McHenry County Blog

Will taxpayers pick the salary hikers or their opponents on Tuesday?

Four of seven candidates will be nominated in the Algonquin Township Republican primary election on Tuesday.

Since the deadline for the Democratic Party to nominate candidates by caucus passed December 4, 2012, whoever wins the GOP primary in Algonquin Township will run unopposed in the April general election.

In other words, any Algonquin Township Democrats reading this story is forewarned that if they don’t vote in the Republican primary election Tuesday, they won’t have any say in who gets to tax them.

When I was going door-to-door in two Algonquin Township precincts, I was talking about the salary increases that three Trustees voted for.

Who are those Trustees?

• Lowell Cutsforth
• Linda Lance
• Dan Shea

Cutsforth and Shea are running for re-election.

They are on the slate of Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller.

Lance is running for Township Clerk against Chuck Lutzow.

In this time of layoffs and salary freezes in the private sector, sympathy for the salary hikers did not manifest itself.

The three running against raising township salaries (in various permutations) four years from now are

• Larry Emery
• Melissa Sanchex
• Russ Cardelli

In fact, Cardelli led the fight against salary hikes for the upcoming term, but lost the vote 3-2. The only person voting with him was Supervisor Dianne Klemm.

As I said in my letter, “Vote as you please, but please vote.”

Look what I found distributed by the Crystal Lake Tea Party:

REMINDER OF TOWNSHIP ELECTIONS ON TUESDAY. THIS IS THE CLOSEST GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION WE HAVE. BE SURE TO VOTE!

For what it is worth here are my personal recommendations for Nunda Township (of which I am a resident)

• Road Commissioner: Rob Parrish
• Supervisor: Bridgett Provenzano
• Clerk: Angela Koscavage

Township Polling places:
http://mchenry-il.connect.clarityelections.com/ElectionPollingPlaces.aspx

Letter from Irene Napier in support of Pro-life candidates in Algonquin Township:

Irene Napier at the annual Pro-Life Pig Roast, usually held at her farm.

Dear Pro-Life Supporter,

I was going to sit this election out, but two Pro-Lifers running for Algonquin Township Trustee are being slandered.

One is Melissa Sanchez, a 22-year old recent college grad (who has a job already!). Melissa, from Lake in the Hills, took a bus to the Pro-Life Washington demonstration three years ago and ended up meeting the young man she is going to marry. She is running with Larry Emery of Crystal Lake.

The key issue is pay raises voted for by three incumbent Trustees—Dan Shea and Lowell Cutsforth, plus Linda Lance, running for Township Clerk.

Both Melissa and Larry are being accused of voting to raise their own salaries.

The absurdity of the falsehood being spread is obvious when you think about it.

How could two candidates who are not in office have voted to raise their own salaries?

Such a “Big Lie” approach has been used successfully in politics before.

Shame on us if we let it work next Tuesday, when the Republican primary election is held.

What kind of a world do we live in when supporters of politicians spread outright lies about a recent retiree and a young woman inspired to try to improve things by entering public service?

Shouldn’t we be encouraging people like her and her friend Larry Emery, another Pro-Lifer, to stay involved in a political process that most of us would rather ignore because it is so often so dirty?

To summarize, there are three people on the ballot who voted to raise township salaries:

•         Dan Shea running for Trustee
•         Lowell Cutsforth running for Trustee
•         Linda Lance running for Clerk

There is one candidate, a current Trustee, running for re-election who led the fight to cut salaries

•         a Pro-Lifer named Russ Cardelli.

And there are the two candidates opposed to higher salaries who are being lied about

•         Melissa Sanchez
•         Larry Emery

Finally, a well-known Pro-Lifer named

•         Chuck Lutzow

is running for Township Clerk against a woman who voted to raise salaries.

Vote as you please, but please vote.

Irene Napier

An email sent by recent University of Illinois at Springfield college graduate (who has a job) Melissa Sanchez.  She interned in House Republican Leader Tom Cross’ office.

Melissa Sanchez

Dear Neighbors,

It has come to my attention that some constituents of Algonquin Township are under the impression that I already am an elected official, and voted to raise my own salary.

I am fiscally conservative, and have promised to not vote on any more pay raises for Township Trustees.

This is the exact opposite of the rumor that is being spread about my person.

I cannot say how ardently hurt I was to find out that rumors are being spread about my political title, as of right now I identify myself as a Republican, precinct committeewoman, and concerned citizen.

This smear campaign to confuse the vote of many should not and will not be tolerated.

I hope that the people who have started this clandestine rumor will come forward with an apology.

This is the first time I have ever sought public office in the state of Illinois.

I want constituents to know that this smear campaign is an attack on my campaign, and that of any person who has run for office and had lies told about them.

