McHenry County Blog

One of the issues that Dave Bachmann, unsuccessful 2008 Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County Coroner, proposed in his October 31, 2007, candidacy announcement was initiation of a prescription drug collection from those who died at home under hospice care.

I’m pretty sure that incumbent Republican Marlene Lantz included it in her platform, but haven’t heard anything about it since the election.

Now I read in a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration press release that the idea has taken hold in New Jersey. The first two paragraphs of the release follow:

Thousands of New Jersey Residents Prescribe to Operation Medicine Cabinet
Over 9,000 Pounds of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medicine Collected During First in the Nation Day of Disposal

NOV 18 — (Newark) – Gerard P. McAleer, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Division and Angelo M. Valente, the Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), announced today that over 9,000 pounds of medicine, with a street value of over $35 million, was collected during Operation Medicine Cabinet New Jersey, the first in the nation statewide day of disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.

This statewide effort is being spearheaded by the DEA New Jersey Division, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and the PDFNJ, with partnership and support by many other local and statewide prevention and enforcement organizations.

Photo displays meds turned in under the OMC program on 11-14-2009. L to R: Gerard P. McAleer, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey- announcing the Operation Medicine Cabinet, Angelo Valente, Executive Director, Partnership for Drug Free New Jersey, and Mary Pat Angelini, Assemblywomen, 11 District, New Jersey Assembly

Over 440 local police departments and sheriff departments, in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties, hosted collection sites, where New Jersey residents came out in force to support Operation Medicine Cabinet and rid their homes of unused, unwanted, and expired medicines on November 14th, clearing their homes of over 9,000 pounds of prescription and over-the- counter medicine.

Perhaps this good example will be followed in Illinois. Lots of publicity potential for anyone who pulls it off.

Want to know why former Democratic Party candidate Dave Bachmann is ticked off at McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren?

It’s not because the Nygren family got Homestead Exemptions in both Florida and Illinois.

It’s not because Nygren endorsed fellow Republican incumbent office holder Coroner Marlene Lantz for re-election.

It’s probably not even because the sheriff denigrated Bachmann’s investigatory talents in the Northwest Herald right before the election.

My guess is that it is because the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department put Bachmann’s family in danger.

As Bachmann puts it in his latest post on his 3 and one-half month old, 13,000-hit blog,

Dirty Keith vs. Dirty Harry,

“Somebody tipped those ‘Punks’ off!!!”

What punks?

The Hebron drug dealers Bachmann says were living right next door to him and his family.

Bachmann told the sheriff’s department how his neighbors had divided cocaine by the light of a car’s headlights on their driveway.

But, read what he wrote:

“By now, early June, and just about a month after Sgt. Koziol refused my other calls for help, I again tried to reach out to Sgt. (John) Koziol. Again, my call refused. Again I left a ‘detailed’ message about the fact that I saw the neighbor ‘Punks’ separating Cocaine under the dark of night while using the front headlamps of a Chevy Blazer for light.

“I told Koziol that not only did I see the drugs on the driveway late one night just after I met Sylvia Flores, but that I had just moments before placing my call to Koziol, was looking at a late model Mitsubishi Lancer that had pulled into the driveway with a Marijuana plant dangling down as the cars radiator leaked fluids onto the driveway. I described what I saw in great detail. Again, no return call from the McHenry County, Sheriff’s office or Sgt. John Koziol.

“I also told Koziol that at least (5) young ‘Punks’ had taken up full time residence at the home as well. I placed this call at around (4) p.m. in the afternoon. What happened next will shock all reading this as it did my wife and I.

“In or about 0800 the very next morning after I placed this phone call to Koziol, my wife and I both witnessed all the young men who had been living at the home, all at the same time, flee… some leaving without shirts on…Like rats fleeing a flood. They all got into the four cars that were parked all night at the home and took off.

“In one hell of a hurry I will add.

“At about Noon or so just after the young men fled the home, a large truck pulled up in front of the home. It looked like a Septic Pumping truck. I found that to be strange. I watched further.

“Two men got out of the truck and took a broom and a large blower and began power blowing debris off the driveway, cleaning it for some reason?

