McHenry County Blog

Mass was celebrated at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Crystal Lake. A setting sun reflects the saint's image.

Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church began the day for those attending the first McHenry County Catholic Prayer Breakfast.

Jeff Ladd, Jr., offered one of the prayers.

Boulder Ridge Country Club was the next destination.

Down Randall Road to Miller Road the cars drove.

The place was packed.

Over 500 people by one estimate.

Randy Hultgren posed with GOP Committeemen Bob Borchart and Joyce Story. Hultgren knocked on doors in Story's McHenry precinct last weekend. Please identify the woman on the left.

After the welcome by event chairman Fred Wickham and a prayer by Msgr. Daniel Hermes, breakfast was served.

A prayer for our country’s leaders, out nation and families was offered by Jeff Ladd, Jr.

There were politicians courting votes.

Both Congressman Randy Hultgren and Joe Walsh were in attendance.

Joe Walsh, accompanied by campaign aide Andy Nelms before the program began.

The two are Pro-Life.

The sanctity of human life was one of the topics of the main speaker, Raymond Cardinal Burke.

Another was birth control.

The Cardinal spoke at length.

The Cardinal’s biography identifies him as “one of the foremost authorities on Roman Catholic cannon law.

“Raymond Cardinal Burke leads with an unwavering passion for the integrity of Catholic doctrine embodied in the words of Jesus Christ,” it continues.

The Cardinal was born in 1948 in Richland Center, Wisconsin.

Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke

Ordained by Pope Paul VI in 1975 in Rome, one of his first assignments was teaching religion at Aquinas High School in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

After studying canon law at Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he became the first American to hold the position of Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Catholic Church’s supreme court.

He now serves Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, to which post he was appointed in 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Brian Burch

McHenry County’s local prelate, Rockford-based Bishop Thomas Doran, helped celebrate the Mass and gave a talk at the breakfast.

Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote.org, also spoke to the group. It’s a lay movement of committed Catholics who “are passionate about living our the truths proclaimed by Christ and His Church in the modern world.”

Issues promoted include

• the dignity of the human person from conception until natural death
• the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman
• religious freedom for all people

Anne Majewski

But, back to political figures in McHenry County.

Candidate for Coroner Anne Majewski was in an exuberant mode.

I saw a photo of Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley.

From the program, I see that County Board member Nick Provenzano played a role.

So did County Board candidate Mary Alger.

County Board member Barbara Wheeler, who is running for State Representative, was caught posing with Patriots United Brian Kelly and Judge Michael Chmiel.

Joe Wheeler, his wife, State Rep. candidate Barb Wheeler and Circuit Judge Mike Chmiel attended the breakfast.

You see Jean Bianchi with Rosemary and Bob Blazier in the photo below, so I assume State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi was also present.

Standing to the left of a woman I don't know is Jean Bianchi ,the wife of McHenry County's State's Attorney. Sitting are former Crystal Lake District 47 Grade School Superintendent Bob Blazier and his wife Rosemary.

Below is a list of the members of the Board of Directors of the prayer breakfast.

The people responsible for putting on the event.

A Barack Obama Halloween mask.

Wear the mask of your favorite or least favorite politician, suggests State Rep. candidate Barb Wheeler with regard to her October 22nd fund raiser hosted by her brother Al Salvi and her sister-in-law Kathy Salvi.

The event will be held at JJ Twigs Pizza & Pub at 1200 North Main Street in Wauconda.

The date is October 22nd.

The event is being billed as a

Mask-or-Aid

No specific donation is requested.

It appears to be a “give what you can” event.

It should be interesting to see what Lake County politicians attend.

Click to enlarge.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady traveled up the Fox River Valley to talk to McHenry County Republicans Wednesday night.

Pat Brady is seen addressing McHenry County Republicans at the Nunda Township GOP meeting.

The event was held at the Prairie Isle Golf Club in Prairie Grove.

A good number of countywide elected officials were in attendance.

