At 100% State Senators Dan Duffy of Lake Barrington and Kyle McCarter of Highland topped the Illinois Policy Institute’s list of votes favored by the Illinois Policy Institute.
State Senator Pam Althoff came in at 90% and Chris Lauzen at 91%.
A red light camera intersection in Florida complete with notice of fine for violation.
A press release from the campaign of State Senator Chris Lauzen, who is running for Chairman of the Kane County Board:
Aurora, IL (February 14, 2012): Illinois State Senator Chris Lauzen invites you to a Press Conference on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 2 PM at the northeast corner of the intersection of Randall Road and Williamsburg Drive across the street from the southern edge of Geneva Commons in Geneva, Illinois
Fellow State Senator Dan Duffy will speak against red light cameras as the lead sponsor of legislation that would restrict and eliminate these devices.
Peter Breen, Chairman and Founder of BanRedCams.com will also speak and endorse Lauzen based on his opposition to red light cameras.
A press release from the Kane County Board campaign of State Senator Chris Lauzen:
Peter Roskam
Chris Lauzen
Aurora, Illinois (February 12, 2012): US Congressman Peter Roskam, currently represents the Sixth District of Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives and is the Chief Deputy Majority Whip, the fourth-ranking Republican leader in the House, has enthusiastically endorsed Senator Chris Lauzen for Kane County Board Chairman.
US Congressman Roskam writes, “I am honored to wholeheartedly endorse Chris Lauzen for Kane County Board Chairman. Chris is a principled conservative with business acumen who understands the challenges we face today.”
Roskam added, “He is committed to a bright future for Kane County and knows how to make government live within its means.”
Senator Lauzen appreciates Congressman Roskam’s support and looks forward to continuing to work closely with him for the good of Kane County.
Here’s what Congressman Randy Hultgren said of his former State Senate colleague Chris Lauzen:
“For Kane County Board chairman, I endorse Chris Lauzen.
“When I served in the State Senate, I worke
Congressman Randy Hultgren poses with State Senator and candidate for Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen.
d closely with Chris for many years; I was always impressed by his drive and commitment to his constituents.
“He is a good family man as well as a man of convictions.
“I know that he has the skills needed to lead Kane County in these challenging times.”
Here’s what the fundraising crowd looked like Saturday:
A view of the crowd at Chris Lauzen's Satruday fund raiser.
Chris Lauzen announcing his candidacy for Kane County Board Chairman as wife Sarah observes.
A press release from State Senator Chris Lauzen, who is running for Kane County Board Chairman:
Aurora, IL (February 4, 2012): Illinois Senator Chris Lauzen, who is a candidate for Kane County Board Chairman, announced today at a rally of more than 300 grassroots supporters of government reform his “Kane County Taxpayer Revitalization Plan”.
Five Areas of Improvement for Kane County Government
1. Property Tax Levy Freeze. With home values falling, property taxes continue to rise. “Personal income taxes have gone up 67%, income taxes on employers have increased 46%, tolls have nearly doubled, the costs to commute have been jacked up more than 25%, utility rates are increasing . . . at the very least, let’s freeze the Kane County portions of our property taxes on our current residents!” Lauzen said.
2. Mortgage Help. Through information and connecting to programs that already exist (HARP 2.0) for those who have stayed current on their mortgages and whose mortgages are already guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, we can help Kane County homeowners stay in their homes by lowering their interest rates and saving hundreds of dollars per month. Lauzen said, “This won’t cost Kane County taxpayers any money, but it will improve their family budgets. Empty homes don’t pay taxes, they destroy neighborhoods and families.” (See LauzenKaneCountyMortgageRelief.com)
3. More Jobs Paying Higher Wages. “By helping to coordinate the efforts of the existing network of Chambers of Commerce and restructuring how county government serves the employer community,” Lauzen continued, “ . . . we will take at least the following five steps:
And, we’ll have some fun learning from successful businesses, both large and small, as we recognize their progress and increase smart, hard-working Kane County commercial confidence.”
