McHenry County Blog

Slim advertising have apparently loosened standards for political inserts at the Northwest Herald.

I can’t remember the campaign (one in the Cary area pops into my mind), but a former managing editor pledged that a political insert would no longer be allowed the day before an election.

The Republicans in Nunda Township, labeling themselves “Team Nunda,”
paid for an insert that I didn’t get, but discovered while reading the paper at the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake. The church is located just north of the Algonquin-Nunda Township line, which is Crystal Lake Avenue.

So, it appears the local GOP candidates didn’t waste their money on the Algonquin part of Crystal Lake.

The Team Nunda sign is reproduced on both sides of the three color campaign piece.

Endorsements from

• former State Senator Dick Klemm
• current State Senator Dan Duffy
• State Rep. Mike Tryon
• McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren
• McHenry County board members Ed Dvorak, Mary Donner and Barb Wheeler

are featured on one side.

The other side has endorsements from

• State Senator Pam Althoff
• McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew
• McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler
• McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer
• McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz
• Bryan Javor, Young Republicans Chairman

And there’s a big

on both sides.

In the biggest primary margin I noticed in Tuesday’s Republican primary election, incumbent Nunda Township Assessor Dennis Jagla beat back a challenge by appointed Alden Township Assessor Alan Weaver by almost a two to one margin.

Jagla, a member of “Team Nunda,” received 550 (pre-early voting and pre-absentee ballot) votes to Weaver’s 292.

Weaver was criticized for a pamphlet sent to past Democratic Party primary voters by Nunda Township Democratic Party township trustee candidate Patrick Murfin.

In Nunda Township, the challenger for township assessor is Alan Weaver. He is running against incumbent Dennis Jagla. Weaver is now the appointed assessor in the much smaller Alden Township between Harvard and Hebron.

Democratic Party candidate for Nunda Township Trustee Patrick Murfin has taken offense to a mailing whose most prominent visual is a red, white and blue donkey.

Murfin has written the following on his web site:

“I came home from work and was mystified to find a slick postcard mailing (click to enlarge) splashed with Democratic blue and featuring prominent donkey logos promoting Alan Weaver for Nunda Township Assessor.

“I went to his campaign web site and confirmed that he is running in the Republican primary.

“My guess is that this was a special targeted mailing to Dems to get us to vote in the Republican primary under the theory that anyone opposed to the incumbents are our allies. It does mean that he is pretty well financed for a Township campaign if he can afford to print and send a special mailing to Democrats.
“I am not sure if he will succeed in attracting any votes.

“I think his message is confusing.

“And as a real Democratic candidate for office in Nunda Township, I certainly won’t be voting in a Republican primary or encouraging anyone else to do so.”

Democrats in Nunda Township, of course, decided not to hold a primary election to select their candidates. They held a party caucus on one of the coldest nights of the year.

That means the only candidates on the ballot on February 24 in Nunda Township are Republicans.

The same situation exists in Algonquin, Dorr and Grafton Townships.

People who don’t consider themselves Republicans can vote in the GOP primary in those four townships. They will have to sign a piece of paper saying they are a Republican, but Illinois does not have a closed primary. People can switch back and forth anytime they want to.

But, back to what Weaver has done.

I asked him for a comment and here it is:

“As you know, the number of people who vote in primaries is small. I mailed postcards to everyone who has voted in a primary in the past based on the records from the County Clerks office.”

I inquired further and got this reply:

“I mailed two separate cards for a simple reason.

“Even though one party did not field a candidate, there is still a choice in the election.

“ALL the voters need to be able to have a choice and decide for themselves who is the better choice for them, even if the choices are from the same party.

“If the voters decide not to particpate in the election process, that is their choice. They also cannot complain when they have not exercised their right to make a change.”

Can’t you see a comparison piece from the incumbent using the donkey symbol that Weaver has used in the piece above?

