McHenry County Blog

A press release from State Rep. Darlene Senger:

Senger, McSweeney Resolution Condemns IRS, Demands Investigation

SPRINGFIELD – In the wake of the recent scandal regarding politically-motivated targeting by the Internal Revenue Service of conservative groups, State Representatives Darlene Senger (R-Naperville) and David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) today introduced a resolution condemning the IRS actions and demanding an investigation into the individuals involved in targeting Americans for their political views.

Recent reports indicate that starting in 2010, personnel of federal IRS, including high-ranking and supervisory personnel, singled out American individuals and groups based on their apparent political leanings.

These groups have been denied or delayed recognition of their nonprofit standing based upon how these groups use certain identification words favored by political conservatives, including “Tea Party”, “patriot”, and “9/12”.

“This is an outrageous violation of the trust that the American people have put in the federal government,” says McSweeney.

“Any politically-motivated targeting of Americans by the IRS is intolerable and I expect a full investigation.”

“I think if there is something that we can all agree on here, it is that we want to find out the truth about what really happened at the IRS,” says Senger.

House Resolution 359 specifically commends the work of the United States Congress in investigating the threat to fundamental liberties and urges the White House, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and the IRS to comply with all requests related to Congressional inquiries without any delay.

A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney:

McSweeney Calls on Speaker Madigan to Release Property Tax Relief Bill

Springfield –On the same day a special House committee heard testimony on a pension cost shift proposal to local school districts, state Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) had his property tax relief bill blocked by the House Rules Committee. McSweeney’s amended bill, Senate Bill 1937, is a proposal for Illinois residents living within township governments to get a 2-year property tax levy freeze and it also provides tax relief for seniors living with people with disabilities.

“We are here discussing a pension cost shift today, which will result in yet another property tax increase,” said McSweeney.

“Residents have had enough.

“Property taxes are through the roof at a time when home values and the market haven’t recovered.

“My bill would provide tax relief now and the bill deserves a fair shake.”

Earlier this week, McSweeney filed the amendment to Senate Bill 1937 which specifically calls for enacting the 2-year property tax freeze.

The House Rules Committee has not released the amended bill to the House Revenue Committee.

The Rules Committee is the place in which legislation can be killed or advanced by the Democratic House leaders.

“If my bill is released from Rules and doesn’t pass the House, so be it. That’s the democratic process,” added McSweeney.

“But, I have garnered significant support from both sides of the aisle on this bill and I respectfully ask the Speaker to reconsider this bill.

“I’m confident that I have the necessary votes to pass the bill in Revenue Committee and on the floor”

If released from Rules and then ultimately enacted, Senate Bill 1937 would take effect immediately and would impose a 2-year Township property tax levy freeze, covering tax billing years 2014-2015 for township governments only.

This is not McSweeney’s first attempt at property tax relief this session.

As one of his first actions in office, McSweeney proposed House Bill 95 which would freeze all property tax levies for three years. He was also lead co-sponsor and supported Representative Jack Franks’ House Bill 89, which would freeze all property tax levies when home values fall.

[Franks' bill tanked.]

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For more information about township taxes in McHenry County, click here.

With Jim Harrison deciding that he is going to run as an Independent in the McHenry County Sheriff’s race next year, it’s time to look at what has happened in the recent past when Independents ran against Republicans.

The most prominent was when State Rep. Mark Beaubien’s widow Dee.

In that contest, Republican David McSweeney was the Republican.

Each spent heavily to demonize the other.

Coming off a contentious three-way GOP primary, McSweeney won 58% to 41%.

Grafton Township’s most recent election had a well-publicized slate of Independents running for election against winners of the Republican Party primary election.

On the top of the ticket was Huntley Village Trustee Pam Fender facing off against Independent Jim Kearns.

Republican Fender, who won a hotly-contested three-way primary election with 39% of the vote, spent about $2,500 in the first quarter of the year. This does not include the week before the election, so more may have been spent.

Independent Kearns won by just under three-quarters of one percent (1944-1877). Kearns has not filed a report with the State Board of Elections. Such reports are required if one raises or spends over $3,000 in an election.

