McHenry County Blog

Carolyn Schofield

At election night’s Crystal Lake City Council meeting, City Councilwoman Carolyn Schofield, elected last year, took the lead in getting a resolution on the agenda at tomorrow night’s meeting asking for recognition of the city’s Watershed Ordinance by county government.

You may remember that both Ellen Brady Mueller and Donna Kurtz made something of that issue during their campaigns for a District 2 slot on the fall county board ballot.

From a resident of the watershed’s perspective, it is so, so difficult to understand that the McHenry County Board has thus far not figured out how important protection of our lake’s watershed is to local residents.

You would think they might have figured that out when a citizen uprising killed the minor league baseball stadium at McHenry County College.

After all, half (that’s right, half) of the entire county board represents parts of Crystal Lake. With all residents of the Crystal Lake Park District having access to the lake, how can one explain why the board has not taken action already.

Ellen Brady Mueller

Donna Kurtz

My prediction is the resolution will pass without dissent Tuesday.

If that doesn’t convince the county board to follow the not-as-strict-as-it-could-be watershed protection ordinance, the next step, it would seem to me would be to invite those twelve county board members to a meeting of the city council.

Who are they?

District 2

• McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler (R)
• McHenry County Board Vice Chairman Jim Heisler (R)
• Lyn Orphal (Lost the primary to Donna Kurtz) Both R’s.
• Former Lakewood Village President and Crystal Lake Park Board President Scott Breeden (R)

Crystal Lake Avenue is the dividing line between District 2 and District 3.

District 3

• Barbara Wheeler (R)
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D)
• Ed Dvorak (retiring) (R)
• Mary Donner (R)

District 5

• Tina Hill (R)
• Virginia Peschke (R)
• Jim Kennedy (D)
• Paula Yensen (D)

District 5 comes into the Crystal Lake area from the Northwest (Ridgefield) and the Southeast.

So, what’s the resolution ask for?

“That the Mayor and City Council request the Regional Planning Commission include the Crystal Lake watershed and its regulations in the list of watersheds that exist within McHenry County in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan document.”

The resolution points out that the lake’s watershed is 6.39 square miles of which 3.69 square miles are within the City of Crystal Lake.

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.

It was published on McHenry County Blog, however.

So, who were those candidates who answered the questions below to ALAW’s satisfaction?

Barbara Wheeler

Diane Evertson

Donna Kurtz

John Jung

Mary McCann

• Donna Kurtz (R) District Two
• Barb Wheeler (R) District 3
• John Jung, Jr. (R) District 5
• Frank Wedig, (Green Party) District 5
• Diane Evertsen (R) District 6
• Mary McCann (R) District 6

Frank Wedig

“Each of these candidates has pledged to work for preservation of our natural resources, our fresh water supply and our prime farmland,” the ALAW press release said.

“These goals are critical to maintaining our quality of life and economic viability in the county.”

Survey results are available here.

You read what the Woodstock Independent, the Northwest Herald and the Daily Herald want to know about and from candidates. Here’s what the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water are interested in learning about those running for the McHenry County Board:

ALAW County Board Candidates Survey: 2010 Primary Election

Please, indicate yes or no in the box to the right of the question.

A. Land Use

1. Have you personally attended any of the Regional Planning Commission meetings or subcommittee meetings on the 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan?

2. Have you read the proposed 2030 Land Use Plan?

3. Do you think the makeup of the 2030 Regional Planning Commission was a
balanced representation of the residents of the county?

4. Do you agree that new development should be located where infrastructure
exists, to minimize the extension of new roads, utilities and services, and protect
farmland and water recharge areas?

5. If elected, will you support funding permanent protection of agricultural land
and the agricultural industry in the County?

6. Do you understand that new rural development costs more for the extension of
infrastructure (roads, water, sewer and services) than it brings to the County in
taxes and that those extra costs are passed on to the existing taxpayers?

7. Do you support creation of the Hac-Ma-Tac National Wildlife Refuge in the
county?

B. Water Resources

1. Would you oppose any land use change that would exceed a locally recharged
aquifer’s capacity?

2. If elected will you enforce use of the SARA – Sensitive Aquifer Recharge
Areas map developed by the County Water Resources Department, as a
determining factor in every land use change decision?

