McHenry County Blog

Yesterday, I started telling you about my annual Family PAC cruise. I ended that installment before we boarded the boat.

14th District Congressional candidate Randy Hultgren and his wife Christy.

Before walking up the gangplank, I got a couple more politicians’ photos. Next was Randy Hultgren.

Betsey and Rich Morthland, Rock Island County Board member and state representative candidate in the 71st District.

I met Rich Morthland and his wife Betsey on the dock.

He’s the only Republican on the Rock Island County Board, but he flexed his political muscles and managed to get “dramatically” higher salaries for his countywide candidates completely rolled back. I think this was during the time that Governor Pat Quinn was raising his employees in the 20% range. He must have gotten great local press.

Baby Jerry is the star in this photo of State Senator Bill Brady talking to John O'Neill. His wife Basia is holding the child.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady arrived.

Algonquin's Gene Brown was one of many who talked to the top GOP candidate on the cruise, Bill Brady. Mark Kirk did not attend.

You can guess that Brady was a big attraction.  He stayed for the whole cruise.

Trying to find the politicians, I stood next to the gang plank.  There I found Richard Grabowski, who is running for state representative in the Oak Lawn area.

Hard to escape the cameraman standing next to the gangway, right state rep. candidate Richard Grabowski?

Next came Issac Hayes, the man bold enough to run against Jesse Jackson, Jr., for Congress. Hayes called Jackson “Senate candidate number 5″ when he spoke.

Issac Hayes, running against Jesse Jackson, Junior.

Even those no longer holding or seeking office could not escape the camera clicker.  Next was Family PAC Executive Director Paul Caprio’s long-time friend and former Illinois Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander.

Bob Kjellander

Former Huntley School Board member Shawn Green was next up the boat ramp.

Shawn Green

I caught Kirk and Stephanie Dillard before they made it to the walkway up to the boat that would take us out for a Lake Michigan cruise.

Right after they arrived, I got this shot of State Senator Kirk Dillard and his wife Stephanie.

More tomorrow.

This is the sixth article McHenry County Blog has published about Paul Caprio’s August Family PAC cruise.

In the first, U.S. Senator and Dr. Tom Coburn’s take on the health care debate. Coburn was on the Senate committee considering the proposal.

The rest are full of pictures of participants:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4.

I passed David, Abbly and Grafton Township (Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Lakewood) Township Supervisor Linda Moore. Moore ran on a platform that the Republican township board had made a big mistake putting the taxpayers in debt by over $5 million to build a new township hall without a referendum. She won the GOP township primary election by 30 votes. Since then, with a taxpayer suit pushing them the GOP-controlled township board has agreed with Moore to cancel the loan.

Downstairs I found Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica talking with Chris Robling. Peraica told me earlier that all he was running for this year was his county board seat.

Next, I bumped into Bob Kjellander, who was talking to State Rep. Bob Biggins (on the left). Will Jamison, who helped out at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota and has recently moved to Chicago, is seen in the middle. Obviously, something really tickled the former GOP National Committeeman’s funny bone.

I don’t follow Cook County politics, so I was surprised to find a second candidate for the suburban seat on the Cook County Board of (Tax) Review. He is Dan Patlak. You see him here chatting with Vernon Township Republican Party Chairman Don Castella. Patlak is Palatine Township Assessor.

I ran into a second candidate who wants to replace Bob Biggins in the General Assembly. His name is Chris Nybo. He is currently an alderman in Elmhurst. Here is his web site. I don’t know to whom he is talking, but if someone will tell me in a comment, I’ll add it.

Tomorrow, Part 6.

One of former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson’s “Wunderkinds” has plead guilty to federal charges concerning the Edwards Hospital Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board scandal.

Nicholas Hurtgen, who at the time was Managing Director of the Chicago office of Bear Stearns, also has a connection to ex-Crystal Laker and ex-felon Don Udstuen, who was an Illinois and McHenry County power broker.

When Wisconsin Energy was seeking an Illinois lobbyist in 1999, Hurtgen asked Don Udstuen’s advice. The government says that Udstuen conferred with Governor George Ryan and Ryan suggested Ryan’s good friend, lobbyist and former Republican State Senator Art Swanson. Swanson was hired.

Hurtgen was identified in a whistle-blowing suit filed by Naperville’s Edward Hospital. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Edwards’ lawsuit said the scheme began in 2001 when Udstuen of Crystal Lake introduced Hurtgen to Edward Hospital officials.

