McHenry County Blog

Keith Nygren

Lou Bianchi

In case you haven’t noticed the forces grouped behind McHenry County Sheriff are at war with the forces behind McHenry County State’s Attorney.

I have no clue when the war started, but it was manifested in Sheriff Keith Nygren‘s not emceeing State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s re-election kick-off.

DanRegna

The recruitment of Dan Regna, an assistant state’s attorney under the discredited regime of State’s Attorney Gary Pack intensified the battle.

The use of sheriff’s deputies and another former assistant state’s attorney to induce the now 25-year old college student Amy Dalby, who worked for Bianchi, to take and provide computerized internal documents, including ones which looked political, for what certainly appears to be political purposes added to the intensity.

Regna didn’t fade away, instead sought and received a special prosecutor from Associate Judge Gordon Graham to look into charges that Bianchi used his office for political forces.

Friday a Grand Jury was authorized with former Judge Skip Tonigan continuing as the special prosecutor named by Graham.

Zane Seipler

Supporters of Regna are also supporters of Graham. That they seek a negative outcome for Bianchi is a given.

Sally Wiggins

Nygren primary opponent Zane Seipler has asked for a similar special prosecutor to look into Nygren’s use of his office for political purposes.

Enter the wild card of attorney Sally Wiggins, who at this very moment is seeking petitions to run against Graham as an Independent.

Rest assured this has not gone unnoticed by Bianchi supporters.

Pete Gonigam’s First Electric Newspaper has reported and confirmed that Bianchi has hired defense attorney Terry Ekle to represent him in the investigation that Graham set in motion.

Mike Mahon

Gus Philpott

Meanwhile, Nygren has both a Democratic and Green Party candidates lined up in opposition in the November general election. Most observers think that having both Democrat Mike Mahon and Green Gus Philpott, who writes the Woodstock Advocate, will help Nygren emerge victorious.

The Northwest Herald continues to prop Nygren up, while the Woodstock Advocate, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Exposed, which supported Seipler in the primary election, and, once in a while (yesterday, but not today), former Democratic Party candidate for Coroner Dave Bachmann’s Dirty Keith vs. Dirty Harry weigh in on the pros and cons of the candidates.

New Democratic Party Central Committee Chair Mike Bissett helps teach campaign techniques before his recent election.

The Democratic Party, with new party Chair Mike Bissett (husband and campaign manager of McHenry County Board District 5 member Paula Yensen), has not played a visible role yet.

McHenry County Monopoly, a campaign piece local Democrats put out in 2008.

But, surely Republicans remember the devastating McHenry County Monopoly piece mailed out two years ago. Then, there wasn’t enough money to get it to everyone, but you can see below now good it was.  See

There was no "GO" square on the game of McHenry County Monopoly.

McHenry Dems Attack Republican Monopoly

Democrats Gof for Republican Vulnerabilities – 1

Democrats Go for Republican Vulnerabilities – 2

Democrats Go for Republican Vulnerabilities – 3

Democrats Go for Republican Vulnerabilities – 4

Democrats Go for Republican Vulnerabilities – 5

How’s Your Town Ranked by Local Democrats?

Local Republicans have never come up with something as creative as the Democrats’ monopoly piece.  It didn’t do them any good in the countywide races, but the Dems did pick up two county board seats.

Can’t you think of new items that could be added this year?

I certainly can. There are

• two Metra Railroad Stations with political connections (think of variations on “Take a Ride on the Reading”)
• suits to fire Sheriff’s deputies that the deputies win costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and wages for time denied work, plus interest on the late paid wages
• the shooting range incident
• the Grand Jury probe of Bianchi
• the 2030 plan
• the 75% sales tax increase in Crystal Lake imposed by an all-Republican city council
• the Grafton Township follies with different factions of the local Republican Party doing everything by facing off with paintball guns at 10 paces
• the reluctance of Republican Party township officials in Dorr Township to allow and up and down vote on whether to return $1 million to township taxpayers
• Valley Hi’s management problems
• McCullom Lake’s ground water pollution
• traffic congestion (always a good negative for non-incumbents)
• whatever sports complex/baseball stadium gets millions of dollars of Federally-subsidized money from the County Board
• property taxes staying high while property values have fallen
• and I’m sure those reading this will add to my quickly thought up list in the comment section.