Sheriff Keith Nygren enjoyed a good laugh with Pat Brady.

Here you see Pat Brady posing with Nunda Township Republican Party Chairman Brent Smith, McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew and Dan Regna, who ran against McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi in 2008.

Not only candidates for countywide office, but those for the McHenry County Board were courting voters. Nick Provenzano was there, but I don’t think he’d want me to post the photo I have for this event.

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi, an announced candidate for re-election is seen in this shot with District 3 County Board candidate Lyn Orphal. Orphal was beated for her District 2 seat by Donna Kurtz in 2010.

8th District Congressman Joe Walsh represented the national scene.

Congressman Joe Walsh spoke to the group. He is having a Town Hall Meeting at the Woodstock VFW tomorrow night at 7.

State legislators and candidates were in attendance.

McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler was talking up her candidacy to Bob Cook.

Kent Gaffney addresses the crowd.

State Senator Dan Duffy was caught with County Board candidate Jim Schlader.

McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Mike Tryon was present, as was McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.

Mike Tryon and Ken Koehler converse with those present. Undersheriff Andrew Zinke can be seen in the background to the left to Pat Brady.

Steven Rooney, recently elected to the Johnsburg School Board, was present.

Johnsburg School Board member Steve Rooney poses with State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

There was even a past school board member sighted.

State Senator Dan Duffy chatted with former Huntley School Board member Larry Snow.

The turnout was more than respectable.

Part of the crowd who attended the Nunda Township Republican event.

I’m fortunate to have had a couple of people taking pictures for me, but good coverage of an event really requires feet on the ground. For instance, I’d love to knows what the politicians are laughing about in the photo below:

Anyone know what this "almost falling of the chair" joke was?

There was a gathering of Chairmen at the meeting.  Not only was State Party Chairman Pat Brady present, but McHenry County Chairman Mike Tryon, Lake County Chairman Bob Cook and the host, Nunda Township Chairman Brent Smith.

GOP Chairman Brent Smith (Nuida Township), Pat Brady (Illinois), Mike Tryon (McHenry County) and Bob Cook (Lake County).

As I go through the second set of photos, I see one with Crystal Laker Rich Evans, who has announced his candidacy for Congress in Joe Walsh’s 8th District. There is no indication that Walsh is running for re-election there.

Rich Evans appeals to Nunda Township Republicans.

The Northwest Herald usually doesn’t send reporters to political events, but newcomer Jane Huh covered the event.

Northwest Herald reporter Jane Huh interviews State Senator Dan Duffy.

Mike Tryon gave a short speech at his Huntley Fish Boil.

What does one do when one has no announced opponent for State Representative?

You know you have to keep raising money, because the Republican GOP Leader in Springfield tries to assess you for thousands to use in marginal races. ($2,500 a year when I was there, probably $10,000 now.)

And, you want to be able to contribute significant amounts to candidates you support.

Undoubtedly there are even more expenses to be met because of Tryon’s role as McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman.

So you hold the fund raisers you have held before, hoping that people will continue to support you financially.

Early in the 5-9 informal fund raiser, Tryon was at the gate on the sidewalk in front of where money was being collected.

Later, he mingled inside the beer garden.

Because it is an election year, there were candidates drawn to the affair.

Two announced candidate for the empty State Senate district in which Tryon is running for State Representative were in attendance:

Kane County Board Chairman and State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay talks with Dan Plote.

• Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay and
• former Rutland Township Trustee Chad Koppie.

State Senate candidate Chad Koppie was at the gate while former State Senator Jack Schaffer was signing in with Cheryl Meyer.

There were plenty of McHenry County Officials.

A ring of women power was sighted. From left to right are Chief Deputy Treasurer and Secretary of the McHenry County Republican Central Committee Glenda Miller, head of the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee Rebecca Lee, Auditor Pam Palmer and Recorder of Deeds Phyllis Walters. Although attending, McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz missed being in this photo.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi was introduced.

