 10% range (10.24% margin or error in the latest year–2006–for which statistics are available), I see two others did a better job.

Bill Ottley, Grafton Township Assessor, had the lowest margin of error in McHenry County—6.84%.

Behind was Dorr Township Assessor Kelli Myers was at 9.82%.

The margins of error of the other township assessors were all under 17%.

Quite an improvement over what I remember from the 1970’s.

You may think that McHenry County’s average margin of error of 11.14% is too high, but how would you like to live in a county with a margin of error over 40%?

You could if you lived in the following counties:

• Clay – 46%
• Fayette – 40%
• Franklin – 43%
• Greene – 48%
• Hardin – 101%
• Lawrence – 42%
• Marshall – 53%
• Montgomery – 43%
• Pope – 54%
• Scott – 44%
• Wayne – 43%
• White – 46%

I remember when I was following the quality of real estate assessments more closely that a margin of error of 10% for an assessor in Illinois was excellent.

Algonquin Township Assessor Bob Kunz, first elected in 1977, consistently did that well.

Even with a margin of error of 10%, however, people’s assessments could vary enough that would result in loud disagreements at the checkout counter if sales taxes were administered the same way.

Think of a sales tax rate of 5%. (I know that’s history, but the number for the example work better than with Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley’s 75% city sales tax hike included.)

If there were a margin of error of 10% that means three people standing in line buying $100 worth of stuff could pay sales taxes of

4.5%
5.0% or
5.5%

That would be OK with the tax man because he would get $15, the same he would if everyone paid 5%.

Let’s play the same game with a $1,000 property tax bill. (Does anyone have one that “low” today?)

With a 10% margin of error and people with the same valued home, the first would pay $900, the second $1,000 and the third $1,100.

That’s how bad a good assessor distributes the property tax burden.

While Algonquin Township’s long-time Assessor Bob Kunz is still in the 10% range (10.24% margin or error in the latest year–2006–for which statistics are available), I see two others did a better job.

Bill Ottley, Grafton Township Assessor, had the lowest margin of error in McHenry County—6.84%.

Behind was Dorr Township Assessor Kelli Myers was at 9.82%.

The margins of error of the other township assessors were all under 17%.

Quite an improvement over what I remember from the 1970’s.

You may think that McHenry County’s average margin of error of 11.14% is too high, but how would you like to live in a county with a margin of error over 40%?

You could if you lived in the following counties:

• Clay – 46%
• Fayette – 40%
• Franklin – 43%
• Greene – 48%
• Hardin – 101%
• Lawrence – 42%
• Marshall – 53%
• Montgomery – 43%
• Pope – 54%
• Scott – 44%
• Wayne – 43%
• White – 46%

Yesterday, the scene was set for explaining why Algonquin Township has had primary elections instead of caucuses as the method of selecting candidates for township office since the mid-1970’s.

It all started when incumbent Republican Township Assessor Forrest Hare was defeated by 3 votes in a 3000-ballot township caucus, but denied a recount by the majority of precinct committeemen on the township committeemen who wanted the young reformer out of office.

That outraged Forrest’s supporters, among whom was WIVS radio station owner Mal Bellairs.

Forrest decided to run as a write-in candidate.

You know that write-ins very, very rarely are victorious.

Every weekday morning from the caucus to the general election, Mal put the heat on the local Republican Party in support of Forrest’s candidacy.

I remember driving down Route 47 on the way to Springfield and wishing I could hear his whole program that was disappearing between Mazon and Dwight.

The short of it was that Forrest beat the Establishment candidate about 2-1. About 3,500 people voted and Hare got about 2,000.

After Forrest won, I was over in the state senate chamber for something or other and my high school classmate, then state senator, Jack Schaffer approached me in the back of the Republican side. He suggested that we had to do something to make sure such a fight never happened again. He had backed the teacher.

We decided that township central committees should have the right to have a primary election governed by state law, rather than the township central committee. And, with Republicans in control of both the Senate and the House, we passed such a law.

Since then, Algonquin Township has always opted for a primary election. I remember Nunda Township’s having followed suit at least once.

Contention of township office, a not bad paying set of jobs, has been minimal except when a public official retires or dies. Active primary contests resulted when Township Road Commissioner Del Miller died and when Township Supervisor Tom Schober died.

An upset occurred when Fox River Grove True Value hardware store co-owner John Opatrny and a friend ran as a team for township trustee. They sent out a joint post card and won.