Sometimes source documents are worth reading. Yesterday, I published McHenry County State’s Attorney challenger Dan Regna’s letter demanding that various individuals be fired because they also play political roles.

Today, you can read McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s letter of reply. The small pages on the right hand side are the letter that his opponent Dan Regna wrote in support of Glenn Gable for state’s attorney in 2004, plus evidence that one of Gary Pack’s employees was his campaign treasurer.

August 9, 2007

Mr. Daniel Regna
550 West Woodstock Street
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

Dear Mr. Regna,

I have received your “demand letter” and “Pledge to Separate Politics and Prosecution.” Suffice it to say, I marvel at your hypocrisy.

To thoroughly refute your most recent stance regarding the participation of State’s Attorney’s Office employees in local politics, you need to look no further than your own words in the last election. I direct your attention to the enclosed letters of support for former State’s Attorney candidate Glenn Gable, bearing your signature, in which you expressly touted your position as an assistant state’s attorney for the sole purpose of procuring support for Mr. Gable’s candidacy. Your “demand” that I terminate the employment of those who are members of my campaign committee is particularly hypocritical in light of your own membership to Mr. Gable’s campaign committee while employed by the very office that Mr.Gable pursued.

In fact, you explicitly identified yourself both as a prosecutor and a campaign committeeman for Mr. Gable in your enclosed letters of support for his candidacy. It is clear that your self-righteous indignation is of recent vintage.

Also worthy of noting is that you “demand” that I terminate the employment of my office manager, Karen Rhodes, because of her membership to my campaign committee yet you supported a candidate who allowed a former office manager of the State’s Attorney’s Office to serve as his treasurer. I direct your attention to the enclosure citing Barbara Nease as Mr. Gable’s treasurer. As you know, Barbara Nease simultaneously was employed by Gary Pack’s administration as office manager of the State’s Attorney’s Office.

To the extent that you are interested in creating new campaign ethics rules for others, perhaps they should be rules that you have not already breached by your own conduct.

Furthermore, I would expect that as a lawyer, you would have a better appreciation for the First Amendment rights of individuals to freely participate in local politics for the betterment of their communities. The right of any citizen to participate in the election process is one of the cornerstones of democracy. This is a right that I hold dear to my heart. To so cavalierly suggest that anyone should infringe upon another person’s rights to take part in the political process is un-American. As State’s Attorney, I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and certainly not to violate it as you apparently would do.

For the above stated reasons, in no uncertain terms, I refuse to honor your “demand” that I either terminate particular employees of my office or, in the alternative, forbid them from participating in local elections.
Likewise, I view your proposed “Pledge to Separate Politics and Prosecution” as nothing more than a disingenuous and desperate attempt to undermine the successes of my administration.

Sincerely,

______________________________
Louis A. Bianchi
McHenry County States Attorney

Attached was Regna’s 2004 endorsement letter of Bianchi challenger Glenn Gable, plus a screen from the State Board of Elections.

You can read them by clicking on their images to enlarge them.

Sometimes source documents are worth reading. Yesterday, I published McHenry County State’s Attorney challenger Dan Regna’s letter demanding that various individuals be fired because they also play political roles.

Today, you can read McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s letter of reply. The small pages on the right hand side are the letter that his opponent Dan Regna wrote in support of Glenn Gable for state’s attorney in 2004, plus evidence that one of Gary Pack’s employees was his campaign treasurer.

August 9, 2007

Mr. Daniel Regna
550 West Woodstock Street
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

Dear Mr. Regna,

I have received your “demand letter” and “Pledge to Separate Politics and Prosecution.” Suffice it to say, I marvel at your hypocrisy.

To thoroughly refute your most recent stance regarding the participation of State’s Attorney’s Office employees in local politics, you need to look no further than your own words in the last election. I direct your attention to the enclosed letters of support for former State’s Attorney candidate Glenn Gable, bearing your signature, in which you expressly touted your position as an assistant state’s attorney for the sole purpose of procuring support for Mr. Gable’s candidacy. Your “demand” that I terminate the employment of those who are members of my campaign committee is particularly hypocritical in light of your own membership to Mr. Gable’s campaign committee while employed by the very office that Mr.Gable pursued.

