McHenry County Blog

“Teeni Weenie Bikini” was the come-on for State Rep.-to-be Barb Wheeler Saturday in Wauconda.

There may have been some at Lindy’s Landing on Bangs Lake, but they were covered up.

Some people might wonder why people running unopposed for the Illinois General Assembly need to hold fund raisers.

In the case of all Republican legislators, their leaders expect contributions that can be used elsewhere in Illinois in the goal of winning control of the chamber in question.

Wheeler, for example, is expected to pony up $5,000 a year.

Her more senior McHenry County colleague Mike Tryon is assessed $10,000 per year.

And State Senator Pam Althoff, because of her unpaid leadership position as the one who chairs the Senate caucus, needs to come up with $20,000 per year.

There were plenty of Lake County politicians. Lake County Recorder of Deeds candidate Bob Bednar was there, for instance, as were State’s Attorney candidate Mike Nerheim and County Board candidate Tom Weber.

The annual Pro-Life Pig Roast was held again at Irene Napier’s farm on Valley View Road.

There was a goodly crowd of supporters of the Pro-Life position.

Old friends renewed acquaintances.

Candidates from Lake courted voters.

Lake County Republican Bob Bedar advanced his candidacy for Recorder of Deeds.

30th District GOP State Senate candidate Don Castella was there, too.

I even sat at his table briefly talking to Barrington’s Jim Finnegan about how Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo had stymied Chose Life license plates by putting authorization bills in subcommittees to die.

There were at least three McHenry County Board members and candidates in attendance.

I saw Board members Nick Provenzano and John Hammerand.  Cheryl Hammerand, a Wonder Lake Fire Protection District Board member was there, too.

Mary McClelland, a GOP McHenry County Board candidate in District 3, spoke to the crowd.

State Senator Dan Duffy also spoke to the crowed.

He told of how Illinois Senate President John Cullerton changed his parking space when he would not use an offered Point of Personal Privilege to apologize to his fellow members for having insulted them when he spoke during Governor Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment trial.

Duffy had said that he didn’t understand how Blagojevich has been allowed to do all the things that had been presented in evidence at the trial by those who had served in the legislature at the same time.

Duffy told Cullerton that if he were granted the floor again, he had more to say in the same vein.

Shortly thereafter Cullerton announced the change in parking space.

Duffy said he thought he was back “in junior high.”

The highest ranking official to address the crowd was Congressman Randy Hultgren.

Illinois Democrats redistricted congressional districts so that all of McHenry County but Algonquin Township will be represented by Randy Hultgren…unless Democrat Dennis Anderson of Gurnee pulls off a bigger upset than Joe Walsh did when he beat Melissa Bean.

Hultgren praised Walsh for not doing what the Democrats hoped would occur–a face-off between Hultgren and Walsh.

He urge the crowd to help Walsh beat Tammy Duckworth.

Peter Roskam will represent the rest of McHenry County, that is, Algonquin Township, unless there is a Democratic landslide of enormous proportions.

Joe Edwards talked of the progress being made to bring an ultrasound machine to McHenry County.

I think I heard that the Lutheran Life League had recently pledged $10,000.

The Thomas More Law Society‘s Peter Breen told of his groups defense of Pro-Life video makers and other Pro-Life causes.

He also told of the role that his organization is taking in defending the Defense of Marriage Act, which liberal Cook County officials are refusing to defend.

Below are photos of the two other County Board members I noticed.

There was lots of networking.

Although Congressman Peter Roskam was absent, campaign worker David Rivera and his fiancee Kelly Baumgart were there to carry the flag…or at least wear the tee shirt.

And, how could I pass up Woodstock’s Jim Klocek’s tee shirt of “Umbert?”

Cuba Township is just east of Algonquin Township.  This Lake County township Republican organization operates quite differently from it sister across the McHenry County line.

It’s committeemen endorse candidates.  I can’t remember when the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee endorsed candidates.  That’s not to say that individual committeemen and factions of the committee don’t go all out for their favorites.

In any event, Cuba Township has made its endorsements and is now holding a breakfast for committeemen and others to hear those candidates.

The organization’s press release follows:

VOTERS INVITED TO MEET ENDORSED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES AT CUBA TOWNSHIP FEB. 17 BREAKFAST MEETING

February 4, 2012 – North Barrington, Illinois – The Cuba Township Republican Central Committee invites voters to attend an open-to-the public breakfast meeting on Friday February 17 at Chessie’s/111 Grill in Barrington from 8AM to 9AM.

Voters will hear directly from county and state Republican candidates running in the Illinois Primary election that have been endorsed by the Cuba Township Republican Committee.

This is an excellent opportunity to hear from the candidates directly, ask questions, and make an informed decision. Candidates include:

• David McSweeney for Illinois Rep. District 52
• Bryan R. Winter Illinois States Attorney
• Keith Brin for Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court
• Bob Bednar for Lake County Recorder of Deeds
• Steve Newton for Lake County Coroner
• Nick Sauer for Lake County Board, District 17

The cost of attendance is $15 which includes a full breakfast.

Please RSVP by contacting Chairman Bruce Sauer by phone at (847) 682- 4620 or by email at Bsauer1219@sbcglobal.net.. You may get further information at cuba.lakecountyrepublicans.com

“As Republicans, we need to get involved in our communities and serve where possible. Getting out to vote, and encouraging others to participate in this process is our most basic responsibility.

We hope to see you there.” said Bruce Sauer, Chairman Cuba Township Republican Central
Committee.

Early voting begins February 27th and the primary election is March 20th.

About Cuba Township Republican Committee

The Cuba Township Republican Committee led by Chairman Bruce Sauer holds open-to-the-public breakfast
meetings the second Friday of each month. Cuba Township is located in southwest Lake County, Illinois and
covers an area of 24 square miles and a population of approximately 16,000 people living in the following towns:
Barrington Hills (northeast edge), Barrington (northwest quarter), Deer Park (west edge), Fox River Grove
(east edge), Port Barrington (southeast quarter), Lake Barrington (vast majority), North Barrington (west threequarters),
and Tower Lakes. In the 2010 primary election, 78% of Cuba Township turnout voted Republican.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or at our website cuba.lakecountyrepublicans.com.