Right now Algonquin Township’s Republican precinct committeemen are being polled to see whether they support a caucus or a primary election.

I’ve cast my vote for a primary.

I think voters ought to have a direct say in who is on the ballot for township office.

Yesterday, the scene was set for explaining why Algonquin Township has had primary elections instead of caucuses as the method of selecting candidates for township office since the mid-1970’s.

It all started when incumbent Republican Township Assessor Forrest Hare was defeated by 3 votes in a 3000-ballot township caucus, but denied a recount by the majority of precinct committeemen on the township committeemen who wanted the young reformer out of office.

That outraged Forrest’s supporters, among whom was WIVS radio station owner Mal Bellairs.

Forrest decided to run as a write-in candidate.

You know that write-ins very, very rarely are victorious.

Every weekday morning from the caucus to the general election, Mal put the heat on the local Republican Party in support of Forrest’s candidacy.

I remember driving down Route 47 on the way to Springfield and wishing I could hear his whole program that was disappearing between Mazon and Dwight.

The short of it was that Forrest beat the Establishment candidate about 2-1. About 3,500 people voted and Hare got about 2,000.

After Forrest won, I was over in the state senate chamber for something or other and my high school classmate, then state senator, Jack Schaffer approached me in the back of the Republican side. He suggested that we had to do something to make sure such a fight never happened again. He had backed the teacher.

We decided that township central committees should have the right to have a primary election governed by state law, rather than the township central committee. And, with Republicans in control of both the Senate and the House, we passed such a law.

Since then, Algonquin Township has always opted for a primary election. I remember Nunda Township’s having followed suit at least once.

Contention of township office, a not bad paying set of jobs, has been minimal except when a public official retires or dies. Active primary contests resulted when Township Road Commissioner Del Miller died and when Township Supervisor Tom Schober died.

An upset occurred when Fox River Grove True Value hardware store co-owner John Opatrny and a friend ran as a team for township trustee. They sent out a joint post card and won.

Right now Algonquin Township’s Republican precinct committeemen are being polled to see whether they support a caucus or a primary election.

I’ve cast my vote for a primary.

I think voters ought to have a direct say in who is on the ballot for township office.

That is the question that Republican and Democratic township central committees are now considering.

Precinct committee have very little power.

In their precincts, if they develop a rapport with local residents, they can influence elections.

But, they can have real power if decide to hold a caucus to select nominees for township office every four years.

Prior to Algonquin Township Assessor Forrest Hare’s razor thin defeat in a 1973 township caucus, there was no option.

There was no provision in state law to hold a primary election to allow voters to select who should be on the April ballot for their party.

In 1969, Forrest, who was 25, defeated Henry Seigmeier, an older gentlemen. He had passed now-mandatory tests that the incumbent had not and ran an active campaign.

It was based on promising to protect new home purchasers by assessing them at the same percentage of market value that older homes were assessed.

At that time, official, yet illegal, guidelines were handed out by McHenry County Supervisor of Assessments Stanley Cornue.

The guidelines told assessors to assess homes at 60% of market value.

As county treasurer I discovered that 50% was the real guideline, but the guy in the Revenue Department told me he was telling me only because I was a county treasurer.

Top secret, hush hush, it seems.

I later discovered that the assessment percentages for all counties and large townships was published annually, but this guy made it sound like I had been admitted to the inner sanctum.

It was clear that homes in Crystal Lake’s newest subdivision, Coventry, were being assessed at 60% of sale price.

So, Forrest’s promise to lower then to 50% propelled him to victory over Seigmeier, who basically said he was just doing what the Supervisor of Assessments told him to do.

Well, Forrest not only followed the law and assessed all homes, even the older ones that were assessed lower than 50%, at the “official” state level, but he assessed vacant property the same way. There was no official break for farm land in state law, although, in practice, it was assessed no where near what it would sell for.

Forrest was the first township assessor in the state to computerize the calculation process. My neighbor Ted Tolleffsen, who was in data processing at United Airlines was in the publicity picture we took.

The most valuable vacant land at the time was where Best Buy is now. As I remember, it was owned by the Cowlin family. Bill, who was state’s attorney at the time was quite disturbed at the increase that Forrest imposed and I think I understate his reaction, which I just got second hand.

Alexander MacArthur, who owned a big farm in Barrington Hills, was incensed.

I still remember the manure spreader he entered into Crystal Lake’s Thanksgiving Parade that went through Colby’s Subdivision in 1972.

