McHenry County Blog

McHenry County Blog reported on Republican McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren’s involvement with Democrat State Representative Jack Franks’ fund raiser.

Apparently the relationship is reciprocal.

Over the transom, so to speak, comes the silent auction sign-up sheet below:

The Jack Franks' "Page for a Day" bid sheet at a Keith Nygren fund raiser.

It is the donation of a “Page for a Day” with Franks in Springfield.

It’s not that it has to cost the legislator making the donation anything. He just provides the opportunity for the purchaser to run errands for state reps for a day.

But, given the inclusion of Nygren’s name on a list of supporters that Franks mailed far and wide, it does make one wonder.

Perhaps as interesting is the name of Nygren’s candidate for State’s Attorney against incumbent Republican Lou Bianchi, Dan Regna, as the only bidder when this photo was taken.

If I were Tribune columnist John Kass, I might be tempted to suggest there is a Bi-partisan Combine in McHenry County.

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I first ran into the term “over the transom” in connection with a currency exchange scandal uncovered by Chicago Daily News reporter Jack Mabley.  He said that legislators in Springfield left the the transoms of the window above the door in their hotel room open if they were amenable to accepting bribes.  This was before the days of air conditioning and an open hotel room and transom windows could provide cross-ventilation.

McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren

Zane Seipler, challenging Keith Nygren for Sheriff

With the recusal of Judge Michael Caldwell from the case resulting from GOP primary candidate Zane Seipler’s requesting a special prosecutor to look into the alleged use of taxpayer money and resources to advance the campaign of McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren, the next court date has been set for May 14th.

So much for my belief that there would be a dismissal before the election.

Seipler is seeking essentially what Dan Regna requested and got when he charged that McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi had used his office for political purposes—the naming of a special prosecutor to determine whether or not McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren used his office for political purposes.

Strangely, a copy of the court order was also sent to Diane L. Saltoun, Office of Executive Inspector General.

Could that mean there is a state government angle?

Maybe with Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s refusal to take any action?

Since yesterday was the deadline for filing campaign disclosure information, I decided to take a look at what happened in the Republican primary election for McHenry County State’s Attorney.

Incumbent Lou Bianchi outspent challenger Dan Regna by 1.8 to 1.

Bianchi spent $79,556 during the first six months of this year, while Regna laid out $47,048.

Coincidentally enough, Regna had $48,250 in outstanding loans.

$8,250 was from Regna himself, while Woodstock-based Woodford Development ponied up a whopping $30,000.

McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew and McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz both contributed $1,000 to Regna during the six-month period.

Regna has $78.27 left in his campaign fund.

Bianchi started July with $3,949.

Bianchi’s Democratic Party opponent Tom Cynor has $11,220.

He raised $16,080 since the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee slated him after the primary election. Only $100 of that amount seems to have come from someone other than the candidate himself.

Cynor spent $3,930, most–$2,410—on sign printing at Mt. Prospect’s Minuteman Press.

Since yesterday was the deadline for filing campaign disclosure information, I decided to take a look at what happened in the Republican primary election for McHenry County State’s Attorney.

Incumbent Lou Bianchi outspent challenger Dan Regna by 1.8 to 1.

Bianchi spent $79,556 during the first six months of this year, while Regna laid out $47,048.

Coincidentally enough, Regna had $48,250 in outstanding loans.

$8,250 was from Regna himself, while Woodstock-based Woodford Development ponied up a whopping $30,000.

McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew and McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz both contributed $1,000 to Regna during the six-month period.

Regna has $78.27 left in his campaign fund.

Bianchi started July with $3,949.

Bianchi’s Democratic Party opponent Tom Cynor has $11,220.

He raised $16,080 since the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee slated him after the primary election. Only $100 of that amount seems to have come from someone other than the candidate himself.

Cynor spent $3,930, most–$2,410—on sign printing at Mt. Prospect’s Minuteman Press.