I encourage everyone to take advantage of early voting until the 23 of February, and to vote on February 26th.

I thank everyone for their support, and help during my campaign to change Algonquin Township for the better.

That’s the question candidates face if they are doing well.

The latest lie to reach my ears came from Fox River Grove.

Melissa Sanchez of Lake in the Hills, a candidate for Algonquin Township Trustee.

Larry Emery of Crystal Lake, who is running for Algonquin Township Trustee.

A citizen was told that Larry Emery and Melissa Sanchez had voted to raise their own salaries on the Algonquin Township Board.

That’s pretty funny because neither serve on the Algonquin Township Board.

Indeed both are candidates for Township Trustee.

And, perhaps not coincidentally, they are running against two incumbent Township Board members who did vote to raise salaries for Algonquin Township officials.

Those two are Dan Shea and Lowell Cutsforth.

A third incumbent, appointed to the position, Russ Cardelli, led the fight against raising Algonquin Township salaries.

So, what’s it all mean?

I think it means that supporters of the two incumbents who voted to raise salaries are worried they might lose.

In any event, it has not been my experience that one can’t sell a lie in a campaign.

Coincidentally, a mailing arrived today from the slate of Trustee candidates that include Shea and Cutsforth.  You can see it below:

The slate of four candidates backed by Road Commission Bob Miller manifested itself for a second time in a mailing delivered today. The first was on a sign that has been displayed next to Marc Munaretto for

Supervisor Marc Munaretto and Chuck Lutzow for Clerk signs appear next to those of the four candidates running on a slate–Dan Shea, Lowell Custsforth, Niels Kruse and Bill Bligh. All mailings seem to have come from the same mail house.

Two candidates have sent letters to Republican Precinct Committeemen in Algonquin Township.

Smart move, since all of them will probably vote and some probably will contact some of their constituents prior to the February 26th GOP primary election.

The first came from Township Trustee candidate Larry Emery, a new advertiser on McHenry County Blog. (Guess he has figured out that readers of McHenry County Blog are very likely voters.)

Larry Emery’s letter to Republican Precinct Committeemen.

The body of Emery’s letter is below:

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Larry Emery and I have been appointed to Algonquin Township Precinct 66 in the city of Crystal Lake in October of 2012. I am new in the political arena, but have worked diligently since last June for the Republican candidates in our area and at the McHenry County Republican headquarters during last fall’s election.

I would like to meet you personally for coffee and would like to walk with you in your precinct in the near future around your schedule if possible. Your expertise of politics and understanding of the committeemen’s position would be a great resource of information. Any support would be greatly appreciated.

I am announcing my candidacy for Algonquin Township Trustee. I am committed to work for fiscal responsibility and willingness to focus with the township to make sure every dollar spent is a value to all of us. As I walked the open Algonquin precincts during the summer and fall to support candidates Mc Sweeney, Kurtz, Koehler, Schofield, and others, I will continue to walk and talk in my precinct to learn of concerns/issues that will help me take the necessary actions required as a trustee.

I am also endorsing fellow candidate Melissa Sanchez (Precinct Committeeman 61) for your vote. She is a conservative, young professional lady working in Springfield during the week for our state government and home on the weekends with her family and friends. She would be an excellent addition to our Algonquin Township board.

I will focus as a businessman and government servant for the Algonquin Township as a trustee through:

1.  Taxes: NO additional taxes. “I will vote to cut expenditures by at least 1%, “Help Hold the Line at 99%”. “I will recommend fund budgets to be only 99% from previous year. I will use my 33 years of business experience to help eliminate waste and confirm services are meeting the goals established by the township for our citizens. Each yearly budget must be justified.”
2.  Salaries: NO raises for elected official until economic situation requires or job responsibilities warrant an increase. “We need to evaluate the positions for salary cuts. I will work with all township teams to maintain services and improve effectiveness around established goals for services provided without voting in raises for elected officials.”
3.  Checks and Balances: “I will certify that there is appropriate spending of all township funds and they are balanced and accurate to levy. I will work with the other elected officials of the township to confirm budgets are properly managed to committed funds. I will offer my advice to review and make recommendations as a businessman and a concerned citizen.”

We all must affect the sphere of influence that we have to each other if change is to be made for the good for all. Just as I found an error incorrectly stating our 2011 rate in the 2012 Annual Report while attending the October monthly meeting, I will be diligent to verify the township will have the tax payers best interest in the decision making process.

Please contact me at emery4trustee@yahoo.com or call for questions or interest of support.

Thank you and God’s Peace, Phil 4: 8

Larry Emery

815-354-1583

The second letter came from Township Trustee Linda Lance, who is running for Township Clerk. You see it below:

Page 1 of Linda Lance’s letter to Republican Precinct Committeemen.

Page2 of Linda Lance’s letter to Republican Precinct Committeemen.