The third recent example also occurred in Grafton Township.

In a two-way race, Al Zielinski beat incumbent Bill Ottley 55% to 45% in the Republican Primary Election.

Zielinski spent a bit over $6,200, filing his report after the required deadline. I can find no campaign disclosure report for Ottley. [Looked again after a commenter said he could find it. The only way I could find it was by using the search word "Huntley" in the name of the town. He spent spent $2,461.21, but reports a negative balance of $461.21, something I believe the State Board does not allow. All the money came from Ottley and his wife.] No report has been filed by Jensen either, but as mentioned earlier, one is only required if the $3,000 threshold has been exceeded.

In the general election, Republican Zielinski edged out Independent Terra Jensen by 5.8 percentage points (1,998-1,774).

There was also a race against Republican nominee for Grafton Township Road Commissioner Tom Poznanski. He won the GOP Primary against Richard Dvorak by 63% to 37%. Poznanski is the Chairman of the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee.

In the April General Election, Poznanski was challenged by Independent Tim Hoeft. Poznanski won by 54-46.

Over in Nunda Township Independent Leda Drain ran against Republican Lee Jennings.

Jennings had a hot primary with three people running. One withdrew her candidacy, but too late for her name to be taken off the ballot.

Jennings barely beat Bridgette Provenzano, but Provenzano endorsed his candidacy in the General Election.

The result was that Jennings got over 57% of the vote. It was Jennings 2,614 and Drain 1,937.

So in the five most recent examples, those on the Republican Party ticket four out of five contests.

If I were Harrison, I would be hoping that the GOP Primary would be so heated that the backers of Bill Prim, if Andy Zinke won the primary, would back me.

Conversely, if Prim emerged victorious, I would be hoping that Zinki’s supporters would rally around my candidacy.

That did not happen, however, in the cases of

• McSweeney
• Zielinski
• Poznanski

It apparently did occur in the case of Jim Kearns victory over Pam Fender.

This is too small a sample from which to draw a conclusion, but it does indicate that when a primary contest in contentious, supporters of those who lose can rally to the campaign of an Independent.

In the case of Independent Jim Kearns’ victory, however, his Republican opponent Pam Fender was opposed by over 60% of the Republican Primary voters.

State Rep. David McSweeney is on a roll.

Yesterday he passed a bill stimulated by McHenry County College’s potential of borrowing over $40 million to almost double the size of the campus, plus build a health and fitness club that would compete with Centegra’s Health Bridge, the Sage YMCA and numerous storefront fitness clubs.

Today, he has passed a Constitutional Amendment that would abolish the office of Lieutenant Governor.

His press release is below:

IL House Members Approve Eliminating the Office of Lieutenant Governor

Springfield –State Representative David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) passed House Joint Resolution by Constitutional Amendment (HJRCA 18) as chief sponsor, a measure that would eliminate the job of Lieutenant Governor and be placed on the 2014 ballot for voters to approve. McSweeney garnered bipartisan support by citing that the measure will save the State money and eliminate redundancies.

HJRCA 18 passed the Illinois House today by a vote of 81-30.

“I applaud my colleagues who joined me today and had the courage to call for greater government efficiency,” said McSweeney. “I’m glad this comes during the same week that Illinois House members also approved a bill to reduce our own compensation.”

The bill will have a positive fiscal impact on the state’s budget as it would eliminate the salary and operating costs of the Office of the Lt. Governor. For fiscal year 2013, the Lieutenant Governor’s salary was $135,900 and total office appropriations were approximately $2 million.

“We are in a fiscal crisis and we must continue to take more steps like this to get back on track,” added McSweeney.

HJRCA 18 accompanies other cost reduction legislation filed by McSweeney. To date, McSweeney has declined a legislative pension, proposed to end all legislative pensions and has voluntarily cut his own pay and district office expenses by 10%.

Under the legislation, the Attorney General would be next in line to assume the duties of Governor if necessary. The legislation would be effective for the term beginning in 2019.

Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming all do not have the office of Lt. Governor.