4. Drain the Swamp of Political Cronyism. “One million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,5000,000 . . . five times what it costs good candidates in this area to run and win an Illinois State Senate seat) of campaign contributions into the political fund of a local government administrative office is an obvious abuse of political competitiveness and clout. A 75% correlation between campaign cash amounts and contracts, employment and other political favor is a problem with the status quo just begging for reform,” asserted Lauzen. Former U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald and State of Illinois reform leader Adam Andrzejewski have endorsed Lauzen’s plan for 48-hour disclosure of contributions from contractors, a “searchable” database like
DuPage County has offered Kane County at no-charge, voluntary refusal of contributions from no-bid contractors, and the expansion of an unpaid ethics advisory panel from the current one member to three members, making sure that both the majority and minority parties are represented on the commission.
5. Zero-based “Reality” Budgeting to Streamline County Government Spending.
Lauzen said, “We will simply deliver honest competent administration of county
business through innovation and austerity. We will survey best practices from
anywhere in the world, prioritize and implement these innovations for the benefit of
Kane County taxpayers and citizens.”
As the only candidate for Republican nomination for Kane County Board Chairman who personally knows what it feels like to start, grow, manage and successfully sell a million-dollar small business, Lauzen is aligned with employers’ needs. And, as a tax specialist who has completed thousands of income, sales, and payroll tax returns for hundreds of families, he is sensitive to the burdens on taxpayers.
For answers to any questions, please call 630-264-2419 or email campaign@lauzen.com
Former U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald has sent a letter to the editor endorsing his former State Senate colleague Chris Lauzen for the Chairmanship of the Kane County Board.
Fitzgerald is best known for having been responsible for the installation of Patrick Fitzgerald (no relation) as U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois.
For that, he was basically run out of Illinois politics by the Republican members of what Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass calls the (bipartisan) Combine.
The letter follows. It can be enlarged by clicking on its image.
State Senate Chris Lauzen announces he is retiring from the State Senate, seeking the Kane County Chairmanship while his wife Sarah looks on.
At the Vaughan Recreation Center in Aurora, State Senator Chris Lauzen announced he is leaving the General Assembly after twenty years in 2012 to pursue the chairmanship of the Kane County Board.
Unlike in McHenry County, the Kane County Board Chairman is elected at large.
Lauzen currently represents a district that runs almost the entire length of Kane County. He lives in Aurora and his district includes the Kane County part of Sun City in Huntley. The length of his district has led to his being covered by media in the three political parts of Kane County–south, mid- and north.
The well-attended, family-oriented fund raiser drew conservatives not only from Kane County, but from throughout the suburban area.
The Lauzen family applauds Chris Lauzen's announcement.
“It is time for someone else to take a turn,” Lauzen said of his representation in the State Senate.
“But you all know this is no time to quite politics.
“I ask for your support to seek the office of Kane County Chairman. ”
There was standing applause from the 850 at the first indoor Porky Picnic.
“If we’re elected, I make the three promises I made twenty years ago. I will work hard, stay honest and use common sense.
Lauzen promised to freeze the Kane County property tax levy.
You can seen the children's attractions and a small part of the crowd in this photo.
He promised to treat every person with respect, the 550,000 Kane County residents, as well as “each County Board member” whom he noted were individually elected.
He promised competent administration of county government with innovation.
The crowd at Chris Lauzen's 2011 Porky Picnic.
As an example of innovation, he advocated using county landfill contents to produce energy which could bring “millions of dollars” into county coffers. He pointed to Europe, Japan and Hawaii as locations upon which such a plan could be modeled.
“There is technology these days in Europe, and in Japan and now the first three installations in Hawaii where they take municipal solid waste and rather than put it in a landfill, they convert it to energy,” Lauzen said. “Think about that type of business and the millions of dollars that could come into the coffers without asking you for more.”
People wait to talk to Chris Lauzen.
“We deserve so much better than we have been getting,” Lauzen said.
Based on what he has seen of the 2012 campaign so far, he predicted it be “an attack on success.”
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns announced his candidacy to replace ally Karen McConnaughay, who has announced that she would run for the State Senate in a newly-drawn Kane-McHenry County district without an incumbent living in it.