Convicted fixer Stuart Levine was the manipulator on the hospital certificate need licensing board. He was appointed the the board by both Governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich.

Although the Hurtgen plea agreement does not mention Crystal Lake’s Mercy Hospital bid, financing by Bear Stearns figured into the deal to have Mercy hire Kiferbaum Construction, which was supposed to give Levine a kickback. Kiferbaum flipped, as did another Levine associate John Glennon.

Udstuen is the former head of the Illinois State Medical Society medical malpractice company, a super-lobbyist and a close adviser to former GOP Governor George Ryan. Facing a 22-count federal indictment alleging a host of corrupt activities while in public office, Udstuen plead guilty to federal corruption charges involving his work with the Ryan administration and cooperated with prosecutors on the trial, which led to Ryan’s conviction of political corruption.

Hurtgen was the Bear Stearns managing director in Chicago when then-Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander received $809,133.96 for doing no work (really; that’s what the documents filed by Bear Stearns Vincent A. Mazzaro, Managing Director/Principal & Controller of the Municipal Division, say) prior to the bond house selection for newly-sworn in Governor Rod Blagojevich’s $10 billion 1973 pension bond issuance.

The Chicago Sun-Times found that Hurtgen’s wife Kim was a 3.5% owner of Knight Infrastructure. An article I wrote for Illinois Leader was the first to report that Knight provided $29,726 in free plane rides for Blagojevich during 2002—before and after the fall election.

Knight got a lucrative contract to design and be construction manager for the $30 million World Shooting Complex in Sparta and is also earning $4.7 million in an oversight role in the remodeling of tollway oases.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin notes the replacement of Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander by former Washington-based Assistant U.S. Attorney Pat Brady, a resident of St. Charles.

She explains Kjellander’s and his fellow Springfielder Bill Cellini’s connection to the Tony Rezko trial.

Marin points out,

“A government witness testified that Rezko told him Kjellander was working with (Carl) Rove to get Fitzgerald axed.”

Both Kjellander and Rove denied the allegation.

Kjellander displayed his good-natured self by telling Marin:

“You don’t have to sound so gleeful.”

I met Bob when I was running for state comptroller and he was Jim Thompson’s first 1982 campaign manager. He’s a friendly guy and, from what he told Marin, you can tell he has a sense of humor.

I can tell you he does not hold a grudge. When I made a mistake about him in an article, he readily accepted my apology.

Against the background of what Marin describes as “a bipartisan band of fat-cat insiders” (John Kass’ “Combine” description is so much better), she introduces Kjellander’s replacement, Pat Brady.

Although Marin does not tell what Brady said in his acceptance speech in Decatur, it would fit well into her story,

“I pledge to you that reform of the position of Republican National Committeeman of the great State of Illinois starts today.”

If you would like to learn more of Pat Brady, this article has it.

His wife Julie was State Rep. Jim Durkin’s co-chairman for the Illinois McCain committee. Her speech at the McCain rally led me to suggest that, if the Democrats do not retain Denny Hastert’s seat, she would make a formidable candidate.

= = = = =
You can see Illinois Republican National Committeeman Pat Brady on the left and former Illinois Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander on the right.

At the bottom you see McCain Illinois Chairman Jim Durkin handing Co-Chairman Julie Brady the microphone at the Addison rally in early February.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin notes the replacement of Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander by former Washington-based Assistant U.S. Attorney Pat Brady, a resident of St. Charles.

She explains Kjellander’s and his fellow Springfielder Bill Cellini’s connection to the Tony Rezko trial.

Marin points out,

“A government witness testified that Rezko told him Kjellander was working with (Carl) Rove to get Fitzgerald axed.”

Both Kjellander and Rove denied the allegation.

Kjellander displayed his good-natured self by telling Marin:

“You don’t have to sound so gleeful.”

I met Bob when I was running for state comptroller and he was Jim Thompson’s first 1982 campaign manager. He’s a friendly guy and, from what he told Marin, you can tell he has a sense of humor.

I can tell you he does not hold a grudge. When I made a mistake about him in an article, he readily accepted my apology.

Against the background of what Marin describes as “a bipartisan band of fat-cat insiders” (John Kass’ “Combine” description is so much better), she introduces Kjellander’s replacement, Pat Brady.

Although Marin does not tell what Brady said in his acceptance speech in Decatur, it would fit well into her story,

“I pledge to you that reform of the position of Republican National Committeeman of the great State of Illinois starts today.”

If you would like to learn more of Pat Brady, this article has it.