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi waves as he is introduced. To his right is Congressman Randy Hultgren. McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler and Cheryl Meyer can be seen to Bianchi's left. At the table are Huntley Village Trustee Pam Fender and Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager.

Ken Koehler was introduced as not only the Chairman of the McHenry County Board, but also the Treasurer of Tryon’s political action committee since its inception.

Congressman Randy Hultgren and McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi applaud as Ken Koehler is introducted.

McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler, who seeks to be the next State Representative from the 64th District, the number of Tryon’s current district, was at the Fish Boil.

State Rep. candidate Barbara Wheeler was seen talking to Kim Keefe, the President-Elect of the McHenry County Board of Realtors.

More tomorrow.

Barb Wheeler

A press release from McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler, the only candidate so far for the 64th State Representative District:

Wheeler slams Quinn  on Job Creation and Tax Hike

Crystal Lake, IL: Today the Illinois Policy Institute published a study on job creation. They determined that Illinois is dead last in job creation in the country.

Further, they directly tie it to Quinn’s job killing tax hike.

What so many Democrats fail to realize is that their tax increase policies have a direct correlation to the loss of jobs.

The assumption that you can raise taxes and people and businesses will stand there and take it, is foolish. Of course businesses, if they are able, are going to move to a more friendly business climate.

Wisconsin and Indiana are advertising themselves as better places to operate a business.

From the Illinois Policy Institute

An unfortunate consequence of the business exodus out of Illinois is higher unemployment. Since January,

Illinois has lost 89,000 jobs.

This hits everyone whether it is you, or a neighbor we all feel the impact of the loss of jobs in Illinois.

This creates a vicious cycle.

With more people out of work and more businesses leaving the state, there will be less money coming into the State Treasury.

What is Quinn’s solution?

Raise taxes again?

Who is going to be around to pay these taxes?

Quinn pretends that his top priority is to create jobs. In fact, his actions, along with the Democrat controlled State House and Senate have done everything they can to destroy jobs. If there was a contest to see who could destroy the most jobs, Illinois would be the hands down winner!

Barbara Wheeler is a candidate for the 64th State Representative District.

Republican Barbara Wheeler, first elected to the 2002 McHenry County Board, has actively lead initiatives championing environmental issues, promoting economic development, encouraging diverse housing options and implementing groundwater protection policies.

Feel free to call her on her cell if you have any questions or want to join her committee.

McHJenry County State's Attorney holds up his speech after he announces he will seek a third term.

Having been vindicated by not one, but two verdicts of acquittal in Circuit Court, McHenry County State’s Attorney has decided to seek voter approval of his stewardship of the office he first won in 2004.

Speaking at his annual fund raiser, Festa Italiana, Bianchi said,

“I cannot think of a more appropriate (time or place) to announce to you and our community that I will be seeking another term as State’s Attorney.”

The First Electric Newspaper's Pete Gonigam chats with Cary's Yvonne Barnes, a former McHenry County Board member who is contemplating another run.

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler had laudatory comments about Lou Bianchi when he introduced him.

The place was packed with reporters and I would imagine there will be big stories tomorrow.

There were also lots of office holders and candidates.

Bianchi was introduced by McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, as he was four years ago when Bianchi announced his run for a second term.

Four years ago, Koehler was reported to be filling in for Sheriff Keith Nygren, who went on to heavily support Bianchi primary opponent Dan Regna.

Koehler, of course, like all County Board candidates must stand for re-election in 2012.

Nunda Township Trustee Jim Schlader is running in District 3.

I’m not aware of any incumbents who are not running for re-election, but Barb Wheeler, who is running for State Rep.  At the risk of missing some (whose names I shall add if they contact me), the following were at the fund raiser:

• Donna Kurtz
• Marc Munaretto
• Nick Provenzano
• Sandy Salgado

There were also challengers who wanted publicity:

• Jim Schlader, a Nunda Township Trustee, who is a candidate in District 3.
• 

  Rachel Smith said she "definitely" was running for County Board in District 6. Here she is taling to Hebron Village Trustee and County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.