“Next the large truck with a tank backed into the driveway and a fresh coat of liquid tar sealant was being applied. Thus removing any and all evidence of what might have been embedded in that driveway. The two men didn’t waste any time either. They were in and out of there in a hurry as well!

“Somebody tipped those ‘Punks’ off!!!”

“…I will state for the record, I Intentionally ‘DID NOT’ call ‘ANY’ other ‘Law Enforcement Agency’ back in early June, when I saw what I had just described.

“(The ‘ONLY’ law enforcement agency I contacted was the McHenry County, Sheriff’s Department’s Sgt. John Koziol. I DID THIS ON PURPOSE! For the EXACT reason you might be thinking of right at this moment!)

“I wanted to know how these small time ‘Punks’ were pulling off all the shenanigan’s they had been getting away with impunity for about a full year. I wanted to know why the Hebron, Police were not getting any help?

“I’m not accusing Sgt. Koziol of anything. I’m telling you ‘EXACTLY’ what happened!

“Then you saw what Sheriff Nygren told the Northwest Herald reporter about my ‘Investigative Instincts!’

“I truly don’t know if Sheriff Nygren ever really knew what all was going on while he was away. He couldn’t have! Could he?”

There’s more in the article, including praise for two deputies who made an arrest next door a couple of months later and about the mud covered Mitsubishi Lancer with a marijuana plant attached to its undercarriage leaking radiator fluid. (Bachmann links to this Northwest Herald article about two marijuana fields found near Hebron.)

Another article talks about other contacts with the sheriff’s department. It includes an incredible quote from the Hebron police chief.

A while ago, McHenry County Blog took note that the blog

Dirty Keith vs. Dirty Harry

had something of a counterpart in

The Diametrical Woodstock Advocate

Alas, former Democratic candidate for McHenry County Coroner David Bachmann’s frequent updates have not inspired the anonymous author of “The Diametrical Woodstock Advocate,” to continue posting.

Originally inspired, it seems obvious, by now-Woodstock Green candidate for sheriff Gus Philpott’s blog

The Woodstock Advocate

But in the comments below the story

McHenry County Sheriff’s Race – Blog v. Blog

might entertain you.  Click on the title of the story and have a look at the 20-some comments.  Some are really heated.  Bachmann does not hold back when he is attacked.

As I pointed out September 11th, former McHenry County Coroner candidate Dave Bachmann created an anti-Sheriff Keith Nygren blog. It’s called

“Dirty Keith vs. Dirty Harry”

It’s an electronic whispering campaign. At least that’s what it reminded me of when I wrote  about it September 23rd.

1,623 people had viewed it then. Now the count is up to 6,027.

I infer that one has been Democratic political campaign consultant James Carville.

Every election cycle has new tools. I remember using the outside of bags that an advertising delivery service put on mailbox posts to hype my campaign for state representative in 1972.

Phyllis Schlafly wrote a cheaply produced book about Barry Goldwater, “A Choice Not an Echo.”

That went hand-in-hand with “A Texan Looks at Lyndon” by J. Evetts Haley.

Haley’s books led to a whispering campaign about how Johnson had stolen the election that put him in the U.S. Senate.

Bachmann’s has covered various aspects of Nygren’s life about which no campaign opponent would want to take the blame.

I won’t itemize them all, but the postings do rely heavily on ridicule, something absolutely no politician can stand.

Bachmann’s blog has led the way to a story even the Northwest Herald could not ignore—the Keith Nygrens having Homestead Exemptions in both McHenry County and Florida. Such a practice is not legal in Florida.

Well, a Nygren supporter has taken up the fight on his blog, which is called

“The Diametrical Woodstock Advocate”

It apparently was started to attack Gus Philpott’s

“Woodstock Advocate”

The latest post on the anti-Woodstock Advocate blog is a flat out attack on Bachmann’s blog.

Thinking about the concept of one blog’s attacking another concept got me thinking of Mad Magazine’s Spy v. Spy.

I never could figure out whether the white or the black spy was the good guy.