In fact, you explicitly identified yourself both as a prosecutor and a campaign committeeman for Mr. Gable in your enclosed letters of support for his candidacy. It is clear that your self-righteous indignation is of recent vintage.

Also worthy of noting is that you “demand” that I terminate the employment of my office manager, Karen Rhodes, because of her membership to my campaign committee yet you supported a candidate who allowed a former office manager of the State’s Attorney’s Office to serve as his treasurer. I direct your attention to the enclosure citing Barbara Nease as Mr. Gable’s treasurer. As you know, Barbara Nease simultaneously was employed by Gary Pack’s administration as office manager of the State’s Attorney’s Office.

To the extent that you are interested in creating new campaign ethics rules for others, perhaps they should be rules that you have not already breached by your own conduct.

Furthermore, I would expect that as a lawyer, you would have a better appreciation for the First Amendment rights of individuals to freely participate in local politics for the betterment of their communities. The right of any citizen to participate in the election process is one of the cornerstones of democracy. This is a right that I hold dear to my heart. To so cavalierly suggest that anyone should infringe upon another person’s rights to take part in the political process is un-American. As State’s Attorney, I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and certainly not to violate it as you apparently would do.

For the above stated reasons, in no uncertain terms, I refuse to honor your “demand” that I either terminate particular employees of my office or, in the alternative, forbid them from participating in local elections.
Likewise, I view your proposed “Pledge to Separate Politics and Prosecution” as nothing more than a disingenuous and desperate attempt to undermine the successes of my administration.

Sincerely,

______________________________
Louis A. Bianchi
McHenry County States Attorney

Attached was Regna’s 2004 endorsement letter of Bianchi challenger Glenn Gable, plus a screen from the State Board of Elections.

You can read them by clicking on their images to enlarge them.

It’s hard to believe without seeing it, so I have an image you can enlarge in this article. Just click on it.

But, because it is so hard to read, I’ll type it, too.

The letter head reads,

“Glenn Gable, Republican for State’s Attorney.”

The letter does not have a date, but it says it was “PAID FOR BY CITIZENS TO ELECT GLENN GABLE” at its bottom.

The letter is a pitch for Gable and invites policemen to a reception for his candidate. It is signed by Dan Regna. Under his name is “Campaign Committee.”

Both Gable and Regna were on State’s Attorney Gary Pack’s staff at the time. Such active campaigning would presumably be forbidden under Regna’s recent proposal to Bianchi.

Here’s the text of that 2004 letter:

Dear Friend and Colleague,

Once again the election season is upon us with the primary election scheduled for March 16, 2004! Much is at stead for the greater McHenry County law enforcement community in the Republican primary for State’s Attorney. As you may be aware, long-time State’s Attorney Gary Pak is not seeking re-election. Three candidates are vying for the seat of State’s Attorney in the Republican primary. Of the three candidates, one candidate is a criminal defense lawyer; one candidate is a personal injury lawyer; ad oe candidate is a veteran prosecutor. Who do you want as your next State’s Attorney?

I believe that our current State’s Attorney’s Office is a progressive and innovative prosecutor’s office staffed by highly dedicated individuals. During the past 17years, Glenn has worked to implement numerous programs supporting the efforts of our police officers including the Child Advocacy Center, Bad check Restitution Program, Felony Review program, Communities Against Gangs and the Juvenile Peer Jury Program. Under Glenn’s guidance, our prosecutors have worked closely with our policy agencies to provide the best investigative support and criminal prosecution possible.

The State’s Attorney’s Office is at a crossroad with Gary Pack’s impending departure. We need a highly experienced and qualified individual to assume the duties of State’s Attorney. I am thoroughly familiar with all of the candidates seeking election as State’s Attorney. Without hesitation, I fully endorse and supplort GLENN GABLE as the only EXPERIENCE and QUALIFIED candidate to be our next State’s Attorney.

