Mark Kownkick bested Bruce Kaplan in a heated contest to become Mayor of Cary.
There was a hot sign war, with some businesses allowing both signs to be posted on their properties.
Mark Kownick beat Bruce Kaplan to become Mayor of Cary.
With half the precincts reporting in, elected Village Trustee Bruce Kaplan is leading appointed former Trustee Mark Kownick by 16 votes.
A five percentage point spread with half the votes uncounted.
I didn’t know that Cary politics were so rough and tumble.
Today someone sent me a copy of a hit piece from mayoral candidate Mark Kownick.
You can see it below:
The hit piece from Cary mayoral candidate Mark Kownick.
Here’s the back side:
You can see the back of Cary mayoral candidate Mark Kownick’s attack on opponent Bruce Kaplan above.
I have asked Kaplan if he would like to comment.
What you read below is just one person’s opinion of what happened at the Cary Chamber of Commerce’s candidates’ forum. Over 100 attended.
If you attended and would like to share what you saw and heard, please comment below or, if it’s as long as this, send it to McHenry County Blog in an email (the address is on the left).
The candidates in the pictures, left to right,
Park District Commissioner – Mike Renner, Patrick Smith, Phil Stanko.
Mayor – Bruce Kaplan, Mark Kownick
“For Cary Park District, I thought Patrick Smith came off well. He has my bullet vote.
“His ‘use it or lose it’ theme, referring to Cary Park District’s massive land holdings, resonated well with me.
“Renner has been there for 18 years, doesn’t want to buy Chalet golf course, but he doesn’t want to sell Foxford Hills either. Stanko seemed more concerned with environmentalism, which to me is MCCD’s job, than use of parks for recreation and holding taxes down.
“For Cary Mayor, Kaplan said a few things I liked, mainly about allowing the free market to work and reducing regulations and fees.
“Kownick didn’t seem to have any revelations. He seems beholden to the Cary sports organizations (basketball, soccer, etc.).
“I asked the mayoral candidates if they could explain why both of Cary’s TIF districts shouldn’t be immediately abolished.
“Neither had an answer.
Park Board – Mike Renner, Patrick Smith, Phil Stanko.
Mayor – Bruce Kaplan, Mark Kownick
“Former Cary Mayor Kathy Parks relentlessly attacked Kaplan for wanting the free market to work and wanting to reduce fees.
“Another guy relentlessly attacked Kownick for not properly shutting down a business he owned 16 years ago.”
Cary Village Trustee Bruce Kaplan shares his opening statement from last night’s candidates’ forum below.
If his opponent former appointed Village Trustee Mark Kownick wishes to send his opening statement, McHenry County Blog will be pleased to publish it.
Good evening everyone.
Thank you for taking your valuable time to join us this evening.
Normally, when I speak in front of a group, I start with a joke.
Tonight, I’m not going to do that as there is nothing funny about the importance of this election.
Bruce Kaplan
I admit that I have a special interest. I do have a special interest and I want to address that right here and now.
I want the truth to be clear for everyone to know and understand.
The people of Cary are my only special interest.
Anyone who lives or works in Cary is of special interest to me… they always have been and they always will be.
Yes, I am a realtor and yes, I do care very deeply for my home for the last 39 years, Cary.
Realtors are among the finest elected officials and volunteers in America.
The Mayor of Marengo is a Realtor. The Mayor of Riverwoods is a Realtor.
Realtors around the State of Illinois are everything from school board members to library volunteers.
Realtors are your neighbors. We live in your communities and every one of us truly cares about the towns we live in.
I’ve run an honest, positive campaign and I am very proud of the support I’ve had from the people of Cary.
My goals are direct. I want to grow the business potential of our town.
I want Cary to be a safe, welcoming and thriving town… a place people want to live, work and shop.
The stronger our business community is, the stronger our schools and home values will be.
I’m a guy who has a problem with government overreach.
I don’t want the Government telling us what we can and cannot do in our homes.
I believe in the free enterprise system without government interference.
I’m against ridiculous and endless fees that towns magically create that hurt residents and businesses.
I ask for your support and your vote and pledge to never break your trust.
I’ve run my campaign on real issues and not a made up desperate attempt to create an issue.
I want you to know my opponent voted to place a realtor on the Zoning Board in Cary.
He voted to place a realtor in Zoning for property and did not see a conflict of interest.
Now, let’s talk about a real issue that actually affects everybody’s pocket book.
