McHenry County Blog

With well over 100 people in attendance, Bill Prim, one of three men seeking the 2014 nomination for McHenry County Sheriff to replace Keith Nygren, raised over $50,000 at the Bull Valley Country Club, according to preliminary estimates.

The $500 fund raiser was highlighted by a speech by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Newt Gingrich speaks at a fund raiser for McHenry County Sheriff’s candidate Bill Prim.

Ever the optimist, Gingrich predicted, “I believe we will outlast Obama.”

He gave three examples for predicting that American ingenuity will bring the economy roaring back:

1. A project by Google in which computers drive cars. Developed by Sebastian Trund, Gingrich said this is allowed in California, Nevada and Florida. 300,000 miles have been clocked with one car having been rear-ended and a second accident caused by the driver overriding the computer.
2. The same man believes the cost of higher education can be cut by 90% through online courses.  (Gingrich said the GOP should set as a goal a minimum of a 50% cut in university costs.)
3. Thirdly, Gingrich pointed to the man who developed fracking after twenty years of trying. His success, Gingrich predicted, will result in natural gas being one-fourth of the cost of natural gas in China. The result will be “the rise of American manufacturing on a global scale.”

Asked if he would run for President again, he said that he had a campaign debt from the last campaign and would consider running if it were paid off.

Prim was introduced by Brian Kelly, who observed,

“Bill owes no favors to the local McHenry county political Establishment for this job.”

He touted Prim’s

• Strong leadership
• Integrity
• Independence

Bill Prim

When he spoke, Prim thanked his Host Committee–Gary Rabine, Tom Merryman, Brian Kelly and Lou Bianchi.

He also thanked former Congressman Joe Walsh for his “endorsement for me last week.”

He said in his campaign for Sheriff he gets asked most often, “Can you please be an honest Sheriff?”

Another recurring question is whether he will “ensure” people’s “civil liberties.”

“Absolutely, positively ‘Yes,’” Prim emphasized

In an assurance to the rank and file Deputies in the Patrol Division, Prim pledged, “We won’t affect the Patrol Division.”

He did, however promise to “eliminate all the administrative extra employees that suck up all the money.” He pointed specifically to the Equal Opportunity Affairs Office and/or Legal Affairs Officer, saying that the State’s Attorney’s Office could represent the Sheriff’s Office.

Prim supported a concealed carry law for Illinois.

Algonquin Township Trustee candidate Larry Emery poses with Newt and Callista Gingrich and Bill Prim. Nunda Township Road Commissioner candidate Rob Parish was also in attendance.

“It’s not a gentler country, not a less violent country” than when he started as a police office, the retired Des Plaines Police Commander said.

“I believe it’s everybody’s right to own a firearm to protect their families.

“It is reprehensible that we’re the only state in the entire country that doesn’t have a concealed carry law.”

In a shot at Nygren’s penchant for putting his name on anything that moves, Prime said, “I will not emblazon my name over every vehicle the County owns while I’m sitting in my house in Wisconsin or Florida.

“We will restore dignity to the Sheriff’s Office.”

Gingrich has kind words for Joe Walsh.

“I believe {he has] a substantial future whether in Springfield or the U.S. Senate.

“You have probably as bad a state government as any state in the country. It would be really hard for Springfield to be more stupid or more corrupt than California [but it is].”

He noted that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel is floating his name for U.S. President.

“President of Venezuela [maybe],” he cracked.

Gingrich told the audience that it was time to listen to voters.

• “Listen to Latin Americans.
• “Listen to Black Americans
• “Listen to professional women.”

“If you write off enough groups, you write off a majority.”

Andrew Gasser asks Newt Gingrich about how to improve the Republican Party. The answer will soon be found at Newt University.

“The level of avoidance or reality is breathtaking,” he said referring to Carl Rove, George W. Bush’s political guru and Stu Stevens, Mitt Romney’s campaign manager.

Brian Kelly (bkelly@patriotsunited.com), President of Patriots United sends the following:

With the recent events from the Obama Administration regarding the directive to The Department of Health and Humans Services (HHS) and more importantly the response by the US Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Bishop Doran’s notice [see below, click to enlarge] that was read by parishes throughout the Rockford Diocese, we are adjusting our program this Saturday to provide our guests with take away points on how to best activate in lobbying our elected officials on the HHS mandate.