  Rachel Smith, a Republican Precinct Committeeman from Greenwood Township whose mailing address is Wonder Lake.

And people thinking about running who were not ready to have their ambitions spread across the McHenry County Blog screen.

Plus former County Board member Yvonne Barnes, who, as indicated in the cutline under her picture above, is thinking about trying to regain the seat she lost to Robert Novak in 2010.

Chad Koppie, an announced candidate for State Senate in the 33rd District, shared a light moment with Lou Bianchi.

State legislative candidates were present, too.

Kane County’s Chad Koppie, who just announced he was running for the State Senate in an empty district where Kane County Chairman Karen McConnaughay has announced her candidacy was in attendance.

I did not see McConnaughay.

When she announced I asked when she would be visiting McHenry County.

There was nothing on her schedule at that time.

Arriving after the festivities had concluded was newly-appointed State Representative Kent Gaffney and his wife Elizabeth.

McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz converses with State Rep. Kent Gaffney and his wife Elizabeth.

I vented about Governor Pat Quinn’s proposal to hike toll taxes by 88%, wondering why Republican legislators were not pinning the toll tax hike on the state’s top donkey.

Gaffney was not the only person in the room interested in being elected from the district represents.

One of the many people who talked to Lou Bianchi after his announcement was Robert Hanaford.

Former Fox River Grove Village Trustee Bob Hannaford was discussing a potential candidacy in the Republican primary election against Gaffney.

Hanaford now lives in the southwestern corner of Lake County and has been active in the Cuba Township Republican Party.

McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler, who is a candidate for State Representative in the 64th District, talks with Donna Kurtz.

So I won’t be accused of discrimination, let me point out that McHenry County Board member and State Representative candidate Barb Wheeler was escorted to the Festa Italiana by her husband Joe Wheeler, even though he was not in the photo published here.

The McHenry Moose was the site of the McHenry Township Republican Pig Roast.

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.

Barb Wheeler presents her request for support.

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.

Congressman Joe Walsh makes his pitch, while Crystal Lake's Bryan Javor and band member Tim Stewart listen.

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.)

Joe Walsh mixed with those in attendance as well as speaking. The women to his immediate left as Wonder Lake Fire Protection District Trustee Cheryl Hammerand. On the right is Barbara Klasen, Greenwood Township Supervisor.

A photo of State Senator Dan Duffy was captured.

State Senator Dan Duffy talks to Barb Wheeler and her husband Joe.

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

Johnsburg School Board member Steve Rooney

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

Tina Hill and Mary Donner sat at the same table.

The star of the day may have been the pig.

The roasted pig seemed to have no opinion regarding the candidates.

State Senator Dan Duffy got a turn at the microphone.

Dan Duffy speaks.

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

Pam Althoff and Mike Tryon confer. Greenwood Township Supervisor Barbara Klasen (standing) talks to MaryDonner in the center. Kathy Kutcha is on the right.

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

Kent Gaffney (on the right) attends to some paperwork, as does McHenry Township Road Commissioner Leon Van Every.

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

Pam Althoff converses with Helen and Andy Glab.

Tina Hill posed with McHenry Township GOP work horse Kathy Kuchta.

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

Former McHenry County Auditor and GOP Chairman and his wife Carrie are greeting by current Auditor Pam Palmer.

There were many others at the successful fund raiser.

McHenry Township Clerk Bruce Novak chows down.

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.

John Hammerand has a discussion with Jim Kelly.

While the teen were exploring other parts of the McHenry County Fair on Friday, I went looking for things political.

Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks’ tent was first.  It was closest to the free parking.

Jack Franks staffer Parker Happ mans the Jack Franks tent, smiling as he did last year when my photo was good enough to end up on his Facebook’s front page.

Then,  I saw the Sheriff’s Department’s Crime Stoppers Trailer.