It had some play on words about “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” I think there were images of computer data cards.

Quite in keeping with Alex’s imaginative mind.

The township had no choice but to hold a caucus. I had just been elected state representative, so couldn’t be much help in Forrest’s campaign.

His theme was “Homeowners for Hare.” His sister made probably the best campaign signs I have ever seen.

Establishment Republicans recruited a 26-year old District 26 grade school teacher as their candidate.

The township central committee decided to have three polling places, one at Cary-Grove High School, one in Algonquin and a third at Crystal Lake Community High School.

After the polls closed, all of the ballots were brought to the CLCHS field house. I wish I could have been there.

The judges counted ballots until about 3 AM.

Forrest came up about 3 ballots short, losing to a District 26 young school teacher whom the GOP Establishment folks had put up. (You may have gathered that Forrest and I were not considered “establishment.”)

Forrest asked the judges if they were sure they had counted correctly and their reply was in the negative.

Forrest then asked the precinct committeemen on the township central committee for a recount.

It was denied.

Tomorrow – Part 2

That is the question that Republican and Democratic township central committees are now considering.

Precinct committee have very little power.

In their precincts, if they develop a rapport with local residents, they can influence elections.

But, they can have real power if decide to hold a caucus to select nominees for township office every four years.

Prior to Algonquin Township Assessor Forrest Hare’s razor thin defeat in a 1973 township caucus, there was no option.

There was no provision in state law to hold a primary election to allow voters to select who should be on the April ballot for their party.

In 1969, Forrest, who was 25, defeated Henry Seigmeier, an older gentlemen. He had passed now-mandatory tests that the incumbent had not and ran an active campaign.

It was based on promising to protect new home purchasers by assessing them at the same percentage of market value that older homes were assessed.

At that time, official, yet illegal, guidelines were handed out by McHenry County Supervisor of Assessments Stanley Cornue.

The guidelines told assessors to assess homes at 60% of market value.

As county treasurer I discovered that 50% was the real guideline, but the guy in the Revenue Department told me he was telling me only because I was a county treasurer.

Top secret, hush hush, it seems.

I later discovered that the assessment percentages for all counties and large townships was published annually, but this guy made it sound like I had been admitted to the inner sanctum.

It was clear that homes in Crystal Lake’s newest subdivision, Coventry, were being assessed at 60% of sale price.

So, Forrest’s promise to lower then to 50% propelled him to victory over Seigmeier, who basically said he was just doing what the Supervisor of Assessments told him to do.

Well, Forrest not only followed the law and assessed all homes, even the older ones that were assessed lower than 50%, at the “official” state level, but he assessed vacant property the same way. There was no official break for farm land in state law, although, in practice, it was assessed no where near what it would sell for.

Forrest was the first township assessor in the state to computerize the calculation process. My neighbor Ted Tolleffsen, who was in data processing at United Airlines was in the publicity picture we took.

The most valuable vacant land at the time was where Best Buy is now. As I remember, it was owned by the Cowlin family. Bill, who was state’s attorney at the time was quite disturbed at the increase that Forrest imposed and I think I understate his reaction, which I just got second hand.

Alexander MacArthur, who owned a big farm in Barrington Hills, was incensed.

I still remember the manure spreader he entered into Crystal Lake’s Thanksgiving Parade that went through Colby’s Subdivision in 1972.

It had some play on words about “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” I think there were images of computer data cards.

Quite in keeping with Alex’s imaginative mind.

The township had no choice but to hold a caucus. I had just been elected state representative, so couldn’t be much help in Forrest’s campaign.

His theme was “Homeowners for Hare.” His sister made probably the best campaign signs I have ever seen.

Establishment Republicans recruited a 26-year old District 26 grade school teacher as their candidate.

The township central committee decided to have three polling places, one at Cary-Grove High School, one in Algonquin and a third at Crystal Lake Community High School.

After the polls closed, all of the ballots were brought to the CLCHS field house. I wish I could have been there.

The judges counted ballots until about 3 AM.

Forrest came up about 3 ballots short, losing to a District 26 young school teacher whom the GOP Establishment folks had put up. (You may have gathered that Forrest and I were not considered “establishment.”)

Forrest asked the judges if they were sure they had counted correctly and their reply was in the negative.

Forrest then asked the precinct committeemen on the township central committee for a recount.

It was denied.

Tomorrow – Part 2