= = = = =
If you get mailings during the campaign, I would appreciate your mailing them to me or scanning them and emailing them to me.

In Nunda Township, the challenger for township assessor is Alan Weaver. He is running against incumbent Dennis Jagla. Weaver is now the appointed assessor in the much smaller Alden Township between Harvard and Hebron.

Democratic Party candidate for Nunda Township Trustee Patrick Murfin has taken offense to a mailing whose most prominent visual is a red, white and blue donkey.

Murfin has written the following on his web site:

“I came home from work and was mystified to find a slick postcard mailing (click to enlarge) splashed with Democratic blue and featuring prominent donkey logos promoting Alan Weaver for Nunda Township Assessor.

“I went to his campaign web site and confirmed that he is running in the Republican primary.

“My guess is that this was a special targeted mailing to Dems to get us to vote in the Republican primary under the theory that anyone opposed to the incumbents are our allies. It does mean that he is pretty well financed for a Township campaign if he can afford to print and send a special mailing to Democrats.
“I am not sure if he will succeed in attracting any votes.

“I think his message is confusing.

“And as a real Democratic candidate for office in Nunda Township, I certainly won’t be voting in a Republican primary or encouraging anyone else to do so.”

Democrats in Nunda Township, of course, decided not to hold a primary election to select their candidates. They held a party caucus on one of the coldest nights of the year.

That means the only candidates on the ballot on February 24 in Nunda Township are Republicans.

The same situation exists in Algonquin, Dorr and Grafton Townships.

People who don’t consider themselves Republicans can vote in the GOP primary in those four townships. They will have to sign a piece of paper saying they are a Republican, but Illinois does not have a closed primary. People can switch back and forth anytime they want to.

But, back to what Weaver has done.

I asked him for a comment and here it is:

“As you know, the number of people who vote in primaries is small. I mailed postcards to everyone who has voted in a primary in the past based on the records from the County Clerks office.”

I inquired further and got this reply:

“I mailed two separate cards for a simple reason.

“Even though one party did not field a candidate, there is still a choice in the election.

“ALL the voters need to be able to have a choice and decide for themselves who is the better choice for them, even if the choices are from the same party.

“If the voters decide not to particpate in the election process, that is their choice. They also cannot complain when they have not exercised their right to make a change.”

Can’t you see a comparison piece from the incumbent using the donkey symbol that Weaver has used in the piece above?

= = = = =
If you get mailings during the campaign, I would appreciate your mailing them to me or scanning them and emailing them to me.

They don’t get paid a lot, but township trustee is considered a step on the political ladder.

When Nunda Township Clerk Bridgett Provenzano made the random selection. Here is what happened:

1. Thomas Palmer, an incumbent
2. Joni Smith, a challenger
3. James Schlader, an incumbent who ran for county board in the GOP primary election
4. Richard “Dick” Meyers, just appointed to take the place of Walt Romanus, who died, and a former township clerk and McHenry County Board member
5. Lee Jennings, who sought the appointment Meyers received
6. Kevin Sarnwick, an incumbent

Four will be elected.

No other contests exist, except for township assessor.

There incumbent Dennis Jagla will appear first will face off in the Republican Party primary election against challenger Alan Weaver, who serves as appointed assessor in Alden Township. Weaver ran as an independent last time around.

They don’t get paid a lot, but township trustee is considered a step on the political ladder.

When Nunda Township Clerk Bridgett Provenzano made the random selection. Here is what happened:

1. Thomas Palmer, an incumbent
2. Joni Smith, a challenger
3. James Schlader, an incumbent who ran for county board in the GOP primary election
4. Richard “Dick” Meyers, just appointed to take the place of Walt Romanus, who died, and a former township clerk and McHenry County Board member
5. Lee Jennings, who sought the appointment Meyers received
6. Kevin Sarnwick, an incumbent

Four will be elected.

No other contests exist, except for township assessor.

There incumbent Dennis Jagla will appear first will face off in the Republican Party primary election against challenger Alan Weaver, who serves as appointed assessor in Alden Township. Weaver ran as an independent last time around.