His wife Julie was State Rep. Jim Durkin’s co-chairman for the Illinois McCain committee. Her speech at the McCain rally led me to suggest that, if the Democrats do not retain Denny Hastert’s seat, she would make a formidable candidate.

= = = = =
You can see Illinois Republican National Committeeman Pat Brady on the left and former Illinois Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander on the right.

At the bottom you see McCain Illinois Chairman Jim Durkin handing Co-Chairman Julie Brady the microphone at the Addison rally in early February.

Saying there would be “choas” otherwise, outgoing Illinois Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander spoke on behalf of punishing states other than Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina that held primary elections before March.

Kjellander advocacy comes after Illinois Democrats moved the primary election to the first Tuesday in February, ostensibly to allow Barack Obama to get early delegates, but, in my opinion, really to make it more difficult to defeat legislative incumbents.

(Think how hard it is for a challenger or his/her volunteers to go door-to-door in snow or cold weather.)

In any event, the Republican National Committee voted for the position Kjellander supported.

To take effect, the convention would have to ratify the suggestion on September 1st.

That’s what Congressional Quarterly is reporting online.

And, state parties would have an incentive similar to the Democrats’ to obey this new rule. The approximately half of the states that held earlier primaries would lose 50% of their delegates’ vote if they did not change their laws.

There is precedent. This year, Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Wyoming lost half their delegate strength because their primaries were before February 5th, the date of the Illinois primary.

If an Obama tsunami rolls over Illinois this fall, Illinois may not have enough delegates to worry about.

Tell me how many of these “bonus delegates” you think Illinois will be eligible for, assuming these 2008 convention rules are not changed:

Bonus Delegates

• 2004 Bonus: States casting a majority of their 2004 Electoral Votes for the Republican Candidate receive 4.5 + 0.60 × the Jurisdiction’s Total 2004 Electoral Vote bonus delegates. Should the District of Columbia cast the majority of their electoral votes for the Republican Candidate, the District will receive 4.5 + (0.30 × 16) bonus delegates. (Round any fractions UP to the next integer.)
• U.S. Senate: Award 1 bonus delegate for each Republican Senator elected in the 6 year period (November 5, 2002, November 2, 2004, November 7, 2006) prior to January 1, 2008. (Limit 2)
• Governor States electing a Republican Governor between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2007 receive 1 bonus delegate. (Limit: 1)
• U.S. House: States electing Republicans to 50% or more of the their U.S. House seats between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2007 receive 1 bonus delegate. (Limit 1)
• One Chamber: States electing a Republican majority to one chamber of the state legislature (OR the legislature is presided over by a Republican) receive 1 bonus delegate. (Limit 1).
• All Chambers: States electing a Republican majority to all chambers of the state legislature (or all chambers are presided over by a Republican) between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2007 receive 1 bonus delegate. (Limit 1).

Saying there would be “choas” otherwise, outgoing Illinois Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander spoke on behalf of punishing states other than Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina that held primary elections before March.

Kjellander advocacy comes after Illinois Democrats moved the primary election to the first Tuesday in February, ostensibly to allow Barack Obama to get early delegates, but, in my opinion, really to make it more difficult to defeat legislative incumbents.

(Think how hard it is for a challenger or his/her volunteers to go door-to-door in snow or cold weather.)

In any event, the Republican National Committee voted for the position Kjellander supported.

To take effect, the convention would have to ratify the suggestion on September 1st.

That’s what Congressional Quarterly is reporting online.

And, state parties would have an incentive similar to the Democrats’ to obey this new rule. The approximately half of the states that held earlier primaries would lose 50% of their delegates’ vote if they did not change their laws.

There is precedent. This year, Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Wyoming lost half their delegate strength because their primaries were before February 5th, the date of the Illinois primary.

If an Obama tsunami rolls over Illinois this fall, Illinois may not have enough delegates to worry about.

Tell me how many of these “bonus delegates” you think Illinois will be eligible for, assuming these 2008 convention rules are not changed:

Bonus Delegates

• 2004 Bonus: States casting a majority of their 2004 Electoral Votes for the Republican Candidate receive 4.5 + 0.60 × the Jurisdiction’s Total 2004 Electoral Vote bonus delegates. Should the District of Columbia cast the majority of their electoral votes for the Republican Candidate, the District will receive 4.5 + (0.30 × 16) bonus delegates. (Round any fractions UP to the next integer.)
• U.S. Senate: Award 1 bonus delegate for each Republican Senator elected in the 6 year period (November 5, 2002, November 2, 2004, November 7, 2006) prior to January 1, 2008. (Limit 2)
• Governor States electing a Republican Governor between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2007 receive 1 bonus delegate. (Limit: 1)
• U.S. House: States electing Republicans to 50% or more of the their U.S. House seats between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2007 receive 1 bonus delegate. (Limit 1)
• One Chamber: States electing a Republican majority to one chamber of the state legislature (OR the legislature is presided over by a Republican) receive 1 bonus delegate. (Limit 1).
• All Chambers: States electing a Republican majority to all chambers of the state legislature (or all chambers are presided over by a Republican) between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2007 receive 1 bonus delegate. (Limit 1).

