McHenry County Blog

Into my inbox popped the following email undated message originating with Mayor Sue Low:

“Dear friends and family,

Sue Low

“Yesterday it was brought to our attention by several people that Alderman Andy Glab, out campaigning for my opponent, has been attempting to discredit me in several ways, both with incorrect information, but more important, by attempting to hurt my family and discredit me. So after a very stressful and sleepless night, we decided to address these issues with you so that you hear the correct information from us.

“The first issue we would like to address is in regard to the fact that we had to file personal bankruptcy last year. This is true. As you know, Tom is an Insurance Agent who insures primarily commercial contractors. Due to the poor economy, many of his customers have seen a drastic decrease in their businesses, consequently a drastic decrease in insurance premiums. We tried to save Tom’s business by using our personal credit, we probably tried too long, and eventually it became apparent that we would not be able to do so. We had over-extended our credit trying to make payroll, and pay the overhead of running a business. After consulting with our attorney and our accountant we were advised that the correct avenue for us to pursue was to file personal bankruptcy and sell the business. Tom’s business partner bought him out, and retained him as a commercial account executive, and for the past year we have worked very hard to re-establish our credit and our good name. This was an extremely painful time for us as it wasn’t something we ever thought we would have to do in our lifetime. I hope that many of you can understand the dilemma we faced during this difficult economic time. We are honest, hard-working people. Under my leadership the city has always maintained a balanced budget and is financially sound, so I don’t understand what one thing has to do with the other, but according to Alderman Glab ‘they are going to come out with something near the election that will get rid of me.’ This has been a very difficult year for us, and I would welcome the opportunity to answer any of your questions about this issue. If you can no longer support me because of this I will understand.

“The second issue has to do with the Riverwalk. Alderman Glab has stated that the day after I get elected I ‘intend to turn River Place into section 8 housing and there will be black people fishing from the pier’. His disgusting words, not mine. He also said that I have wasted 9 million dollars on downtown redevelopment. Whether you’re a fan of the Riverwalk or not, the fact is that the Fox River is one of the busiest waterways in the state of Illinois, and making our downtown accessible by water is one of our greatest opportunities for economic development. Our goal is to bring more residential opportunities close to town, not to turn it into section 8 housing. Again, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you.

“This kind of hurtful, slanderous, negative campaigning doesn’t belong in McHenry. If Alderman Glab and the candidate he represents think that this is how to win an election, I think they’re wrong. I will run on my own 10 year record of serving as your Mayor. I will not stoop to these tactics, but I felt the need to explain our situation to you personally because I feel that Alderman Glab has questioned our integrity. Tom and I have spent our entire adult lives volunteering in our community and we intend to continue doing so.

“I love the City of McHenry. I seek to continue holding this office because I care about the future of our community. I work hard everyday and I will continue to do that.

“We hope that you know us well enough to know that we would never deliberately attempt to cheat anyone. We are victims of a tough economy and we hope you understand. Please don’t hesistate to contact us if you have any questions. If you would like your name removed from the ad of support that I am going to be placing in the Herald please let me know and I will remove it. We will completely understand.”

Sue and Tom

I contacted Alderman Andy Glab for his take and here’s what he told me:

Andy Glab

“There’s nobody other than the candidates for Mayor out there working harder than I am.

“Needless to say, I’m hurting her campaign, so the only thing she can do is try to discredit me.

“With sixteen years as an Alderman, I’ll put my record up against hers any day.”

He said he had worked several subdivisions and continued, saying,

“It’s amazing how many people say, ‘It’s time for a change.’

“After Thursday’s debate, lots of the Mayor’s signs started popping up in the right-of-ways.

Steve Cuda

“It looks like kind of desperation tactics to me.”She has also started to put ‘current’ stickers on her her signs. I guess people in McHenry don’t know who the Mayor is.

“Two weekends ago, I had stopped in a cul-de-sac just to flip through my papers and two hours later I had two squads show up at my house questioning what I was doing there.

“Today, Steve Cuda [Sue Low's challenger] was stopped by an officer while going door-to-door questioning what he was doing stopping at houses that had no solicitation [signs].”

Regular readers will know that I go to parades to read political tea leaves.

Perhaps the biggest insight was that Democrat Jack Franks was in the middle of the Republican floats.

Whether deliberate or not, it surely sent a mixed message to those along the parade route.

Especially since the McHenry County Republican Party refused to field an opponent to the reliable vote for House Speaker Mike Madigan’s continued one-man rule of Illinois.

I wasn’t the only one to make note of the parade order.

Fox River Grove Republican Precinct Committeeman Andrew Gasser wrote an article touching on that, plus the co-option of Republican activists by Franks.

There were lots of candidates at the reception besides Provenzano.

I saw Joe Gottemoller, Mary McClelland, Sue Draffkorn, all of whom seek to represent part of the McHenry area on the County Board.

Former GOP State Rep. primary candidate in the 52nd District Danielle Rowe was also present.

 

And, miracles of miracles, there were two Romney for President signs.

The parade was off.

Municipal officials came first.

The McHenry Aldermen kept coming in numerical order.

The next Alderman rode in a red pick-up truck.

A convertible carrying the only Alderwoman was next.

Congressman Randy Hultgren, who won all of McHenry County, but Algonquin Township, in Michael Madigan’s redistricted map, led off the Republican contingent with Provenzano.

And, then my camera froze, so I missed the other Republicans.

But it started working again as State Rep. Jack Franks worked the crowd on the other side of the street.

If there were any indication that Franks was running on the Democratic Party ticket and would vote to re-elect House Speaker Mike Madigan once he wins his uncontested race, I didn’t see.