Melissa Sanchez of Lake in the Hills, a candidate for Algonquin Township Trustee.

A press release from Melissa Sanchez, a candidate for one of four Republican nominations for Algonquin Township Trustee follows.

Before I reproduce it, I observe that after Republicans lost the Presidential election, many political commentators advised the GOP had to make inroads among the young and Latinos.

Sanchez, of course, is both.

The grad student in political science at the University of Illinois in Springfield approached Tom McDermott, the person working the Republican Party booth at the McHenry County Fair, and asked how to become a Precinct Committeeman.  She was appointed to one of the many vacancies in Algonquin Township in her hometown.

Melissa Sanchez of Lake in the Hills Announces Candidacy for Algonquin Township Trustee

“While walking my local #61 precinct for the national and local candidates, I was perplexed by how many of my neighbors were unaware of impacts that would happen with an election of a new president or the re-election of our current president.

“I am an active member of my community concerned about the current economic situation in Algonquin Township and have decided to take action.

“For this reason after much debate, I have decided to run for Algonquin Township Trustee.

“A change from old to new is needed for progress, and a different management from what has been ongoing from our previous trusted Trustees is needed for the betterment of our area.

“I ask that you go out and vote for me on February 26, 2013 for the local election that will take place.

“For many middle to working class family the economic downturn has affected them to a great extent.

“I have experienced and seen this first hand walking through my neighborhood in Lake in the Hills.

“I believe that at the local level over taxation has made life difficult for many families.

“I have learned from a young age the importance of money management.

“As to Algonquin Township management I believe that I will help lead us to better management of township fund disbursement, stall rising taxes, promote better management of roads, stop any raise of my own salary, and will ensure that budgets and
disbursements ‘add up’ for every town.

“I humbly ask for your vote on February 26th, 2013. Primary early voting starts February 11th to February 23rd from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. I thank you all for your consideration, support, and well wishes.”

Melissa Sanchez
Candidate for Algonquin Township Trustee

Sanchez4trustee@gmail.com

Larry Emery

A press release from Crystal Lake’s Larry Emery, who is running in the Republican primary election for Algonquin Township Trustee:

Emery to be Walking for Algonquin Township Trustee

Announcing his candidacy for Algonquin Township Trustee is Larry Emery of Crystal Lake.

He has indicated a concern to work for fiscal responsibility and willingness to focus with the township to make sure every dollar spent is a value to all of us.

“As I walked the Algonquin precincts during the summer and fall to support candidates Mc Sweeney, Kurtz, Koehler, Schofield, and others, “ said Emery, “I will continue to walk and talk in our precincts to learn of concerns/issues that will help me take the necessary actions required as a trustee.”

“We must do our part as good stewards in government to maximize return for every dollar given to us.

“This means elected officials NOT taking increase wages when the economy does not warrant.” Emery continued.

“The 2012 board did freeze the township elected official wages for 2013 and 2014, but voted themselves raises in 2015 and 2016. Now is the time for salary review to make cuts, not raises.”

“Starting with the February 26th, 2013 primary, your involvement and vote is needed to help with setting the stage of direction for our local government bodies.

“The 2013 election year is now upon us. After many turbulent and hotly contested races in 2012, the ‘off year’ election may not have the glamour, but it is extremely important to our municipal, education, and township forms of government.”

He believes that every vote does count.

“Please vote at the 2013 Primary election February 26th.” continued Emery,

“We all must affect the sphere of influence that we have to each other if change is to be made for the good for all. Just as I found an error incorrectly stating our 2011 rate in the 2012 Annual Report while attending the October monthly meeting, I will be diligent to verify the township will have the tax payers best interest in the decision making process.”

He is also endorsing fellow candidate Melissa Sanchez for trustee.

She is a conservative, young professional lady working in Springfield during the week for our state government and home on the weekends with her family and friends.

She would be an excellent addition to our Algonquin Township board.

Melissa Sanchez of Lake in the Hills, a candidate for Algonquin Township Trustee.

To achieve these actions, he indicated he will focus as a citizen, businessman, and government servant of Algonquin Township as a trustee through:

1. Taxes: NO additional taxes. “I will vote to cut expenditures by at least 1% to Help Hold the Line at 99%. I will use my 33 years of business experience to help eliminate any waste and confirm all services are meeting the goals established by the township for our citizens. Each yearly budget must be justified.”

Larry Emery

1. Salaries: NO raises for elected official until economic situation requires or job responsibilities warrant an increase. “In fact, we need some of the positions to have salary cuts. I will work with all township teams to maintain services and improve effectiveness of established services without voting raises for elected officials.”
2. Checks and Balances: “I will certify that there is appropriate spending of all township funds and they are balanced and accurate to levy. I will work with the other elected officials of the township to confirm budgets are properly managed to committed funds. I will offer my advice to review and make recommendations as a businessman and a concerned citizen.”