Go to both of the battling blogs and make up your own mind.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s race has heated up considerably since former Democratic Party candidate for coroner Dave Bachmann started a blog called

“DIRTY KEITH vs. DIRTY HARRY.”

The blog has taken off. As I write this article, 1,623 folks have taken a look, according to what is apparently the first counter installed. 

A second counter popped up yesterday. It has a map feature which shows where readers are located.  You see the nationwide distribution of the last 100 hits above.  I copied it yesterday afternoon.  The concentration of hits is in our area, as you can see below.

Here’s what a close-up of readers in the Chicago area looked like yesterday.  The one up top is Milwaukee.  The background is not too sharp, but you can make out Lake Michigan.  The two dots above what looks like a “Hidden Mickey” are in Walworth County.  One guy was on the blog for over two hours, the counting mechanism indicates.

The blog is not laid out like McHenry County Blog.  The latest entries are not on top.  They may be in the middle or at the bottom.  To find what is new, one has to go searching.

As anyone who followed the 2008 race between Bachmann and Marlene Lantz knows, Sheriff Keith Nygren was on his fellow Republican’s side. That no love is lost between Bachmann and the two Republicans is blatantly obvious.

How would one characterize Bachmann’s effort?

It’s satire.  No doubt about that.

Bachmann is using it to even scores.   Bachmann was none too pleased at Nygren’s comments to the Northwest Herald about Bachmann’s lack of investigative abilities. 

The blog’s first substantive post had a photo of what readers were led to believe were items related to some arson crime on a rainy night. One that had not been solved, it seemed.  It was beyond me, but insiders might get more from it.

There are a lot of implications in the blog, but readers have to pretty much draw the inferences.  They are usually not stated directly.

To be sure, the content is over the top on any number of topics.  It even contains some “eye candy.”

It reminds me of the whispering campaigns that occur in virtually every campaign of any significance. 

One side tries to get undecided voters to oppose the opponent because of something they dare not put in writing because of the backlash it might occur among those who think the whisperers are just taking part in dirty politics.

But, assuming the charges are amusing, if you aren’t the target of the satire, a number of people might be interested in the blog.

Indeed, what I found above shows a number are.

How often does a sheriff get taken on by a citizen?

Maybe that’s part of the draw.

As I have stated before, ridicule is the one type of criticism that politicians can’t stand.

Who wants to be the butt of Saturday Night Live skits or a Chicago Tribune cut and fold doll or a Chicago Tribune editorial cartoon or another editorial cartoon in the same paper on the same subject or a fake Christmas card.

As I think about what Bachmann has created, it reminds me most of what Saturday Night Live did to Rod Blagojevich and Roland Burris.

Definitely over the top, but funny.

With Bachmann’s blog out there, neither of Nygren’s opponents has to play the bad guy.

Bachmann is.

Hard to blame Green Party candidate Gus Philpott and Nygren’s Republican primary opponent Zane Seipler for what Bachmann does.

Bachmann does link to Seipler’s web page and has a supplementary web page entitled

on which he asks readers to send him information at this email address:

RANOFF2MEXICO@AOL.COM

Somehow I don’t think Bachmann has enough material to keep this going through the November general election in 2010, but it’s going strong now.

Daily Herald reporter Chuck Keeshan is reporting today that former McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s secretary, now NIU student Amy Dalby, stole office computer files to be able to defend herself, “should anyone later claim she was part of a crime.”

Dalby is due in court today to answer for her indictments for official misconduct, theft and theft and computer tampering. The indictments came after a 16-month on and off probe.

Dalby told Keeshan that she did fund raising campaign work, including typing campaign checks and invitations requested by Bianchi, while at work from the beginning of 2005 until the summer of 2006.

She showed the reporter copies of what she did and said she had set up tables for a mid-day campaign fundraiser while being paid by the taxpayers.

She said she told former co-worker Kristen Foley, a former Gary Pack hire. Foley apparently told Bianchi’s Republican primary election opponent Dan Regna. And, somebody told Bianchi’s subsequent slated Democratic Party opponent Tom Cynor.

Foley was chief accuser of Bianchi’s use of office expense money improperly.

The accusations were investigated by the office of Attorney General Lisa Madigan, which “found no basis for opening a criminal investigation against” Bianchi.