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As noted in the press release, the Attorney General would become Governor should a Governor step down.  House Speaker Mike Madigan’s daughter Lisa Madigan is currently Attorney General.

A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney:

McSweeney Votes Against $2.1 Billion Supplemental Spending Plan

“This bill is all that is wrong with Springfield,” McSweeney stated shortly after his vote against the Democrats hand crafted, supplemental appropriation bill which includes new special interest spending.

“If legislators want to increase spending, they should identify ways to cut spending to pay for it.

“Let’s have a vote on every line item instead of combining everything into a last minute massive bill that won’t allow us to pay down our $9 billion of unpaid bills.

“For example, I would support additional standalone mental health spending, but only if we pay for it with other spending cuts.

“Let’s fix the real problem – state pensions.

“Let’s have that discussion today on the floor.

“The Supplemental Appropriation bill is merely enabling the Democratic leaders of this state to spend more money that we don’t have.

“Illinois is insolvent.

“Let’s do our job and cut spending.”

A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney:

Rep. McSweeney Opens District Office

CARY, IL – State Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) announced that his district office is open in Cary and ready to serve the residents of the 52nd House District.

McSweeney, who was sworn in earlier this month, replaced retiring Rep. Kent Gaffney, who represented the district since 2011.

McSweeney’s district office is located at 105 E. Main Street in Cary.

The office will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Constituents can contact Rep. McSweeney by phone at 847-516-0052, by fax at 847-516-8164 or by email at ilhouse52@gmail.com.

“The office is conveniently located because my priority is to provide the most accessibility and timely information to my constituents,” said McSweeney.

“I look forward to continuing to serve as State Representative and I know that constituent service is the basic element of any elected official’s responsibility. It is my pledge to provide the best service possible.”

McSweeney will be joined by his Legislative Assistant, Megan McCarthy. Residents are encouraged to visit or contact McSweeney’s district office for assistance with any state related matter or any input on House and Senate legislation that comes before the Illinois General Assembly.

Below you will see two post cards sent by Illinois Immigrant Action PAC on behalf of Dee Beaubien (Ind.-Madigan).

They are aimed at Lations, the group which turned out to be the secret weapon for Democrats in district after district.

Here’s the second piece:

Such appeals may have worked for Democratic Party candidates elsewhere, but they did not work for Dee Beaubien in her race against Republican David McSweeney.

When Democratic Party Chairman and House Speaker Mike Madigan spends almost a half a million dollars in Republican territory in the far Northwest suburbs you know something out of the ordinary is taking place.

Observers think that Madigan was trying to establish a beachhead.

The money was not well spent because David McSweeney wiped the floor with Madigan’s “Independent.”

From adding the results (not yet final) for the four-county district, David McSweeney wiped out Dee Beaubien 26,572 to 18,331.

That’s over 59% of the vote, a landslide by anyone’s definition.

Below are the county by county results. Not all have early and absentee votes folded in so they are not final, but certainly are definitive.

In McHenry County the vote was 15,724 to 11,676. McSweeney got over 57%.

The Lake County’s tally shows McSweeney leading by 3,998 to 2,593.  That’s almost 61%.

Cook County’s votes turned out 4,627 to 2,775.  Percentage-wise the margin was almost 63% to 37%.

Finally, the smallest part of the district is in Kane County.  McSweeney got 57% of the vote.  He led Beaubien by 2,223 to 1,676.

Money continues to flow into Republican State Rep. candidate David McSweeney’s coffers.

Here’s what he got November 1st, last Thursday, which was reported yesterday:

• $5,000 – Citizens to Elect Tom Cross, Plainfield
• $2,500 – Realtor Political Action Committee, Springfield
• $1,000 – Contractors for Free Enterprise, Elk Grove Village
• $1,000 – Marilyn J. Hayden, Barrington

McSweeney and Beaubien are locking horns today at the polls.

Here’s what was reported received by Dee Beaubien from the Democratic Party of Illinois Sunday:

• $2,669.26 – postage
• $5,662.66 – printing

Beaubien is running as an Independent against Republican primary winner Dave McSweeney.