I have a problem with a former trustee that voted for the maximum tax levy increase EVERY vote when I have voted against every tax levy that came up since I’ve been on the board.
Remember that this vote is about leadership not about who is a nice guy to go on vacation with or have a beer with.
In my mind, leadership is about honor, duty, responsibility and staying the course.
Leadership means having discipline, being organized and being practical.
Good leadership must use common sense and also always be willing to listen and I promise the residents and businesses of Cary to have an open door.
Financial responsibility is critical to my personal job and is critical to how Cary must be run.
I am committing to you to work for our town’s best interest as long as you will let me.
I’m Bruce Kaplan and I am asking for your vote on April 9th.
Thank you.
The Cary Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a candidates’ forum Thursday evening at the Park District’s Oak Room at 7.
Both village mayoral and park district aspirants will be featured.
Cary Village Trustee Bruce Kaplan is knocking on doors in Cary this weekend handing out the comparison piece you see below:
Positives for Bruce Kaplan and negatives for his unnamed opponent (Mark Kowncik).
This banner for Bruce Kaplan hung on the wall.
I got to Bruce Kaplan’s fund raiser in Cary about an hour after it started, so an accurate count of the number attending is impossible, but I’d guess there were 80-100.
In other words, a good crowd for a municipal fund raiser over two months before the election.
Kaplan is in the real estate business, so, not surprisingly, there were a number of real estate people in attendance.
But there were local political types as well.
Lou Bianchi talks to those supporting Bruce Kaplan for Mayor of Cary. The man in the middle is Michael Karnauch. To the left is Michael Rein.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi was there. So was Republican McHenry County Sheriff candidate Bill Prim.
Jack Schaffer talks with Chuck Lutzow’s wife Darlene.
The Bob Miller family was well represented. I counted four family Republican Precinct Committee in attendance, including County Board member Anna May Miller.
Cary Village Trustee Bob Bragg, Cary Fire Protection District Trustee Mark Guerra and Algonquin Township Clerk candidate Chuck Lutzow posed for this picture.
Demetri Tsilimigras, also a GOP Committeeman from Cary was there, too.
Former McHenry County State Senator and Republican Party Chairman Jack Schaffer was also in attendance.
I only saw one Algonquin Township candidate, Chuck Lutzow, who is running for Township Clerk.
A late arrival was McHenry County Board member Joe Gottemoeller, who reminded me that his District 3 contains part of the Village of Cary.
Bruce Kaplan was kept busy greeting supporters.
I asked Kaplan why he entered the political arena.
Before he ran successfully for Village Trustee, the Village requirement of a $95 fee for every real estate sign caught his attention big time.
That had never happened before.
After getting the Illinois Association of Realtors involved, the village dropped the fee to $45, then waived it entirely “for election year,” Kaplan told me and several others.
The back of Bruce Kaplan’s post card.
He also pointed out that before he and his allies were sworn in two years ago, the Village Board denied a homeowner permission to put on a metal roof.
Kaplan said there was no ordinance prohibiting metal roofs, but the Village Board wouldn’t let the man do it anyway.
Such non-written rules are high on Kaplan’s list of things to change in village government.
The address side of Bruce Kaplan’s post card has his talking points. They include continuing to ask hard questions, a low tax levy, making Cary more business friendly and a cohesive board, among others you can see above.
I had a good talk with Brett Coleman. He came up with this marvelous comment about the state of business in Illinois:
“The only business to be in in Illinois is the moving business.”
And, the details you can see below.
It will be held at the Tapas Restaurant in Orchard Meats at1 33 W. Main in Cary (across from the Harris Bank) from 5-8 on January 29th. Kaplan’s web site can be found here. Kaplan is running against Mark Kownic.
The Vulcan Lake TIF District will suck millions out of the property tax bills of homeowners and businessmen throughout McHenry County over the next twenty or so years. Until other tax districts reach their statutory maximum every tax district that includes part of the Three Oaks Recreation Area will be able to raise their tax rates to make up for the revenue lost in the Route 14 TIF District.
Included on the Tax Rate Calculation page of the McHenry County Clerk’s Office are totals for taxes levied on property within TIF Districts.
Tax Increment Financing Districts are mechanisms that allow municipalities to pry money out everyone in McHenry County who have property outside of the district in question.
This past year the following was taxed so that city councils and village boards could have what amount to unaccountable petty cash funds to distribute to those with property within the TIF districts.
Here’s who taxed the rest of us for how much:
Latest Posts