Foley was no casual supporter. Now working in Naperville, she obtained 35 signatures for Regna on petitions notarized by then-McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman Bill LeFew.

She also threw a Christmas party for former assistant state’s attorneys. Regna was a special guest.

In the fall of 2007 Illinois State Police investigators interviewed Dalby about her taking the computer files. She talked to them without asking for an attorney.

She told the Daily Herald that the state policemen did not ask about the content of the files she took.

After the primary and general elections, the state police came back, requested and got video interviews. Again nothing was asked about the content of the computer files.

“They’re slaying the messenger, not dealing with the message,” Dalby’s attorney, Wes Pribla, told the Herald.

So far, neither the Daily Herald nor the Northwest Herald has delved into the connection Bianchi’s Democratic Party opponent Tom Cynor with the information. Former Democratic Party coroner candidate Dave Bachmann released emails last week from Cynor indicating he was prvy to the charges as well.

= = = = =
The picture of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi was taken at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee candidates’ night.

The room photo is from Bianchi’s announcement of his intention to run for re-election. It was held in the second floor courtroom of the Old McHenry County Courthouse on the Woodstock Square, the room in which I was sworn in as McHenry County Treasurer in 1996.

After reading the following emails below from the 2008 McHenry County Democratic Party’s candidate for coroner, Dave Bachmann, I’m beginning to wonder.

You may remember that Cynor poured $35,000 into his campaign fund in mid-October.

If I had been Cynor’s opponent, I’d have figured out that he could mount a countywide mailing, plus have some money left over for radio and cable TV.

With the indictment of former Lou Bianchi secretary Amy Dalby by special prosecutor and former primary opponent Dan Regna jumping into the fray with both feet, Bachmann sent me the emails from Tom Cynor, along with a statement.

Although Bachmann no longer lives in the area, he thought the copied emails that Cynor sent to him in the final days of the 2008 Campaign season might be of interest.

Bachmann’s statement:

“It was clear in the waning months of the campaign that many in both parties had been trying to link my campaign as a “Puppet” of Mr. Bianchi’s campaign.

“I had stated in the past, and will state one final time:

I do not now, nor have I ever known Mr. Bianchi with the single exception of a chance meeting in June of 2008 at the Pro Life Pig Roast.

“Mr. Bianchi was very polite and was gracious enough to shake my hand and we visited for perhaps a sum total of 5 minutes. This was the first, and last time Mr. Bianchi and I have ever spoken. I had gone on record in one of my writings to McHenry County Blog stating that I had a deep respect for Mr. Bianchi with regards to the way he had handled himself during the brutal primary campaign against Dan Regna. Other than this, I have never had any personal contact with Mr. Bianchi whatsoever.

“Mr. Cynor and I rarely if ever spoke beyond our initial meeting and a lunch in September of 2007. I did not believe he was a qualified candidate for States Attorney. I did NOT support the Democratic Party’s decisions to load up the ballot AFTER my successful primary season had ended. I believe I may have attended a total of 3 McHenry County Democratic events from the time the primary season ended, up to election day. Mr. Cynor and I had very little contact, if any, from Sept 2007 thru election day.

“I therefore found the attached emails from Mr Cynor, that he had sent to my Campaign at the very last minute of the campaign season, to be suspect.

“From reading the emails, it appears Mr. Cynor, while perhaps under some misguided belief that my campaign and the campaign of Mr. Bianchi’s were somehow linked, in fact sent me these deeply troubling emails with one intent. I believe his intent was to have me pass these along to the Bianchi Campaign in a child like attempt to emotionally extort Mr. Bianchi’s campaign.

“I found Mr. Cynor’s behavior to be reprehensible at the least. Indeed, I did pass this along to Mr. Bianchi via a forwarded email. After reading the content, I was concerned there may be some legal issues of a criminal nature that needed investigating. I wanted no part in what I believed was a misguided use of my campaign by Mr. Cynor and his campaign team.