As usual, I looked for candidates and public officials.
I’ll do a more detailed story on that subject, but there was one phenomenon that I had not seen before.
There was, naturally, a line of people who wanted to talk to Lauzen after he finished his announcement.
But, there was another politician on the scene with a line of people waiting to speak with him.
Congressman Joe Walsh and GOP State Rep. hopeful Jan Silosky converse. Silosky's district is south of the the 14th Congressional Distrrict, running into Will and DuPage Counties.
That was 8th District Congressman Joe Walsh.
His presence and warm reception certainly won’t discourage him from running for Congress in the 14th District, where the incumbent is fellow freshman Randy Hultgren. Hultgren and his family at the event as well, but, arriving late, I didn’t see him.
Below is the Lauzen campaign’s press release on his decision to retire from the State Senate to run for Kane County Board Chairman in 2012:
Lauzen Announces for Kane County Board Chairman
AURORA (August 13, 2011) – Having served nearly 20 years in the Illinois State Senate, Chris Lauzen announced in front of more than 850 supporters at his annual fundraising picnic, that he intends to run for Kane County Board Chairman.
Chris Lauzen confers with Elgin political activist Jim Economos.
Lauzen repeated his consistent three campaign promises, “to
Lauzen said, “Our fundamental shared principles remain the same: Faith (as service to others), Family, and Freedom to Prosper.”
He outlined his top three priorities, if elected, as Freezing the County Property Tax Levy; Treating People Respectfully; and, Honest Competent Administration through Innovation.
While Senator Lauzen’s political strength has always been shown in his grassroots support, he begins this campaign with early endorsements from county-wide elected officials, several county board members, and key Republican precinct committeemen.
Lauzen also made a special point to pledge a constructive, issues-based campaign concentrating on offering his plans and proposals for county constituents.
Kane County State Senator Chris Lauzen hasn’t decided what he is going to run for yet, but he’s running for something.
Will it be for re-election to the Illinois State Senate, where he has served almost twenty years?
He represents Kane County all the way up to the McHenry County line currently with the biggest concentration of people being in the heavily voting Sun City in Huntley.
Will Lauzen run for the Kane County Board Chairmanship, which is elected at-large (unlike in McHenry and Lake Counties)?
Will it be for Congress, a post for which he sought a GOP nomination previously when U.S. House Speaker Denny Hastert retired in mid-term, but lost to Jim Oberweis, who then lost to Democrat Bill Foster?
In any event, Lauzen’s Porky Picnic will be held Saturday afternoon at Blackberry Farm in Aurora.
This is a big event.
I expect petty much any candidate who wants to court conservative voters to be in attendance, so I’m going with camera in hand.
I always need a map to find the location at the intersection of Galena Boulevard and Barnes Road. You can click on the one included in the invitation and print it out.
Map showing where Chris Lauzen's Porky Picnic will be held.
The pork chops are excellent. You can see the whole invitation, including the $30 price tag ($50 per couple). There are even rides for kids at this amusement park.
Another interesting feature of the invitation is a list of major donors from the year before:
The annual Pro-Life Pig Roast was held at Irene Napier’s Valley View Road farm northeast of Crystal Lake Sunday and there were candidates galore.
Crystal Lake Tea Party leader Mary Alger and McHenry County Pro-Life Matriarch Irene Napier listen to Congressman Randy Hultgren.
With Governor Pat Quinn’s having just signed the Democrats’ reapportionment bill for for congressional districts, the two incumbents living in the new 14th District showed up.
Joe Walsh, who lives between McHenry and Johnsburg, arrived first.
He worked the crowd, then spoke to it.
Congressman Joe Walsh auctions off golf for four at the Marengo Golf Course.
He and other elected officials were drafted to auction off donated items.
Randy Hultgren, from the DuPage County end of the new 14th District came with his family.
Congressman Randy Hultgren spoke to those attending the Pro-Life Pig Roast.
After speaking to those gathered, Hultgren also became a celebrity auctioneer.