That’s the best line in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article by Daniel Brice on former Governor Tommy Thompson top aide Nick Hurtgen’s having his trial date set for extortion and mail fraud.

Hurtgen was head of Bear Stearns’ Chicago office when Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander got $913,000 for on Governor Rod Blagojevich’s $10 billion pension bond deal in his first year in office.

In an official filing, Bear Stearns said Kjellander did no work on the deal. Kjellander has not been accused of doing anything wrong.

Hurtgen’s not important enough in the scheme of things for Chicago media to keep on top of what’s happening to him, but, in Milwaukee, he’s big news.

The article says,

“Federal Judge John F. Grady had wanted to start the trial sooner, but the assistant U.S. attorney overseeing Hurtgen’s case had another corruption trial that she has to prosecute first, according to The Bond Buyer, a trade publication.

“That’s Chicago for you:

So much corruption, so few prosecutors.”

The trial starts November 3rd before Senior Judge John F. Grady.

That’s the best line in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article by Daniel Brice on former Governor Tommy Thompson top aide Nick Hurtgen’s having his trial date set for extortion and mail fraud.

Hurtgen was head of Bear Stearns’ Chicago office when Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander got $913,000 for on Governor Rod Blagojevich’s $10 billion pension bond deal in his first year in office.

In an official filing, Bear Stearns said Kjellander did no work on the deal. Kjellander has not been accused of doing anything wrong.

Hurtgen’s not important enough in the scheme of things for Chicago media to keep on top of what’s happening to him, but, in Milwaukee, he’s big news.

The article says,

“Federal Judge John F. Grady had wanted to start the trial sooner, but the assistant U.S. attorney overseeing Hurtgen’s case had another corruption trial that she has to prosecute first, according to The Bond Buyer, a trade publication.

“That’s Chicago for you:

So much corruption, so few prosecutors.”

The trial starts November 3rd before Senior Judge John F. Grady.

“I pledge to you that reform of the position of Republican National Committeeman of the great State of Illinois starts today,”

said Kane County’s Pat Brady to Illinois Republican Party Convention delegates in Decatur Saturday.

“I know a lot about corruption.

“I know a lot about ethics.

“I know the difference between right and wrong.

“There will never be anything (I do) that reflects negatively on the Republican Party,” he continued.

“I will always remember that I represent the state party of Illinois and never represent myself,” Brady stressed, pointing to instances where people might confuse a private role with his party role.

Brady pledged that if he ever fall short of the highest ethical standards, or in any way brought disrepute to the office,

He welcomed input from “as many Republican Leaders and activists as possible.”

Brady replaces former Republican National Committeeman and Treasurer Bob Kjellander Steve Rauschenberger having beaten out Elgin’s former State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Steve Rauschenberger. Rauschenberger unsuccessfully challenged Kjellander four years ago.

According to newspaper reports after the Tony Rezko indictment, Kjellander was identified in the indictment as “Individual K.” However, a footnote on page 17 of the December 21, 2007, proffer in that case noted that “Individual K” was “not referred to in this filing.”

Kjellander was in attendance at the convention Friday afternoon.

Brady, a former federal prosecutor in Washington, now works as a forensic consultant in Chicago.

I met him when he asked me to take pictures of his wife Julie, who co-chaired the Illinois John McCain presidential effort and gave a speech at the Addison McCain rally. If you worked on the McCain campaign, odds are that she called you.

Brady is a cousin of State Rep. Dan Brady of McLean County and a boyhood friend of Bloomington’s State Senator Bill Brady.

In the article about the Addison rally, I suggested that Julie Brady would make an impressive candidate for congress in 2010, should Jim Oberweis not get elected.

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The picture of Illinois National Republican Committeeman Pat Brady speaking to the Decatur convention was taken from a screen. His head shot was supplied by Brady. The photograph of a smiling Bob Kjellander was taken on last summer’s Family PAC cruise.