More Republicans were behind Franks.

A Sheriff’s Department vehicle came next.

Just one.

Not like the last Fiesta Days Parade I attended in 2010 when Sheriff Keith Nygren was being challenge by Democrat Mike Mahon. Take a look at the motorcycles, snowmobile, convertible, crime prevention trailer, perhaps being pulled by the vehicle above, but without Undersheriff Andrew Zinke’s name on its side.

But who was driving the vehicle?

Next was Mary Mahady, apparently running for McHenry Township Assessor.

Next spring township elections will be held throughout McHenry County, so this was the last time to increase one’s name identification in a Fiesta Days Parade.  Johnsburg has one in October, where there will probably be more township candidates.

Seemingly out of place at the parade was former McHenry County Board candidate Rachel Smith from the western side of Wonder Lake. She was watching the parade before a cancer fund raiser for her aunt, whose last name is Jones.

Not just an off-track betting parlor.

Slot machines all over town.

That’s what the 5-1-1 vote last night in favor of allowing five slot machines in every bar and restaurant that wants them.

Andy Glab was the only alderman voting against the proposal.

Victor Santi abstained, surprising a friend of McHenry County Blog in attendance.

Let me share the observer’s reaction at the abstention and the approval vote by the others:

“Santi abstained after voicing an opinion which seemed to indicate that he felt MORE public input was needed in a forum setting …. Then his abstention totally floored me.

“ONE off-track betting location is manageable in terms of the negative influences, BUT the potential of 200 video gaming machines in 40 different establishments with liquor licenses pursuant to revenue generation (marshaled & regulated by SPRINGFIELD …) causes me to recoil with many concerns …

“Learning that Crystal Lake & Woodstock have essentially said ‘no’ leaves me wondering out loud …. Where’s McHenry going ?? …. ALSO, two reps from the VFW and American Legion spoke in solid support of the idea … puzzling for me …”

The others voted in favor.

It’ll be pretty much just like the old days, except the Mob won’t be taking a cut.

Replacing the private sector will be the public sector.

Guys won’t be on the top floor of the hotel next to the Fox River bridge watching for lawmen.

And weekly pay-offs will not be going to the two local judges who got them in the 1950′s.

Instead, state and local government will get a cut, as will those who provide the slot machines.

There won’t be raids by the Sheriff’s Department as occurred in Algonquin when I was in college in the early 1960′s.  I remember reading the slot machines were full when seized, but empty when destroyed.

No accounting for the missing money.

At least local officials won’t be getting a cut personally.

 

Saturday afternoon, McHenry Township Republicans gathered at the McHenry Moose for a pig roast and to hear candidates make their pitches.

McHenry County Blog prevailed upon attendee Becky Kress to share her photos.

McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler, who has announced her intentions to run for State Representative in the 64th District whose southern tip is my precinct in Crystal Lake and Lakewood and goes north to Antioch, was one of the speakers.

8th District Congressman Joe Walsh made a pitch for re-election, even though he doesn’t know who his potential future constituents will be. (He made a second appearance in Aurora at State Senator Chris Lauzen’s Porky Picnic later in the day. Lauzen announced he would give up his Senate seat to run for Kane County Board Chairman.)

A photo of State Senator Dan Duffy was captured.

Steven Rooney, recently elected to the Johnsburg School Board is caught with a John O’Neill for County Board tee shirt.

McHenry County Board members Tina Hill and Mary Donner were seen chatting at one table.

The star of the day may have been the pig.

State Senator Dan Duffy got a turn at the microphone.

Both State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Mike Tryon were enjoying the roast pig.

Newly-appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney spoke to the gathering, but the photo with his son was really fuzzy.

The event had at least one McHenry Alderman in attendance–Andy Glab.

McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer was campaigning for re-election.

There were many others at the successful fund raiser.

A two-elected official family, McHenry County Board member John Hammerand and Wonder Lake Fire Protection District Board member Cheryl (seen with Joe Walsh above) were enjoying themselves.

After an extensive debate with no public input because a public hearing had been previously held, three McHenry Aldermen and one Alderwoman voted to raise the city sales tax rate 50%.

The rate will go from the current 1% to 1.5% starting on New Year’s Day.  The higher tax is estimated to provide $975,000 for next year’s budget. The difference between the $1.5 million to be raised and the $975,000 to be used to finance next year’s operations will provide a cushion for future years.

Increasing the McHenry city sales tax 50% were

• Victor Santi – Ward 1
• Jeffrey Schaefer – Ward 3
• Richard Wimmer – Ward 5 (not pictured)
• Geri Condon – Ward 7

Wimmer made the motion to approve the tax hike.

Santi seconded it.

Opposing the sales tax hike were

• Andrew Glab – Ward 2
• Geoffrey Blake – Ward 4


McHenry Mayor Sue Low

• Richard Peterson – Ward 6

Mayor Sue Low did not vote.

Unlike Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley, who led his council 6-1 (Jeff Thorsen being the only “No” vote), this 50% sales tax hike will be difficult to pin on her.

Spectators were not allowed to enter the council chambers without emptying their pockets, having their bags searched and being wanded by McHenry Police.

The first man to offer public comment said the following:

“I thoroughly object to having two police (search those coming to the council meeting).

“We have a police chief here with a handgun.  I’m sure he’s capable of putting down (any problem).

“Surrounding villages do not have it.

“Crystal Lake doesn’t have policemen.

“Neither does Woodstock.

“The biggest thing Elgin has is two posts people have to walk through”