Cat Tax on Its Second Life

Imagine my surprise to see that the McHenry County Health Department is again floating the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax in its FY2011 “Goals.” Don’t believe me? Take a look at the 2011 Draft Budget, a link for which can … Continue reading

Diane Evertsen Mailing Hits Mailboxes

Here’s what Republican County Board candidate Diane Evertsen mailed out just before the election. It’s a yellow post card, almost goldenrod, it appears to me. Evertsen provides her web site address and says, Commonsence, conservative solutions… for a better future … Continue reading

Republican Meetings in Woodstock, Union and Marengo Thursday, Friday and Monday, Respectively

It’s getting about the time normal folks start thinking more seriously about elections. That probably doesn’t include many people reading McHenry County Blog, but, just in case you know any, the following information might be of interest. District 6 GOP … Continue reading

Two More Democratic Party County Board Candidates File

Two previously unopposed pairs of Republican Party McHenry County Board candidates now have Democratic Party challengers for the fall. In District 2, McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler and McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz emerged from a heated … Continue reading

Nowak & Miller, Kurtz & Koehler, Provenzano & Wheeler, Merkel & Salgado, Jung & Hill, McCann & Evertsen

McHenry County Board members Nick Provenzano and John Jung lost their seats two years ago in District 3 and District 5. It wasn’t that Provenzano and Jung didn’t have signs up supporting their re-election. In retrospect, I believe it was … Continue reading

Minority of Republicans Playing Conflict of Interest Defense

“Hostile” would be fair in characterization of McHenry County Board member Pete Merkel’s reaction to the ALAW conflict of interest proposal, as reported by Kevin Craver of the Northwest Herald Merkel, running unopposed in the Republican primary election, did not … Continue reading

All of ALAW’s Endorsed Candidates Won

The letter with the candidates endorsed by the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water was too late for the Northwest Herald’s deadline for letters. The paper of record also would not use the information as the basis for a story. … Continue reading

Dan Ryan Blames Defeat on Refusal to Fill Out ALAW Conflict of Interest Questionnaire

In an interview with the Daily Herald, Sun City McHenry County Board member Dan Ryan blamed his refusal to disclose personal financial information requested by the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water and low turnout in his retirement community. “It … Continue reading

Half of Incumbents in District 1 and District 6 Losing

Yvonne Barnes from Cary and Dan Ryan from Huntley’s Sun City are the two McHenry County Board members who are far enough behind before the early and absentee votes are added to the totals for me to conclude have lost. … Continue reading

Women Leading in District 6, Incumbent Dan Ryan Third

Incumbent McHenry County Board member Dan Ryan is going down to defeat, while, Mary McCann, the other incumbent up for election is running second with 13 of 31 precincts reporting. Leading the pack is newcomer Dianne Evertsen from Hartland Township. … Continue reading

ALAW Conflict of Interest Idea Jumps to Crystal Lake City Government

Remember hearing about how forest fires sometimes jump fire breaks that are intended to contain them. That may have happened late last week with the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water’s conflict of interest ordinance. Originally presented to the McHenry … Continue reading

ALAW Endorsements

Endorsements from the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water has endorsed folks for the McHenry County Board. Here is the group’s press release: The Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water (ALAW) is pleased to recommend the following candidates for McHenry County … Continue reading

Sheriff’s Candidate Zane Seipler Files ALAW’s Conflict of Interest Form

So far thirteen candidates for the McHenry County Board have filed the conflict of interest forms that the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water have suggested be applied to all county officials. Yesterday, Zane Seipler, who is challenging three-term incumbent … Continue reading

Voluntary Potential Conflict of Interest Disclosure Gains Momentum as a Campaign Issue

One of the roles McHenry County Blog plays is alerting daily newspapers of stories they otherwise might not think of. This might be one of those articles. The Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water came up with an idea to … Continue reading

GOP McHenry County Board Contests in All But the McHenry District

Maybe it was the $20,000 salary, plus full and generous health coverage, but whatever the motivation, all the incumbents but District 4 incumbents Sandy Salgado and Pete Merkel, both from McHenry, drew challengers. Twenty-three people are vying for twelve spots … Continue reading