Glenn’s experience and qualifications are unmatched by his rivals. Glenn has over 13 years experience as a police officer with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department, 6 years experience as a soldier in the Army National Guard and 17 years experience as a prosecutor. Glenn knows and understands first-hand the difficulties that police officers face every day! Glenn will always stand and support the cop on the street! Glenn has the experience, vision and wisdom to lead the State’s Attorney’s Office as we continue to provide you with unsurpassed legal support in your crime-fighting efforts.

I ask that you support GLENN GABLE to be our next State’s Attorney! We need YOU to spread the word throughout your communities that Glenn Gable is the law enforcement candidate. I invit you and your guests to attend Glenn Gable’s Cop Party on Sunday, January 25, 2004 to learn more about Glenn Gable’s candidacy.

Best Regards!

DAN REGNA
Campaign Committee.

It sounds to me as if Regna was hoping for advancement in the state’s attorney’s office, if his candidate were elected.

It’s hard to believe without seeing it, so I have an image you can enlarge in this article. Just click on it.

But, because it is so hard to read, I’ll type it, too.

The letter head reads,

“Glenn Gable, Republican for State’s Attorney.”

The letter does not have a date, but it says it was “PAID FOR BY CITIZENS TO ELECT GLENN GABLE” at its bottom.

The letter is a pitch for Gable and invites policemen to a reception for his candidate. It is signed by Dan Regna. Under his name is “Campaign Committee.”

Both Gable and Regna were on State’s Attorney Gary Pack’s staff at the time. Such active campaigning would presumably be forbidden under Regna’s recent proposal to Bianchi.

Here’s the text of that 2004 letter:

Dear Friend and Colleague,

Once again the election season is upon us with the primary election scheduled for March 16, 2004! Much is at stead for the greater McHenry County law enforcement community in the Republican primary for State’s Attorney. As you may be aware, long-time State’s Attorney Gary Pak is not seeking re-election. Three candidates are vying for the seat of State’s Attorney in the Republican primary. Of the three candidates, one candidate is a criminal defense lawyer; one candidate is a personal injury lawyer; ad oe candidate is a veteran prosecutor. Who do you want as your next State’s Attorney?

I believe that our current State’s Attorney’s Office is a progressive and innovative prosecutor’s office staffed by highly dedicated individuals. During the past 17years, Glenn has worked to implement numerous programs supporting the efforts of our police officers including the Child Advocacy Center, Bad check Restitution Program, Felony Review program, Communities Against Gangs and the Juvenile Peer Jury Program. Under Glenn’s guidance, our prosecutors have worked closely with our policy agencies to provide the best investigative support and criminal prosecution possible.

The State’s Attorney’s Office is at a crossroad with Gary Pack’s impending departure. We need a highly experienced and qualified individual to assume the duties of State’s Attorney. I am thoroughly familiar with all of the candidates seeking election as State’s Attorney. Without hesitation, I fully endorse and supplort GLENN GABLE as the only EXPERIENCE and QUALIFIED candidate to be our next State’s Attorney.

Glenn’s experience and qualifications are unmatched by his rivals. Glenn has over 13 years experience as a police officer with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department, 6 years experience as a soldier in the Army National Guard and 17 years experience as a prosecutor. Glenn knows and understands first-hand the difficulties that police officers face every day! Glenn will always stand and support the cop on the street! Glenn has the experience, vision and wisdom to lead the State’s Attorney’s Office as we continue to provide you with unsurpassed legal support in your crime-fighting efforts.

I ask that you support GLENN GABLE to be our next State’s Attorney! We need YOU to spread the word throughout your communities that Glenn Gable is the law enforcement candidate. I invit you and your guests to attend Glenn Gable’s Cop Party on Sunday, January 25, 2004 to learn more about Glenn Gable’s candidacy.

Best Regards!

DAN REGNA
Campaign Committee.

It sounds to me as if Regna was hoping for advancement in the state’s attorney’s office, if his candidate were elected.

In a letter sent on August 8th, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, challenger Daniel Regna “demand(ed)” that two of his staff members who hold significant roles in Bianchi leave the county payroll.