This Sheriff’s Department trailer was parked behind the arena.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s booth was at the front of the first building I entered, although Sheriff Keith Nygren had not yet arrived.

The Sheriff’s Department has a double booth just as one enters one of the display buildings.

McHenry County Citizens for Choice was way around the corner.

Marian Michaels, Dee Many and Toby Levin were staffing/visiting the McHenry County Citizens for Choice booth.

The McHenry County Republican Party booth was down the aisle to the right. My second time around I found Jack Franks’ staffer conversing with the folks behind the table.

Eric Peterson, Glenda Miller and Pam Palmer talk with Jack Franks’ staffer Parker Happ.

I found the Sheriff’s Department had a second booth location to the right of the main one.

This McHenry County Sheriff’s booth was unmanned when I walked by.

In the next building, the Libertarian Party booth was the first I saw.

Jim Young, who ran for State Rep. as a Libertarian, was asking people to put pennies into the jar which best represented their beliefs about the national debt.

Into which jar would you put a penny supplied by the Libertarian Party?

Most pennies were in the “Cut Spending” jar.

Next door was the best political story.

The negative reaction of a modeling agency, which was across the aisle, and a County Fair Official’s reported reaction to a complaint was the best story I found.  The complaining booth workers got another location.

The booth was called “Peter’s Net.” Those in it were clearly Catholics and they were explaining how Catholics were Pro-Life.

There were models of how large a baby was at various lengths of gestitation. This man was closely examining the part of the display at the early end of pregnancy.

Here’s a closer look at the models.

I particularly like the baby in God’s hands.

The booth renter across the aisle, described as a “modeling agency” complained about the medical models to Fair Officials. One came and, I’m told, said that the display might not be allowed next year.

The models at the other Pro-Life booth.

Since I vividly remember a similar display from 2000 at the McHenry County Right-To-Life organization, I have a hard time understanding such logic, assuming the story that reached my ears was correct.

It certainly makes no economic sense for the Fair, since another Catholic group, renting three or four spaces–as many as the Sheriff’s Department–also had in utero models.

Maybe it was the message on the button saying, “It’s a child, not a choice” that bothered the folks across the aisle or maybe the models were drawing too much attention from the young girls the complaining booth was targeting.

Just around the corner was the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee’s booth.

Terry Kappel and John Darger were staffing the Democrats booth.

They had an intimidating American history quiz that they were encouraging people to take.  I was told Jack Franks wouldn’t take it.

This “Hands Off my Medicare” sign was on the side of the Democrats’ booth.

I hesitated, read the questions on the front page and figured by 7th and 8th grade American history classes would stand me in good stead.  Then I started checking off the best answer.  I did find until I got to the national debt question.  It asked when the first debt ceiling had been passed.  That was not in any of the American history classes I took.  I won’t ruin the quiz. Suffice is to say that was my only wrong answer.

As I continued my political tour of the McHenry County Fair, I found a second large Pro-Life booth.

“Life is Sacred” is the largest print one sees as one approaches this booth from the south.

Young girls were looking at a display of baby booties and shoes called “Little Soles.”

“Little Soles” is the title of this Pro-Life display..

This is the other booth in which I found the in utero models seen above.

There is also a big banner proclaiming “Life Is Sacred” with a Bible quote.

The booth tee shirt.

Right across the aisle was the booth of the McHenry County Sportsman’s Association and the McHenry County Right to Carry Association.

With Illinois’ being the last state in the union where individuals are not allowed to carry firearms to protect themselves, the petition signatures gathered in past years may have been the reason that Jack Franks’ flipped from being opposed to being favor.

Barbara Wheeler, the only Republican candidate to have announced for the 64th State Representative District, talks with Anthony Lopez President of the McHenry County Sportsman’s Association at the booth his group and the McHenry County Right to Carry Association sponsored at the County Fair.

President Anthony Lopez was standing out front talking to Barb Wheeler, who was helping staff the booth. His wife Laura Rakers was behind the table with Richard Pere.