Unfortunately, McHenry County Blog had to get the press release second hand.

Next time, I hope the campaign will email it to me, so I don’t have to re-type it.

Bianchi reaches out to non- supporters

CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi said Wednesday that he will reach out to all McHenry County citizens, including those who didn’t support him Tuesday, in an effort to heal any wounds from a bruising campaign.

Bianchi won re-election convincingly Tuesday by 57-43 percent over Dan Regna.

“We will continue to be State’s Attorney for all the people, not just those who support me politically,” said Bianchi. “It’s time to put the acrimony behind us.”

Bianchi characterized his victory as a “mandate for straightforward leadership” and said he was anxious to fulfill his second term goals. He also thanked the citizens of McHenry County.

“I am humbled and honored to have the support of the people and will continue working hard to live up to the trust they are placing in me,” he said.

The press release was faxed a bit late—3:30ish AM–to get in one of the Heralds yesterday.

Unfortunately, McHenry County Blog had to get the press release second hand.

Next time, I hope the campaign will email it to me, so I don’t have to re-type it.

Bianchi reaches out to non- supporters

CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi said Wednesday that he will reach out to all McHenry County citizens, including those who didn’t support him Tuesday, in an effort to heal any wounds from a bruising campaign.

Bianchi won re-election convincingly Tuesday by 57-43 percent over Dan Regna.

“We will continue to be State’s Attorney for all the people, not just those who support me politically,” said Bianchi. “It’s time to put the acrimony behind us.”

Bianchi characterized his victory as a “mandate for straightforward leadership” and said he was anxious to fulfill his second term goals. He also thanked the citizens of McHenry County.

“I am humbled and honored to have the support of the people and will continue working hard to live up to the trust they are placing in me,” he said.

The press release was faxed a bit late—3:30ish AM–to get in one of the Heralds yesterday.

Live voting from two Crystal Lake precincts indicate a blowout for incumbent McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi in his bitter Republican primary fight with Dan Regna.

Based on the two precincts that vote at Crystal Lake’s Main Beach House, Bianchi is running away with the race.

In Algonquin 7, Bianchi leads 61-23, while in Algonquin 19 the tally is 78-15.

139-38.

So, Bianchi got over 78% of the vote.

In the three precincts reporting, undoubtedly located near the government center, Bianchi was tallying 62%

One must remember that this does not count the early voting or the absentee voting.

And, Crystal Lake is Bianchi’s hometown.

But, Regna does practice law here and his people worked my precinct, Algonquin 7, on Saturday with an endorsement letter from Sheriff Keith Nygren.

If the totals hold up, Nygren’s power will certainly be diminished.

Despite his $150,000 war chest, he will not have the influence he had before backing Bianchi’s challenger.

I left the precinct at 7:30, the earliest in my forty-some years of experience.

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The picture of Lou Bianchi with one figure up (emphasizing the first point of his platform) was taken at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee meeting on January 28th

Live voting from two Crystal Lake precincts indicate a blowout for incumbent McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi in his bitter Republican primary fight with Dan Regna.

Based on the two precincts that vote at Crystal Lake’s Main Beach House, Bianchi is running away with the race.

In Algonquin 7, Bianchi leads 61-23, while in Algonquin 19 the tally is 78-15.

139-38.

So, Bianchi got over 78% of the vote.

In the three precincts reporting, undoubtedly located near the government center, Bianchi was tallying 62%

One must remember that this does not count the early voting or the absentee voting.

And, Crystal Lake is Bianchi’s hometown.

But, Regna does practice law here and his people worked my precinct, Algonquin 7, on Saturday with an endorsement letter from Sheriff Keith Nygren.

If the totals hold up, Nygren’s power will certainly be diminished.

Despite his $150,000 war chest, he will not have the influence he had before backing Bianchi’s challenger.

I left the precinct at 7:30, the earliest in my forty-some years of experience.

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The picture of Lou Bianchi with one figure up (emphasizing the first point of his platform) was taken at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee meeting on January 28th