I’ve also received notice that three US Congressmen will be attending our event.

• Congressman Randy Hultgren (the new 14th district which contains McHenry County),
• Congressman Joe Walsh (current Congressman for most of McHenry County and is now running in the 8th district, and
• Congressman Peter Roskam who has yet to finalize his attendance.

Congressman Don Manzullo will be attending a critical event in his new district which takes him to central IL.

Monsignor Daniel Hermes, Pastor of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Crystal Lake, will be giving the invocation.

Also in attendance will be

• State Senator Pam Altoff
• State Senator Dan Duffy
• State Rep Mike Tryon

and candidates for State Rep.

• Barb Wheeler,
• Danielle Rowe,
• David McSweeney

plus State Senate Candidates

• Karen McConnaughay and
• Cliff Surges.

There is also a host of County officials running for re-election, States Attorney Lou Bianchi and others as well.

Numerous faith based ministries will be exhibiting including:

• Knights of Columbus McHenry Chapter
• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
• 1st Way Pregnancy Center
• Illinois Family Institute
• McHenry and Lake County Right to Life
• International House of Prayer
• Exodus Cry

Click to enlarge.

In the mean-time if you want more details on how to get involved regarding the HHS and to contact your elected officials, the USCCB has a GREAT program that was recently added to their web site. Your letter will be automatically delivered to the elected officials who represent you based on your home address. You can access this at the following address: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protect.

You can also order tickets to this event on line at www.patriotsunited.com

Tickets are closing out fast so I you plan to intend please order your tickets soon.

The Church has Awakened and the Saints are marching in…..

Before Irene Napier was honored, Patriots United leader Joe Edwards presented McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi a certificate.

McHenry County Right-To-Life leader Irene Napier knew that she was going to be praised at the Patriots United Pro-Life Unity Breakfast.

After all, she was the honoree

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi didn’t know he would be on the podium.

But the leaders of Patriots United had other ideas.

Joe Edwards presented Bianchi with a certificate bearing the following words:

Congratulations, Lou Bianchi!

On Fighting the Good Fight and

Seeking Truth and Justice.

Patriots United, April 2nd, 2011.

“For our struggle is not with flesh and blood,

but with the principalities, powers,

and evil spirits…”

Ephesians 6:12.

It was not a secular world view in the message of the certificate given McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi:"For our struggle is not with flesh and blood, but with the principalities, powers and evil spirits..." Ephesians 6:12.

Lou Bianchi speaking to the Pro-Life Unity Breakfast of Patriots United Saturday.

It seemed that the recently acquitted public official was completely surprised at his inclusion as an unannounced part of the program.

After receiving a standing ovation, Bianchi recovered and managed to thank those presence for their confidence in him.

The certificate is the first I have seen from a civil organization which references the fight with “evil spirits.”

But as Brian Kelly, another leader of Patriots United, reminded audience members, elections are not what life in this world is all about.

Irene Napier received the inaugural Henry Hyde Award Saturday morning from Patriots United from its Executive Director Brian Kelly.

Both Irene Napier and State Rep. Mike Tryon mightily enjoyed one of Brian Kelly's introductory comments.

As Napier sat in her seat, Kelly outlined her accomplishments to the packed D’Andrea’s banquet room.

There were laughs.

And more serious moments.

The death of an infant daughter, plus a son lost in an automobile accident helped motivate Napier to oppose the killing of innocent babies authorized under the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade.

She could not understand how life could be treated so lightly.

Irene Napier gives her acceptance speech. I think she made reference to a teleprompter her.

Napier has become a “go-to” woman for those seeking office in McHenry County.

I don’t think it would be a misstatement to say that she is the most influential women in McHenry County.

Sigma Pigma Pie pig roast graphic from 2010.

She plugged the Sigma Pigma Pie fund raising event held the last week of June at her Valley View Road farm. Napier said this year it would be a blow-out, noting that she didn’t know how many years she had left.