I went looking for Congressman Joe Walsh’s outpost.

Erin Westphal drew tent staffing duty for Congressman Joe Walsh.  At the Wauconda Town Hall Meeting, she was one bringing the microphone to those who want to ask questions or make statements.

It was on the midway in a corner tent.

I doubled back to the building with the Sheriff’s display in hopes of finding Sheriff Keith Nygren and was rewarded by his presence.

Sheriff Keith Nygren talking to two members of his staff.

I made another circuit and found Congressman Don Manzullo’s booth. Former Wonder Lake resident Marilyn Davis was behind the table.

Kathleen Davis was staffing Congressman Don Manzullo’s booth.

As I left the building, Nunda Township Republican Chairman Brent Smith and Sheriff Nygren were having a conversation.

On the way out, I saw John O’Neill, an announced candidate for McHenry County Board staffing the Ray Chevrolet tent.

About a fourth of the crowd at the rural Nunda Township estate that hosted Barbara Wheeler's fund raiser.

An impressive crowd turned out for McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler’s fund raiser for her State Rep. campaign.

It's been a long time since I dipped into Lake County politics. Wheeler has no choice since just over 50% of the new 64th District is across the county line. Bryan Winter, who is running for Lake County State's Attorney, was accompanied by his wife Judge Diane Winter. Former McHenry County State's Attorney candidate Dan Regna can be seen in the foreground. He was not the only one from Lake County present.

From those attending, I concluded that she will be the favorite of most of the McHenry County part of the 64th District that she seeks to represent.

Donna Kurtz chatted with Duane Sokolosky, an Algonquin Township GOP Precinct Committeeman.

There were candidates galore, including several thinking seriously about running for County Board, incumbents running for re-election, plus those interested in Grafton Township governmental slots.  Of significance is that none of Grafton Township is within the 64th District.

McHenry County Board member Tina Hill visited with Crystal Lake Grade School Board member Nancy Gonsiorek.

The idea of fund raisers is to raise money, of course.

Newly-appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney and his wife Elizabeth conversed with Right to Life leaders Bonnie Quirke (Lake County) and Irene Napier (McHenry County). Like Wheeler's, Gaffney's district straddles the Lake-McHenry County line.

There was no set price, so there is no way anyone outside of Wheeler’s campaign knows how much was contributed, but there are several observations that can be made.

Barb Wheeler greets McHenry County Circuit Judge Mike Chmiel.

A successful fund raiser has to keep down expenses. The private home eliminated the need to rent a hall.

In this view of people attending Barb Wheeler's fund raiser I see former Crystal Lake City Council candidate Mike Shorten on the far left.

Beer, wine, soft drinks and water were provided, as were Italian beef sandwiches. There were some other light snacks.

How late did the party, which started at 6, last? This was my last shot. You seen Nunda Township Republican Party Chairman Brent Smith and Joe Gottemoller well after sunset.

The execution of the event pretty much guaranteed the net would be as large as possible.

Although it doesn’t make much of a story, those who stay home and send money can increase the total contributed at events like this.

State Representative candidate Barb Wheeler has relocated her Friday fund raiser.

The location of Barb Wheeler's Finday fundraiser.

“It will be the same location of last year’s TEENI WEENI BIKINI MARTINI PARTY, 7707 Oak Ridge Ct., Crystal Lake,” Wheeler writes.

Oak Ridge runs from Hillside on the south to Crystal Springs Road on the north.

Oak Ridge Court is the first street to the left as one drives north from Crystal Lake.

There is no set price for the event, although campaign contributions will obviously be accepted.

Wheeler now serves on the McHenry County Board. She is running in the new 64th district, which stretches from just south of Crystal Lake (the lake) all the way to Antioch in Lake County.

Just over 50% of the new district, which has no incumbent candidate, is located in Lake County.

Just under 49% of the population is in McHenry County.

So far, no primary opponent has popped up.

A copy of the invitation follows: