McHenry County Blog

Signs on Walkup near Prairie Ridge in front of a Democrat’s home.

A District 3 activist who has been knocking on doors found the following of interest:

In going door to door I had estimated that one in ten had voted early and I see I wasn’t far off.

Virtually all of the Beaubien signs I saw were on Dem houses. I saw one with a Romney/Ryan sign also.

Usually the houses with the Dee Beaubien signs don’t have any other candidate signs out. One Dem former or present Precinct Committeeman and I believe former Island Lake Trustee had a garage full of them earlier on.

Beaubien is obviously trying to pick up all of the Dem vote and then add some others who recognize the name and will think she is her late husband. It could work.

Most signs for my candidate are disappearing.

Jim Roden and Kathy Bergan Schmidt were at the Eco Fair at MCC on Saturday.

Jim also had his door hangers and cards at his vendor table. Obviously neither Roden nor Kathy were out walking.

I have only received the one Rep general mailing that I am on and the Provenzano mailing at the house. Maybe no one else is doing any mailings in our district.

I know that Michele Aavang is not doing any due to cost in D 6. Her photo did appear however in a farm mailing giving an award to Hultgren on behalf of the McHenry County Farm Bureau of which she is current President.

The only other door hangers I saw in District 3 were from Mary McClellan in one Cary precinct and they didn’t show up until yesterday.

They were obviously being put out indiscriminately as they were on the doors of registered and non registered voters alike.

Mary seems to have the most signs including a few large ones with her photo.

Both she and Joe Gottmoeller seem to have the support of large vacant lots and farm properties, all of which are probably owned by real estate speculators.

In particular I notice some sharing space with Harding Real Estate signs. Harding was very vocal in opposing the 2020 Land Use Plan. It will be interesting to see how they vote on the Board on development issues.

The percentage of people who have at least heard something about the County Executive Referendum is up to around 30% but half of them have only very vague knowledge gleaned mostly from signs.

Very few people appeared to know anything about the County Board races.

One person, who was a very regular voter and very inquisitive, asked what it is that County government does.

That’s a fair question.

Another asked what county he lives in.

This early voting is going to mean that future races will have to start sooner and cost more money.

You have to keep replacing signs and people aren’t receptive before Labor Day on these down ballot contests.

The observer went on to wonder why are there so many presidential election signs when Illinois won’t count in the outcome?

Intensity would be my guess.

The McHenry County Board race in District 3 (from Crystal Lake Avenue north to and including southern McHenry) got more crowded yesterday as attorney Mary McClellan threw her hat in the Republican ring.

She formed a Political Action Committee yesterday and today sent the following press release:

Mary McClellan is Running for McHenry County Board District 3

Mary McClellan, is announcing her candidacy for McHenry County Board in District 3.

Mary McClellan

Mary McClellan has collected signatures from residents of District 3 and continues to do so in support of her nomination.

Individuals have responded with support and substantial signatures more than sufficient to place her on the ballot for the March 20, 2012 [Republican] primary election.

With over 12 years of legal experience, a small business owner is how the Mary understands the needs of local citizens.

More information about Mary McClellan and her campaign can be found on her website, www.mcclellan2012.com This site includes biographical information about Mary and a calendar of upcoming events.

And, here’s the biographic information:

Having been involved in the community 22 years, I have long worked for positive goals related to  the community. I now feel that the time has come for me to seek elected office.

I want to bring fresh ideas and positive solutions to McHenry County Board by running for District 3 Board Seat.

During these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever to know who your elected officials are and what they stand for.

I met many of you as I walked door to door.

It is great to discuss the issues and listen to your individual concerns. I am passionate about improving the quality of life and future of McHenry County.

I graduated from McHenry County College after returning to school as a single mother. I then obtained my Bachelors Degree from National Lewis University and went on to obtain my law degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

I attended school in the evening and worked full time all through the years I attended school.

I met my husband here in McHenry County 22 years ago. We have raised our family and continue to have a vested interest in the community.

I have run a small business, worked my way through college.

After law school I went to work for the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office and worked side by side the County Board members.

I then went into private practice where I defended civil rights cases.

I am currently defending Cook County in civil rights cases and helping to keep cost down as it pertains to litigation cases.

Public service, however, continues to be an important part of my life. As an attorney I have had many opportunities to lead initiatives, provide input to a balanced budget, and interact with the community in different venues.

I intend on continuing to require diligence and dedication to fiscal responsibility, McHenry County has a budget of nearly $250,000,000 and it requires accountability to the citizens of McHenry County.

Anyone who knows me will tell you I am enthusiast and dedicated, I would like to give the Citizens of McHenry County my very best.

I would appreciate the opportunity to provide the citizens of McHenry County my dedication and support as their Board Representative.

She has scheduled two fund raisers, one in Chicago and one in Prairie Grovv:

• November 30, 2011 Rosebud 70 W Madison, Chicago  5-7:30 pm ($100)
• December 1, 2011, Prairie Isle Golf Clubhouse 2216 Route 176, Prairie Grove ($35)

Larry Snow

“While Democrats say Teachers ‘Have Kept Their Part of the Deal?’“

is the title of an April 5, 2011, article by former Huntley School District 158 Board member Larry Snow.  (The quote was in the Chicago Tribune Marcy 31, 2011.  It is from Executive Director Dick Ingram of Teachers’ Retirement System.)

The article was published in “The Champion” with this teaser:

“82,981 of 132,502 Illinois Teachers Pay Nothing or Little into Their Pensions“

That’s 63% of all teachers in Illinois.

The State Journal-Register is reporting that State Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D-Orland Park) is promoting a bill where state and local governments would all pay six percent of payroll toward employee pensions.

In a revealing sentence in reporter Chris Wetterich’s article, he writes,

“What’s unclear is how much more employees themselves would have to pay.“

Because no one has done the research except, I believe, the Illinois Education Association and Snow, how much extra teachers would have to pay if their so-called contribution rate was raised from 9.4% to 13.77% is a really good question.

While not covering every school district in Illinois, Snow did research the teachers’ contracts for all of the large school districts (by law all are supposed to be on the internet) in order to find out how much teachers pay in order to get a “full 75 percent pension after working only 27 years.” He points out, “Most adults work for 27 years before they turn age 50.”

As way of background, Snow notes that teachers are not in the Social Security System and, therefore, are not forced to pay Social Security taxes.

“Ordinary workers get hit with a 6.2 percent deduction for Social Security,” Snow writes. “It’s a deduction they have to pay federal and state income taxes on.

“Democrats gave teachers a huge loophole of not paying income taxes on any of their pension deductions” he continues. “This enormous no-tax handout to teachers amounts to billions of dollars each year.”

Snow’s research leads him to this conclusion:

“Over 51,000 of the total 132,502 teachers in Illinois contribute nothing from their K-12 paychecks into their pensions. Illinois law says it is to be 9.4 percent.

“About an additional 32,000 teachers pay little into their pensions. It is 1.81 percent to be precise for these 31,956 teachers.“

How many teachers pay not a dime toward their retirement?

51,025 teachers in 186 school districts pay nothing for retirement benefits.

They “don’t pay a penny into the 9.4 percent called out by Illinois law.

“There are a total of 868 districts in Illinois.

“The pay-zero teachers listed are 39 percent of all teachers in Illinois,” Snow reveals.

No agency in state government seems to keep track of this information.

Not the Downstate Teachers Retirement Fund, which boldly and incorrectly claims,

“Active TRS members are required to contribute 9.4 percent of their creditable earnings each year…”

The State Board of Education doesn’t keep track either.

My guess is that only the Illinois Education Association has a matrix showing what school districts have given what benefits in contract negotiations.

Snow discovered this about Lockport:

“…on page 14 of the Lockport Township HS 205 teachers contract it reads:

1. The Board will pay the current level of retirement contribution to the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois.”
2. It is expressly understood that figures appearing on this salary schedule include a sum equal to the current level of TRS contribution of the base salary of each Teacher which is, in fact, payable to the Teachers’ Retirement System on the Teacher’s behalf.”

“The ISBE report shows this board paying nothing. A Democrat bureaucracy doesn’t check the teachers contracts to see if what is reported, matches what’s in writing.”

And, if legislation is passed requiring 4.37 percentage points more, how long do you think it will take Lockport taxpayers to pick up the difference?

Given that local teachers’ unions pretty much control school boards wherever they are elected (read everywhere but Chicago), my guess is will be on the top of the collective bargaining list.

Do you wonder if Rep. McCarthy knows that?

Is his proposal just a setting up local taxpayers for an even bigger fall?

Five years from now will 39% of teachers still be paying nothing for their pensions?

Even better for teachers is that this pension payment ups their pension payments.

Take a look at the chart below.  Chances are your school district is on it.

Chart of Pension Contributions by 82,981 District Teachers of 132,502 Total Illinois K-12 Teachers

Name of District	No. of Teachers	Percent of Pension Contributed by Teachers
Thornton Twp 205	428	Zero
Proviso 209	281	Zero
Waukegan 60	1,098	Zero
Morton 201	455	Zero
Kankakee 111	348	Zero
Joliet 204	340	Zero
Round Lake 116	387	Zero
Rockford	1,843	Zero
Decatur 61	454	Zero
Crete Monee	340	Zero
Danville 118	382	Zero
Valley View 365	1,068	Zero
Aurora West 129	706	Zero
East Peoria 309	69	Zero
Galesburg	281	Zero
Bremen 228	313	Zero
Freeport	317	Zero
Leyden 212	219	Zero
Elgin U-46	2,332	Zero
Rock Island	388	Zero
Mattoon	225	Zero
Collinsville	394	Zero
Massac 1	143	Zero
Sterling	219	Zero
Belvidere	531	Zero
Quincy	436	Zero
Dixon	179	Zero
West Chicago	248	Zero
Cook County 130	289	Zero
Cicero 99	738	Zero
Joliet 86	617	Zero
Harvey 152	163	Zero
Crystal Lake 155	412	Zero
Crystal Lake 47	564	Zero
Wheeling 21	489	Zero
Champaign 4	717	Zero
United CUSD 304	68	Zero
Riverdale 100	76	Zero
Reed Custer 255	114	Zero
Wilmington 209U	84	Zero
United Township 30	90	Zero
Summit Hill 161	213	Zero
Plainfield	1,695	Zero
Schiller Park 81	98	Zero
Dolton 149	176	Zero
Township 211 Palatine	799	Zero
Ball Chatham 5	248	Zero
Taylorville 3	152	Zero
Williamsville 15	81	Zero
Harrisburg 3	130	Zero
Belleville 201	281	Zero
Dupo 196	76	Zero
O’Fallon 203	145	Zero
O’Fallon 90	207	Zero
Rochester 3A	142	Zero
Pekin 108	248	Zero
Morton 709	175	Zero
New Lenox 122	287	Zero
Frankfort 157	158	Zero
Marion 2	219	Zero
Carterville 5	110	Zero
Kinnikinnick 131	122	Zero
Tolono 7	116	Zero
Mahomet-Seymour 3	161	Zero
Champaign 4	717	Zero
Urbana	346	Zero
Charleston 1	180	Zero
Park Ridge 64	319	Zero
Evanston 202	222	Zero
Maine HSD 207	508	Zero
Arlington Heights 214	753	Zero
Niles 219	350	Zero
Berkeley 87	165	Zero
Berwyn South	263	Zero
Lyons 204	239	Zero
Lemont 113	144	Zero
Palatine 15	713	Zero
Schaumburg 54	1,003	Zero
Oak Lawn 123	203	Zero
Oak Lawn 229	114	Zero
CHSD 230 Orland Park	519	Zero
Argo 217	111	Zero
Homewood 233	174	Zero
Genoa 424	137	Zero
Sycamore 427	231	Zero
Dekalb 428	362	Zero
Lombard 44	216	Zero
Downers Grove 58	277	Zero
Hinsdale 86	296	Zero
Elmhurst 205	538	Zero
Naperville 203	1,063	Zero
Effingham 40	176	Zero
Canton Union 66	175	Zero
Morris 54	61	Zero
Morris 101	50	Zero
Coal City 1	138	Zero
Jersey 100	164	Zero
Central CUSD 301	224	Zero
Kaneland 302	275	Zero
St. Charles 303	880	Zero
Cahokia	298	0.4
Chicago Public Schools	23,219	2
Peoria 150	988	0.4
Springfield	1,105	0.4
Moline 40	461	0.4
Harvard	149	0.87
Dolton 148	236	1.4
Belleville 118	228	0.4
Pekin 303	125	0.4
Hononegah 207	118	0.4
Arlington Heights 59	444	3
Leyden 212	219	0.4
Summit 104	103	0.4
Palos 118	130	0.4
CHSD 219 Orland Park	519	0.4
Bensenville 2	145	1.4
DuPage 88	266	0.4
CHSD 94	122	0.9
CUSD 300	1,189	4.4
Hawthorn 73	253	1.4
Lake Forest 115	132	0.4
Wauconda 118	273	0.4
Johnsburg 12	158	0.4
Cary 26	192	4.9
Woodstock 200	385	1.4
Keeneyville 20	107	0.4
Winnebago 323	117	0.4
LaSalle-Peru Twp. 120	88	0.7
Prairie-Hills 144	187	0.4
Geneva 304	367	Zero
Herscher 2	126	Zero
Manteno 5	160	Zero
Bourbonnais 53	160	Zero
Bradley 61	103	Zero
Bradley Bourbonnais 307	114	Zero
Momence 1	88	Zero
Yorkville 115	329	Zero
Plano 88	154	Zero
Oswego 308	827	Zero
Streator 44	132	Zero
Ottawa 141	140	Zero
Ottawa 140	102	Zero
Glenview 34	343	Zero
Zion 6	177	Zero
Grayslake 46	266	Zero
Elmwood Park 401	181	Zero
Libertyville 70	159	Zero
North Shore 112	374	Zero
HSD 113 Highland Park	249	Zero
Grant 124	91	Zero
Zion-Benton 126	156	Zero
Evanston 65	547	Zero
Grayslake 127	187	Zero
Meridian 15	64	Zero
Mt. Zion 3	133	Zero
Edwardsville 7	480	Zero
Alton 11	467	Zero
Macomb 185	130	Zero
McHenry 15	282	Zero
McHenry 156	158	Zero
Nippersink 2	92	Zero
Columbia 4	111	Zero
Waterloo 5	166	Zero
Hillsboro 3	114	Zero
Meridian 223	113	Zero
Illinois Valley Central 321	139	Zero
Carbondale 165	76	Zero
Carbondale 95	105	Zero
Riverton 14	85	Zero
Auburn 10	90	Zero
Pawnee 11	47	Zero
Panhandle 2	35	Zero
Sullivan 300	75	Zero
Centralia 135	93	Zero
Litchfield 12	83	Zero
Harlem 122	505	Zero
Granite City 9	617	Zero
Princeton 115	86	Zero
Princeton 500	43	Zero
Bond County 2	120	Zero
Duquoin CUSD 300	101	Zero
Rocton 140	102	Zero
Rochelle Twp. HSD 212	71	Zero
Rochelle CCSD 231	131	Zero
Byron 226	127	Zero
Oregon 220	104	Zero
Farmington Central 265	85	Zero
Porta 202	75	Zero
River Bend 2	71	Zero
Red Bud 132	73	Zero
Sparta 140	105	Zero
Southwestern 9	107	Zero
Staunton 6	87	Zero
Gillespie 7	81	Zero
Hamilton County 10	83	Zero
Midwest Central 191	85	Zero
Tuscola 301	86	Zero
West Carroll 314	99	Zero
Oakwood 76	64	Zero
Hoopeston 11	94	Zero
Westville 2	80	Zero
Beardstown 15	98	Zero
El Paso-Gridley 11	99	Zero
Murphysboro 186	137	Zero
Monticello 25	111	Zero
Paris-Union 95	74	Zero
Mt. Vernon Twp. 210	80	Zero
Mt. Vernon 80	109	Zero
Jasper County 1	101	Zero
Steger 194	128	Zero
Calumet City 155	77	Zero
North Boone 200	116	Zero
CCSD 93 Carol Stream	294	Zero
East Maine SD 63	254	Zero
Lockport Township HS 205	205	Zero
Above Teachers Total	82,981

Lori McComville's message.

Lori McConville is the Democrat challenging incumbent Barbara Wheeler and Nick Provenzano’s comeback attempt in McHenry County Board District 3.

$1,895 is the total she reports have raised since July 1st.

Major donations, that is, ones over $150 came from the following:

• $500 – Kalthleen Bergan Schmidt, Crystal Lake, the McHenry County Board member who beat Provenzano in 2008.
• $200 – John McConville, Crystal Lake
• $471 – Lori McConville, Crystal Lake

Terry Kappel knocking on dorrs for Lori McConville in Nunda Township Precinct 13.

Leaving the First United Methodist Church on West Crystal Lake Avenue I saw Democratic Party activist Terry Kappel walking toward town.

Not knowing whether he was knocking on doors or might want a ride, I doubled back to ask.

Kappel was knocking on doors, helping out Lori McConville’s County Board campaign, among others.

Mike Debrancesco walked across West Crystal Lake Avenue to find out waht Terry Kappel was "selling."

As we were talking, Mike Defrancesco from across the street walked over to ask what Kappel was selling. When he found out it was the Democratic Party, he announced his and his wife Sharon’s allegiance and took the literature pack.

Kappel had asked me if I was going to stop over at the Colonial Cafe to see Democratic Party Lt. Governor candidate Sheila Simon.

With main atractiion Sheila Simon having left, the b ack room at Colonia Cafe was emptying out.

I had a birthday luncheon that started before the 3 o’clock start time and lasted until after Simon had already departed.

I did hear that about 22 people attended the organizing meeting that Pat Quinn Field Coordinator Gloria Wiekert Of Roscoe had put together.

Pat Quinn Field Coordinator Gloria Wickert and local Democratic Party activist Terry Kappel agreed to a picture, but not before getting a Quinn yard sign to dsiplay.

She told me Simon would be back in the area and told me she would email me when she was coming.

So far I don’t have a photo of the candidate.

What follows is a report from Nunda Township Tax Fighter Gerry Walsh. A day after his efforts to put an advisory referendum on the fall ballot asking whether voters wanted to repeal the Nunda Township Open Space Plan fell short at the Annual Town Meeting, he was in Chicago taking a complaint against Nunda Neighbors for untimely filing of it campaign disclosure form. Notes on the meeting follow:

I don’t think the hearing lasted more than five minutes.

Unlike the hearing last fall, Lori McConville was present.

If she were not running for the McHenry County Board in November, I suspect this wouldn’t be newsworthy to McHenry County residents – and she would have blown off the meeting again.

The ISBE attorney started by giving a summary from the Hearing Officer’s report of March 11.  The report reads in part:

“The respondent [McConville] admitted they filed the December 2009 Semi-Annual report late and an amendment was required to clear up deficiencies in the original report.  Therefore, I recommend that the complaint be found to have been filed upon justifiable grounds….Furthermore, I recommend that no further action be taken in this matter, except for the assessment of a penalty by the Board for the delinquent filing of the December 2009 Semi-Annual Report.”

At the hearing, Gerry Walsh said that he agreed with the Hearing Officer’s report.

He also pointed out that this was the second time in six months that a Walsh vs. Nunda Neighbors complaint was filed.  Both times, the Hearing Officer reported the complaint was filed on justifiable grounds.

Lori McConville, the Treasurer and Chair for Nunda Neighbors, then stated that she also agreed with the report.

The Board voted unanimously to accept the report, which suggests that another fine will be assessed to Nunda Neighbors.