Kelly present her with a tall wooden mother and child statue, which clearly stunned Napier.

In her acceptance speech, Napier gave God the credit for any accomplishment for which she was being honored.

Irene Napier near the end of her talk.

Brian Kelly had just given a speech about tearing down walls between church denominations, Pro-Life organizations.

“The biggest problem is finding each other and this shows we’ve found each other,” Napier told the crowd.

Retired manufacturer and head of Family Taxpayers Network Jack Roeser sung the praises of his long-time colleague Irene Napier.

Pausing, she entertained the audience by asking, “Where’s my teleprompter?

“I worry about getting praise and honors like this. It really belongs to God.”

She then noted, “I didn’t ever get elected to any office. I guess I’m just the Jesse Jackson of McHenry County.”

The last note I jotted down was, “I’ve got what it takes to take what you’ve got.”

After Napier spoke Jack Roeser took the microphone to praise her and present her with a $1,000 check.

Patriots United held its Town Hall Candidates’ Forum last night at McHenry County College.

Panels of county board candidates introduced themselves and answered questions.

All were asked if they had filled out the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water’s conflict of interest questionnaire.

Audience applause was greatest for those who had done so and downright tepid for incumbent Dan Ryan of District 6 when he said he was waiting for the State’s Attorney’s Office to review the ordinance proposed by ALAW.

An initial review, of course, has already been completed and whether or not one will voluntarily complete a questionnaire for a private organization has no relevance to the answer Ryan gave.

The District 6 panel. Incumbent Daniel Ryan, sitting second from the right of the photo is the only candidate who either has not filed the ALAW conflict of interest form or committing to doing so.

All the other candidates in District 6 have already submitted the form or, in the case of Victor Narusis, is working on it.

Another candidate, Robert Nowak, a non-incumbent and the only one of three attending from District 1–incumbents Anna May Miller and Yvonne Barnes being absent–seemed to mix up the income disclosure form already mandatory (what I call the “None, None, None form”) and ALAW’s.

District 2′s panel, however, brought the differences between those willing to reveal to reveal their property and business holdings—or lack thereof.

The empty seat in the middle was reserved for McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, who failed to attend the Patriots United county board candidates forum. He is the only one in District 2 not to have completed ALAW's conflict of interest form.

With his name placard smack dab in the middle of the table and chair empty, McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler’s seat was empty.

On both sides sat two women, all of whom had filled out ALAW’s ethics form.

Koehler, so far, has not.

Having just seen Jersey Boys, all I could think of was a take-off of the son in the musical entitled, “The Boys Are Back in Town.”

What came to mind was “The Girls Are Back in Town.” I didn’t want to wake up the three “sleep over boys,” who inexplicably decided to sleep in the room with my computer to listen to the video above, but it has the right title and two minutes into the piece, a couple of women start singing, so I think it fits the story.

Patriots United Executive Director Brian Kelly informed the crowd that candidates would have an opportunity on his group’s web site why they missed the meeting, as well as answer ten or so questions.

Unlike the pre-Thanksgiving 8th congressional district event, this one was not video taped for later posting on the web site. That’s unfortunate, in my opinion, providing more weight to what I consider the false argument that national politics is more important than local political affairs.

I know for a certainty that the lower the level of government, the more opportunity a citizen has to make an impact on governmental process.

Ask the six county board members who were subjected to the voter activation from ten thousand phone calls on the issue of banning video poker (really, slot) machines by an organization associated with Patriots United, the Illinois Family Institute.

Some names of recognizable members of Patriots United are appearing as supporters of candidates for office.

Executive Director Brian Kelly points out,

Patriots United Executive Director Brian Kelly being interviewed by a reporter before the group's health care forum.

“Patriots United does not endorse candidates.

“In fact we are prohibited from doing so based on our charter and
incorporation documents.

“Any endorsement by active members of Patriots United is strictly on a
personal basis and in no way reflects the opinions or policy of Patriots
United.”

The group is sponsoring a McHenry County Board candidates’ night at McHenry County College tonight at 7. Candidates will begin setting up displays at 6:30.