Since this is destined to be a major theme in Regna’s campaign, I’ve decided to re-type it so you can read it.

The letter has the heading “RE: Separation of Politics and Prosecution”

Catchy, wouldn’t you say?

Interesting in view of the 2004 letter that you’ll be able to read tomorrow on McHenry County Blog.

Without so much as a “Dear,” just a ‘Mr. Bianchi,” the letter begins.

On behalf of myself, a Republican candidate for State’s Attorney, and the citizens of McHenry County, I respectfully demand that you separate your political re-election committee apparatus from the Office of State’s Attorney. Specifically, I demand that you either terminate Karen Rhodes, Office Administrator, and Ron Salgado, Chief Investigator, form their employment at the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Or, alternatively, I demand that Karen Rhodes and Ron Salgado resign their positions from your re-election campaign committee. The merging of your political re-election apparatus and the Office of State’s Attorney is a dangerous precedent rife with potential for abuse. I would think that the mere appearance of impropriety would cause you to honor my simple request.

Further, I have enclosed my campaign Pledge to Separate Politics and Prosecution for your consideration. I have forwarded a copy of this pledge to McHenry County Republican Chairman William LeFew and to McHenry County Democratic Chairman Tom Cynor for their review and comment. I request that you immediately and publicly commit to this Pledge of Separation of Politics and Prosecution. I request that Michelle Courier either resign from her position with the State’s Attorney’s Office: or, resign her position on the Boone County Board and withdraw from the Boone County State’s Attorney’s race. Further, I request that Nichole Owens, Ron Salgado and Michael McLeary resign their positions as a Republican Party committeeman. I further request that any other member of your staff immediately resign from any elected board, public commission, active membership in an organized political party or other politically motivated entity.

I cannot emphasize how strongly I am concerned with the dangerous merger of your political re-election apparatus with your governmental office. Ultimately, such a merger of politics and government can only lead to abuses of power and political corruption.

Not only as a matter of fairness in the upcoming political campaign for State’s Attorney, but more importantly, as a matter of compelling public interest in the integrity of the State’s Attorney’s Office, I respectfully demand that you completely separate your political re-election apparatus from your governmental office.

Respectfully,

Daniel J. Regna

Tomorrow the political letter that Regna wrote in support of one of Bianchi’s 2004 GOP primary opponents—Glenn Gable—while Regna worked for the state’s attorney’s office.

In a letter sent on August 8th, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, challenger Daniel Regna “demand(ed)” that two of his staff members who hold significant roles in Bianchi leave the county payroll.

Since this is destined to be a major theme in Regna’s campaign, I’ve decided to re-type it so you can read it.

The letter has the heading “RE: Separation of Politics and Prosecution”

Catchy, wouldn’t you say?

Interesting in view of the 2004 letter that you’ll be able to read tomorrow on McHenry County Blog.

Without so much as a “Dear,” just a ‘Mr. Bianchi,” the letter begins.

On behalf of myself, a Republican candidate for State’s Attorney, and the citizens of McHenry County, I respectfully demand that you separate your political re-election committee apparatus from the Office of State’s Attorney. Specifically, I demand that you either terminate Karen Rhodes, Office Administrator, and Ron Salgado, Chief Investigator, form their employment at the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Or, alternatively, I demand that Karen Rhodes and Ron Salgado resign their positions from your re-election campaign committee. The merging of your political re-election apparatus and the Office of State’s Attorney is a dangerous precedent rife with potential for abuse. I would think that the mere appearance of impropriety would cause you to honor my simple request.

Further, I have enclosed my campaign Pledge to Separate Politics and Prosecution for your consideration. I have forwarded a copy of this pledge to McHenry County Republican Chairman William LeFew and to McHenry County Democratic Chairman Tom Cynor for their review and comment. I request that you immediately and publicly commit to this Pledge of Separation of Politics and Prosecution. I request that Michelle Courier either resign from her position with the State’s Attorney’s Office: or, resign her position on the Boone County Board and withdraw from the Boone County State’s Attorney’s race. Further, I request that Nichole Owens, Ron Salgado and Michael McLeary resign their positions as a Republican Party committeeman. I further request that any other member of your staff immediately resign from any elected board, public commission, active membership in an organized political party or other politically motivated entity.