Please contact him at emery4trustee@yahoo.com for questions or your interest of supporting him.

Here are a few personal informational points about Larry Emery.

22 Year Resident of McHenry County, Algonquin Township in Crystal Lake
Background:

• McHenry County Republican Election Judge
• McHenry County Algonquin Township 66 Republican Committeeman
• McHenry County Deputy Registrar
• Delegate for 2012 Illinois Republican State Convention
• Owner of HSMS Consulting Crystal Lake, IL; Business consulting putting our Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength into a short or long term projects to improve the areas of Product Sales Forecasting, Competitive Intelligence, or Employee Training for our customers. Business started January 2012.
• Manager for Sears, Roebuck, and Company, HomeLife Furniture, and Sears Holdings for 33 years working in many aspects of the business world including field management, buying, warehouse operations, customer service, headquarter support, system development, and training. Retired 2011 to start HSMS Consulting
• Interests and activities include Vocal Music, Golf, Skiing, competitive Karate, and church/family events. Associated with Harvest Bible Church of Crystal Lake, Focus Martial Arts of Lake in the Hills
• Graduate from Bowling Green State University, Ohio with Bachelors of Science in Business and Education
• Married 33 years to his wife Pamela, with two adult children, Jon and Heather

More contestants have popped up for the Algonquin Township Trustee position left open when Joe Powalowski resigned.

A meeting of the Algonquin Township Board.

The two are

• Bob Simpson from Crystal Lake
• Russell Cardelli from Algonquin

The deadline for filing applications was April 30th.

The appointment will be made by Algonquin Township Supervisor Dianne Klemm. It will have to be approved by the Algonquin Township Board.

Others who have applied for the Trustee slot are

• Robert Abraham, Lake In The Hills
• Charles A. Lutzow, Crystal Lake
• Thomas P. McDermott, Crystal Lake
• Catherine Nash, Algonquin

The pay for the last year of the term for Trustees will be $2,290.

All township positions throughout McHenry County will be up for election next spring.

Since the 1973 fiasco of a caucus conducted by the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee, McHenry County largest township has allowed voters to decide who GOP candidates for township office shall be.

That was the year that first-term Assessor Forrest Hare was challenged by a young school teacher.

While the caucus looked like a three-precinct primary, after the 3 AM Crystal Lake Community High School Field House results showed the school teacher winning by a handful of votes and even the judges weren’t sure the count was correct, the Central Committee members would not allow a recount.

There was no way to legally force a recount, because the committeemen set the rules.

At that time losers could run as a write-in and Forrest Hare did.

And he won.

The local Republican Party really took a beating as every weekday it was taken to task by Crystal Lake WIVS Radio station owner Mal Ballairs on his morning talk show.

To avoid future similar problems, our State Senator Jack Schaffer and I passed legislation to allow township party organizations to select candidates by citizen votes.

When I brought up the idea at Monday night’s meeting in an Algonquin Township Road Commissioner’s building, only I and Lou Anne Majewski remember the 1973 fiasco.

Precinct Committeemen attending the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee organization meeting on April 9, 2012.

I was immediately met with the objection of cost.

I couldn’t come up with a figure, but with the low turnout of 19% from both party primaries in March (plus non-partisan only votes on referendums) it’s pretty easy to predict that the turnout will be less when only township officials are on the ballot.

The result will be a high cost per vote, which could be lowered if McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz can combine precincts.

The projected expense was really the only argument.

But it was a long discussion.

I pointed out that Democrats could have a field day challenging Republican candidates who had been selected in a secret meeting.

Conversely, Republicans could make hay of any Democratic Party candidates who were not selected at the ballot box, but rather by party bosses.

With township government under attack, I argued, the potential negative publicity would not be helpful.

In the end, all of the Algonquin Township Republican Precinct Committeemen present voted to authorize a primary election next February in which candidates for Township Supervisor, Road Commissioner, Assessor, Clerk and Township Trustees would be selected.

From Township Supervisor Dianne Klemm, here are the details if you live in Algonquin Township and would like to replace Neils Sorensen, who died recently, as Township Trustee:

Applications must be turned in by November 17 by 4PM at the Algonquin Township office.

The applicant must be a resident of the township and be of the same political party as the person vacating the office (Republican).

The phone number of the Township is 847-639-2700.

The meeting will be at 7PM on Mon., the 22 of Nov., for appointment of the Trustee to fill the vacancy.

Regular meetings are the 2nd. Wed. of each month at 7 PM.
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Meanwhile in other township news, Judge Michael Caldwell is scheduled to deliver his decision on the Grafton Township separation of powers case on Monday morning.