The article I wrote Tuesday about Nunda Township Republican Party filings was based on what had happened as of 4:30 Monday afternoon. I asked Township Clerk to call me if anyone else filed, but, getting no call, make the false assumption that no one else had filed.

It turns out that incumbent Nunda Township Assessor Dennis Jagla is being challenged by the same man who ran against him four years as an independent. His name is Alan Weaver and he is listed as the Alden Township Assessor in the McHenry County Yearbook.

In my first article about Nunda Township, Weaver’s name appeared as a person passing petitions for township assessor.

The article I wrote Tuesday about Nunda Township Republican Party filings was based on what had happened as of 4:30 Monday afternoon. I asked Township Clerk to call me if anyone else filed, but, getting no call, make the false assumption that no one else had filed.

It turns out that incumbent Nunda Township Assessor Dennis Jagla is being challenged by the same man who ran against him four years as an independent. His name is Alan Weaver and he is listed as the Alden Township Assessor in the McHenry County Yearbook.

In my first article about Nunda Township, Weaver’s name appeared as a person passing petitions for township assessor.

Filing for the five Republican township primaries in McHenry County has ended and the major Nunda Township officers have emerged unchallenged, according to Township Clerk Bridgett Provenzano.

That means Supervisor John Heisler, Road Commissioner Don Kopsell, Assessor Dennis Jagla and Clerk Provenzano can relax between now and the February 24th township primary election.

However, there does appear to be a spirited contest for township trustee in the offing.

With the death of Township Trustee Walt Romanus, the Nunda Township Board appointed former Township Clerk and McHenry County Board member Dick Meyers as his replacement last week.

Those running for township trustee follow in alphabetical order:

• Kelvin (Lee) Jennings, who applied unsuccessfully for the Romanus vacancy
• Dick Meyers, appointed incumbent
• Thomas Palmer, incumbent
• Kevin Sarnwick, incumbent
• James Schlader, incumbent
• Joni Smith

Four will emerge as primary winners.

Nunda Township runs north from Crystal Lake Avenue in Crystal Lake into the southern part of McHenry north of Bull Valley Road. Its western boundary goes north from the middle of Crystal Lake. The Lake County line is its eastern boundary.

Democrats could caucus in mid-January and name opposing candidates.

If so, it would be much like the state Democrats, who are now backing away from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s suggestion to hold a special election to select President-elect Barack Obama’s replacement.

Why hold an election to select the party’s candidate when an appointment is so much less dangerous?

Filing for the five Republican township primaries in McHenry County has ended and the major Nunda Township officers have emerged unchallenged, according to Township Clerk Bridgett Provenzano.

That means Supervisor John Heisler, Road Commissioner Don Kopsell, Assessor Dennis Jagla and Clerk Provenzano can relax between now and the February 24th township primary election.

However, there does appear to be a spirited contest for township trustee in the offing.

With the death of Township Trustee Walt Romanus, the Nunda Township Board appointed former Township Clerk and McHenry County Board member Dick Meyers as his replacement last week.

Those running for township trustee follow in alphabetical order:

• Kelvin (Lee) Jennings, who applied unsuccessfully for the Romanus vacancy
• Dick Meyers, appointed incumbent
• Thomas Palmer, incumbent
• Kevin Sarnwick, incumbent
• James Schlader, incumbent
• Joni Smith

Four will emerge as primary winners.

Nunda Township runs north from Crystal Lake Avenue in Crystal Lake into the southern part of McHenry north of Bull Valley Road. Its western boundary goes north from the middle of Crystal Lake. The Lake County line is its eastern boundary.

Democrats could caucus in mid-January and name opposing candidates.

If so, it would be much like the state Democrats, who are now backing away from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s suggestion to hold a special election to select President-elect Barack Obama’s replacement.

Why hold an election to select the party’s candidate when an appointment is so much less dangerous?