I cannot emphasize how strongly I am concerned with the dangerous merger of your political re-election apparatus with your governmental office. Ultimately, such a merger of politics and government can only lead to abuses of power and political corruption.

Not only as a matter of fairness in the upcoming political campaign for State’s Attorney, but more importantly, as a matter of compelling public interest in the integrity of the State’s Attorney’s Office, I respectfully demand that you completely separate your political re-election apparatus from your governmental office.

Respectfully,

Daniel J. Regna

Tomorrow the political letter that Regna wrote in support of one of Bianchi’s 2004 GOP primary opponents—Glenn Gable—while Regna worked for the state’s attorney’s office.

I guess the defense attorneys finally found a candidate to support.

Word coming from pretty much all directions was that they were dissatisfied that they could not cut deals with McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi the way they did with his predecessor Gary Pack.

With the date for passing petitions for everything from the General Assembly to precinct committeeman starting this week, former Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Regna announced his candidacy, according to the Northwest Herald’s web site.

Regna is the fourth name floated as a possible challenger.

First there was Jim McAuliff.

Next, came Appellate Court Justice Susan Hutchinson.

In the meantime, Bianchi announced his re-election plans.

When she removed herself from consideration, Pack returned from Florida to test the water in McHenry County.

Comments under a trial balloon article for Regna was used by supporters and opponents of Bianchi to test various campaign themes and rebuttals.

= = = = =
The photograph is from McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s announcement for re-election, held in the main courtroom of the old McHenry County Courthouse on the Woodstock Square.

I guess the defense attorneys finally found a candidate to support.

Word coming from pretty much all directions was that they were dissatisfied that they could not cut deals with McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi the way they did with his predecessor Gary Pack.

With the date for passing petitions for everything from the General Assembly to precinct committeeman starting this week, former Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Regna announced his candidacy, according to the Northwest Herald’s web site.

Regna is the fourth name floated as a possible challenger.

First there was Jim McAuliff.

Next, came Appellate Court Justice Susan Hutchinson.

In the meantime, Bianchi announced his re-election plans.

When she removed herself from consideration, Pack returned from Florida to test the water in McHenry County.

Comments under a trial balloon article for Regna was used by supporters and opponents of Bianchi to test various campaign themes and rebuttals.

= = = = =
The photograph is from McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s announcement for re-election, held in the main courtroom of the old McHenry County Courthouse on the Woodstock Square.

There’s a new way to test campaign themes and charges.

It’s the comment section in the Northwest Herald.

The NW Herald published a story about a McHenry County attorney named Daniel Regna. The article, by Brandon Courtre, says that Regna is a former assistant state’s attorney.

I confess to having never heard of him.

He is the fourth name that defense attorneys in McHenry County have put forth as a potential opponent to Republican McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi.

First there was Jim McAuliff. Then, there wasn’t.

Sheriff Keith Nygren apparently declined to introduce State’s Attorney Bianchi when Bianchi announced his re-election. McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, normally a Nygren ally, did the honors instead. McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman Bill LeFew also did not attend and made no bones about not wanting Bianchi re-elected.

Then, those who want Bianchi apparently sweet-talked Appellate Court Justice Susan Hutchison into thinking about running. If she ran, McAuliff would step aside.

She Hutchison decided not to listen to that siren song, back came former State’s Attorney Gary Pack from his Florida job to test the waters.

They must have been chilly because the day it was hinted that Pack might announce, up popped Daniel Regna’s name.

Go figure.

In any event, under that article appear vibrant attacks on and defenses of Lou Bianchi.

The attacks come from people not bold enough to use their names..unless BillLeMany is a real name. (It’s not in the phone book.). The defense comes mainly from equally anonymous “Augustine” and “defender.”

But Augustine and defender seems to be pretty good at knocking down the opposition’s themes and specific charges.

What might have taken weeks in years past now takes a couple of days.

Bianchi knows what will be used against him in the February 5th primary election.

And, those intent on ousting Bianchi know how he will reply to those charges.