“After reading Mr. Cynor’s emails to me, then reading the email his campaign manager Laura Asbury had immediately followed up with, I believe the motive and intent was clear. Ms. Asbury was either unaware of her candidate’s previous emails to my campaign, or she is a liar. I won’t speculate, I believe the contents of the emails speak for themselves.

“I am proud I acted in accordance with the law. I was suspect of the content and the intent of Cynor’s emails to my campaign.

“Sincerely,

“David J. Bachmann”

The emails follow:

— On Wed, 3/11/09, david bachmann wrote:

From: david bachmann
Subject:
To: mtnmortician@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 3:37 PM

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 10:32 PM
From: “Thomas J. Cynor”
Add sender to Contacts
To: “‘david bachmann’” mtnmortician@yahoo.com

Dave:

Speaking of Bianchi and Lantz, I just got a number of very interesting e-mails from supporters. I have information about a young lady by the name of Amy Dalby who worked in the SA’s office for some time. Turns out there are some very serious allegations about someone working on the Bianchi campaign while being on county time. The information I have been given claims that this person worked on the campaign at least 10 hours a week on average with the approval and knowledge of the office manager and Lou himself. If true this is obviously criminal activity.

I have about $35,000.00 budgeted for a final county mailer. I can hit about 75,000 homes and about 100,000 voters with info. Info should hit the mail boxes right before the election on Saturday and Monday with press release to accompany. Just an FYI. You may want to keep an arm’s length distance from Bianchi.

Friday, October 24, 2008 11:31 PM
From: “Thomas J. Cynor”
View contact details
To: “‘david bachmann’”

Information was independently verified. Mailers already printed and in process of mailing. Thanks for the concern, however. Don’t overly concern yourself with the coverage in the NWH – relatively limited penetration among MC voters. Turnout should be around 125,000 – 130,000 voters. Should be interesting to see what happens. Good luck.

Thursday, October 30, 2008 6:22 PM
From: “Thomas J. Cynor”
View contact details
To: “‘david bachmann’”

Dave:

Good work on the signs, I see them everywhere. Saw Lou B last night at Lou Czarny’s retirement dinner. He didn’t look too good – very concerned, as well he should be. Next week should be very interesting. Got calls from the papers today, looking for information on “smear” campaign. Certainly didn’t give them anything to use.

Saturday, November 1, 2008 3:53 PM
From: “Thomas J. Cynor”
View contact details
To: “‘david bachmann’”

Did you see the mailer yet? Some in Algonquin, Cary and Fox River Grove have received it in the mail today and already getting positive feed back. I suspect the bulk will be received on Monday – timing couldn’t be better. Things looking good. I just laughed at the money Lou is spending. No amount of money can save him now

Citizens for Cynor] Bianchi fabricates “last minute smear campaign”
Monday, November 3, 2008 10:09 PM
From: “Laura Asbury”
To: undisclosed-recipients

—–Inline Attachment Follows—–

To Whom It May Concern:

I have just returned from a long day campaigning. I checked my phone messages and noticed a number of telephone calls from supporters asking about this “last minute smear campaign” referenced in Lou Bianchi’s press release, Cal Skinner’s blog and multiple robo calls. I honestly don’t have the faintest idea what the Bianchi Campaign is referring to, as there is no “last minute smear campaign”. But I do know this: to play the victim card is an all too common political ploy employed only by the most desperate of candidates. Clearly Mr. Bianchi is desperate, paranoid or confused, or perhaps a bit of all of the above.

Shame on Lou Bianchi for this lowest of political tricks the day before an election. The people of McHenry County deserve better from its public servants. This is certainly an indication of all that is wrong with the State’s Attorney’s office today. Win at any cost, regardless of ethics or integrity.
–
Laura Asbury

Citizens for Cynor
P.O. Box 1816
Woodstock, Illinois 60098

(815) 861-1198

Bachmann also tells me he is writing a book.

He provided a copy of his first draft of his book, “UN-WANTED,” which is based on his four-year federal investigative work. He states he is meeting in Boston next week with a major publisher. You can see his suggested cover above.

All images may be enlarged by clicking on them.

Without early voting totals folded into the results, Barack Obama was leading John McCain by one percentage point.