State Senator Chris Lauzen
State Senator Dan Duffy
State Senators Dan Duffy and Chris Lauzen told what was happening in Springfield.
Then, they were also impressed to be auctioneers.
Two people whose names have been mentioned as potential candidates for the Republican nomination for State Representative in the new 64th district, which is divided about 50-50 between McHenry County and Lake County were sighted.
Barb Wheeler making a big point at the Pro-Life Pig Roast.
John O'Neill
Retiring McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler was in attendance, as was McHenry Grade School and Library Board member John O’Neill.
Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks flattered O’Neill by removing the Spring Grove precincts where O’Neil beat him last year from the boundaries of his newly-drawn 63rd District.
Both are possibilities, as is attorney Joe Gottemoller. Wheeler and Gottemoller have Crystal Lake addresses. O’Neill lives in McHenry.
Rich Evans (on the right) discusses a run for Congress in the new 8th District with incumbent Joe Walsh.
A potential candidate for the 8th congressional district is Rich Evans.
A CPA, Evans has contacts in the 8th District, although he now lives in Crystal Lake.
Incumbent 8th District Congressman Joe Walsh is not expected to run for re-election in the new district.
John and Josie Jung.
In addition to Barb Wheeler, three McHenry County Board
members were in attendance:
McHenry County Board member John Hammerand spoke with potential District 6 candidate Shawn Green of Coral Township.
A potential candidate for District 6, former Huntley School Board President Shawn Green, attended with his toddler and pregnant wife Angela.
Other elected officials were also chowing down.
Johnsburg School Board member Steve Rooney and State Senator Chris Lauzen converse.
Judge Mike Chmiel
Included were
Judge Michael Chmiel was there with his wife, Marie, a former McHenry County Board member.
Newly-named Patriots United Executive Director Maria Rodriguez converses Right to Life McHenry County leader Nancy Cole at the Pig Roast.
Patriots United announced that Maria Rodriguez has been hired as Executive Director.
Out of the ordinary was the appearance of two guys not seeking office,
Arie Friedman and Dan Sugrue have a conversation.
After his run against an incumbent Democrat in Lake County last year, Mike Madigan put the woman who beat him in a district with incumbent Republican Sid Mathias. Any chance that Sugrue could win in the Green Oaks district where he lives is minimal. He was elected the the village board his past spring, however.
Friedman ran in the 10th congressional district Republican primary against Robert Dold. He has often spoken in public forms against Obamacare.
Karen McConnaughy
The rumor mill is hot and heavy that Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay will run for the State Senate in the 33rd District.
When I searched for her name and web site on Bing, the text said,
“The fast-growing county has a strong leader and rising star in Karen McConnaughay.”
If one held the top job in one of the largest counties in Illinois, what could the words “rising star” mean?
Running for state senator in a district containing fewer constituents that one currently has strikes me as a step down.
Conversely, if Chris Lauzen, a State Senator, decided to run for Kane County Board Chairman, that would be a step up.
Here's the bing search engine result for "Karen McConnaughhay web site."
But the rumor is out there and are strong rumors about no other candidate running in the 33rd State Senate District.
There was talk about State Rep. Mike Tryon’s doing so, but he has announced he will run for re-election in the 66th State Rep. district. This is half of the 33rd Senate District.
But what about the self-described “rising star” language.
I conclude that McConnaughay, whose new district would spike into McHenry County to the southern edge of my Algonquin Township Precinct 7, must want her “star” to rise above the State Senate.
So, what could that be?
The only thing I can think of is statewide office.
2014 is not that far away and it is helpful for people running for statewide office to have the firm grasp on state issues that comes with serving in the Illinois General Assembly. Every statewide official is up for election then, plus U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, who will be 70 shortly after election day.
At the end of the reporting quarter, McConnaughay reported having just over $21,000 in her campaign fund. Not a lot for a state senate campaign.
But since then, she picked up the following big contributions in May:
XPress Professional Services did a $781 poll on February 1st. The same day she contributed $2,500 to the Illinois Republican State Central Committee. She also gave State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka and Congressman Randy Hultgren $1,000 apiece this year.
Latest Posts