Lori McConville indicated that she may appeal the fine.  She gave no indication that she would contest the decision, which she had admitted to.

The timing of this hearing before the State Board of Elections is amusing because it occurred the day after the Annual Nunda Township meeting.

As McHenry County Blog previously reported, after Lori McConville’s speech at that meeting supporting the Nunda Open Space Plan and its support by Nunda Neighbors for Open Space, Gerry Walsh responded that Nunda Neighbors was not a credible organization, since they violated state campaign law in the fall without contesting it, and are possibly going to be found in violation again the next day [which they were].

Gerry Walsh has quipped,  “Lori McConville has shown that she is financially inept, dismissive of state campaign laws, as evidenced by the ISBE rulings, and hasn’t learned from her mistake of six months ago.  She is not a stellar candidate for office, much less for the county board.”

Kathy Bergan Schmidt, new chair of the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee, was almost picking off incumbent Republican County Board member Nick Provenzano before the early votes were folded in.

Provenzano was reported to be leading by 97 votes. There were 23,308 votes reported then.

After adding the early and absentee votes, there were 29,458 ballots cast in District 3.

286 votes is the margin now reported that Schmidt beat Provenzano.

Kathy Bergan Schmidt, new chair of the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee, was almost picking off incumbent Republican County Board member Nick Provenzano before the early votes were folded in.

Provenzano was reported to be leading by 97 votes. There were 23,308 votes reported then.

After adding the early and absentee votes, there were 29,458 ballots cast in District 3.

286 votes is the margin now reported that Schmidt beat Provenzano.

Glancing at the final week’s contributions to McHenry County candidates, I found two for the county board district north of Crystal Lake.

One was a $500 contribution to incumbent Republican Nick Provenzano from Jack Roeser, who runs the Family-Taxpayers Network.

The second was more interesting. It was for Kathy Bergan Schmidt, the new McHenry County Democratic Central Committee Chair.

She is the only Democrat challenging Provenzano and Mary Donner.

She started off with $1,887 on Jul 1st and has picked up $2,131.

So, she has a bit over $4,000 for her campaign.

Over half of the money has come as a loan from herself.

She also received $500 from the Eight District Democrats and Independents out of Lake Zurich.

Provenzano started out July with $465 and has garnered $1,780 since then. Besides the Roeser $500, the only other donations big enough to be reported was $250 from former State Senator Dick Klemm.

Donner had about $8,000, counting what she had on July 1st and what she has raised since. That does not take into account whatever her fund raiser cost.

Those identified as contributors are

• $500 – Richard Klemm Trust
• $250 – Mr. and Mrs. G. Weiler
• $250 – Local 150 Operating Engineers
• $250 – Referrals Plus, Inc.
• $240 – National Association of Systems Administrators
• $150 – Madsen Sugden and Gottemoller

Glancing at the final week’s contributions to McHenry County candidates, I found two for the county board district north of Crystal Lake.

One was a $500 contribution to incumbent Republican Nick Provenzano from Jack Roeser, who runs the Family-Taxpayers Network.

The second was more interesting. It was for Kathy Bergan Schmidt, the new McHenry County Democratic Central Committee Chair.

She is the only Democrat challenging Provenzano and Mary Donner.

She started off with $1,887 on Jul 1st and has picked up $2,131.

So, she has a bit over $4,000 for her campaign.

Over half of the money has come as a loan from herself.

She also received $500 from the Eight District Democrats and Independents out of Lake Zurich.

Provenzano started out July with $465 and has garnered $1,780 since then. Besides the Roeser $500, the only other donations big enough to be reported was $250 from former State Senator Dick Klemm.

Donner had about $8,000, counting what she had on July 1st and what she has raised since. That does not take into account whatever her fund raiser cost.

Those identified as contributors are

• $500 – Richard Klemm Trust
• $250 – Mr. and Mrs. G. Weiler
• $250 – Local 150 Operating Engineers
• $250 – Referrals Plus, Inc.
• $240 – National Association of Systems Administrators
• $150 – Madsen Sugden and Gottemoller