After adding those early votes in, Obama’s lead leaped to 5.3 percentage points: 51.75% to 46.45%.

House Speaker Mike Madigan will have some explaining to do for his refusal to reinstate the straight party voting that Republican House Speaker Lee Daniels killed the ability to punch one hole and vote for every on the ticket.

Had straight party voting been in effect, there might have been more victories down the ticket.

As it stands now—with the Democratic Party-dominated early voting included in the totals—Democrats have picked up two county board seats.

Lake in the Hills village trustee Paula Yensen beat McHenry County Board Vice Chairman John Jung.

McHenry County Democratic Party Chair Kathy Bergan Schmidt turned out Nick Provenzano.

Both men were strongly supported by Pro-Life forces in McHenry County.

64th state representative Democratic Party candidate Robert Kaempfe got more Democratic primary votes than Mike Tryon received in the Republican primary last spring.

But Kaempfe could not convert that seeming advantage to victory. Instead the spread was almost 23 percentage points.

Democratic Party candidate for coroner, the only countywide Democrat who actually had his name on the ballot, also got more Democratic Party primary votes than incumbent Republican Marlene Lantz.

That did not convert to a close fall race.

Lantz got over 60% of the vote.

I am sure local Democrats will wonder what would have happened had there been straight party voting.

The countywide candidate who came closest to losing was McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer.

She got almost 58% of the vote.

55% is considered a landslide.

Running best was McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. He almost got 62% of the vote in his re-election campaign. The possibility that the hotly contested primary election with Dan Regna would hurt his re-election chances against former Democratic Party Chair Tom Cynor did not materialize.

Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County Coroner Dave Bachmann has issued the following statement of concession:

“I congratulate Ms. Lantz on her Re-Election.
 
“Participating in this wonderful process we call Democracy, has been a distinct pleasure and a life’s experience I shall forever feel blessed to have been a part of.
 
“In 2002, I was told I would die within 8 months of my 42nd birthday, the day I was diagnosed with cancer.

“Although I have survived a near fatal brush with death, my campaign ‘Bachmann for Coroner’ on the other hand, can now be forever placed into eternal rest.
 
“My plans are to relocate back to Mexico to continue a project I began in 2005. That being, opening the country’s first Mortuary School in Puebla Mexico.

“Again, its been a distinct pleasure. I wish all office holders well!

“Remember to laugh each and every day. That ‘perspective’ is really the key to true happiness!”

To show he has a sense of humor, he sent these photos.

Without early voting totals folded into the results, Barack Obama was leading John McCain by one percentage point.

After adding those early votes in, Obama’s lead leaped to 5.3 percentage points: 51.75% to 46.45%.

House Speaker Mike Madigan will have some explaining to do for his refusal to reinstate the straight party voting that Republican House Speaker Lee Daniels killed the ability to punch one hole and vote for every on the ticket.

Had straight party voting been in effect, there might have been more victories down the ticket.

As it stands now—with the Democratic Party-dominated early voting included in the totals—Democrats have picked up two county board seats.

Lake in the Hills village trustee Paula Yensen beat McHenry County Board Vice Chairman John Jung.

McHenry County Democratic Party Chair Kathy Bergan Schmidt turned out Nick Provenzano.

Both men were strongly supported by Pro-Life forces in McHenry County.

64th state representative Democratic Party candidate Robert Kaempfe got more Democratic primary votes than Mike Tryon received in the Republican primary last spring.

But Kaempfe could not convert that seeming advantage to victory. Instead the spread was almost 23 percentage points.

Democratic Party candidate for coroner, the only countywide Democrat who actually had his name on the ballot, also got more Democratic Party primary votes than incumbent Republican Marlene Lantz.

That did not convert to a close fall race.

Lantz got over 60% of the vote.

I am sure local Democrats will wonder what would have happened had there been straight party voting.

The countywide candidate who came closest to losing was McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer.

She got almost 58% of the vote.

55% is considered a landslide.

Running best was McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. He almost got 62% of the vote in his re-election campaign. The possibility that the hotly contested primary election with Dan Regna would hurt his re-election chances against former Democratic Party Chair Tom Cynor did not materialize.