3. Do you support redistributing groundwater from water-rich areas to areas that have over drawn their groundwater?

4. Do you think that McHenry County will be able to get water from Lake
Michigan?

C. Transparency in Government

1. Would you support a requirement that all elected or appointed county officials
make up-front disclosures of any financial or other interest in any real property
in the County?

2. Do you support a requirement that all elected or appointed county officials
make up-front disclosures of their interest in any business entity doing business
with the county?

3. Do you believe that public officials should disclose whether they provide
professional services to any unit of government to which they are elected or
appointed?

4. Do you agree that all scheduled meetings agendas and minutes, including
committee and sub-committee, should be posted on the County web site?

5. Do you agree that all McHenry County Board meetings should be video
recorded and posted on the County web site?

D. Short Answer. Only the number of words indicated will be published in the response report. (please add a page if you need more room, but remember that we can only print the number of words indicated. Thank you.)

1. What role do you think the County should play in planning for growth? (50 words)

2. By protecting agricultural lands and soil resources, groundwater and its natural recharge can also be protected. What will you do to provide that protection? (50 words)

3. What does the County get from its annual contract with the McHenry County
Economic Development Corporation and is it a good investment of taxpayer money? (50 words)

4. Who do you consider to be your constituents and how do you intend to communicate with them to ensure your positions honestly represent them? (50 words)

5. Please provide a personal statement about what you intend to accomplish, if elected to the County Board, and/or provide additional information regarding any of the “ / no” yes answers given above. (100 words)

Answers are due January 11th.

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler

McHenry County College Board Trustee Donna Kurtz

McHenry County Board Chairman is running a solid second place with only four precincts not reporting.

Leading him by about 150 votes is McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz.

Running last is incumbent Lyn Orphal.

Neither of the other woman challengers, Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller and Sandra DePaul are close enough to overtake Koehler, who has a 500-vote lead over Mueller

Here the results reported at 9:20:

Just got back from my polling place at the Main Beach House.

Any thoughts that disgusted voters would storm the ballot boxes turned out to be nonsense, at least looking only at the paper ballots. Of course, I could be pleasantly surprised when the electronic, absentee and early votes are folded in late tonight.

Only 102 people cast paper ballots in my Algonquin 7 precinct, which has over 400 registered voters. 137 cast paper ballots in Algonquin 19, a larger precinct on the north side and east of Crystal Lake.

Here are the results for McHenry County Board (two to be nominated, candidates are listed in ballot order):

Donna Kurtz

Algonquin 7

• Orphal 14
• Koehler 14
• Kurtz 57
• Mueller 18
• DePaul 24

Algonquin 19

• Orphal 12
• Koehler 36
• Kurtz 50
• Mueller 25
• DePaul 23

Donna Kurtz, who worked the precinct herself, had a weekend “I’ll protect the watershed” mailbox hanger and had my endorsement wiped out the opposition, getting 57 votes. The most any candidate got was 61 (Congressman Don Manzullo and yours truly, both running unopposed).

Despite having someone go door-to-door in Algonquin 7, McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler only got 14 votes.

The woman with nothing but a yard sign campaign—Sandra DePaul—actually came in second with 24 votes.

In Algonquin 19, the results were similar, except that Koehler did much better.

Kurtz scored 50 votes, while Koehler came in second with 36. Two candidates were 11 and 14 votes behind, Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller and Sandra DePaul.

Adding the two precincts together finds Koehler running second, but Mueller and DePaul within striking distance.

Remember, these are not the final results…just a sample of two of 35 precincts.

= = = = =

With five precinct reporting at 8:30, Koehler seems to be running a solid second.

Looking at the Northwest Herald after I came in from campaigning Sunday, something struck me.

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, running for re-election in District 2, is playing defense.

Take a second look at this half-page ad (first look here):

Then, compare it with this same sized ad for Donna Kurtz two pages away:

It’s pretty much a black and white (although poorly printed in my copy) version of the last mailer Kurtz sent out last week, which you see below:

Here is the address side of the last Kurtz mailing:
Although both are on the ballot, two people will be nominated. While it may seem the two are facing off against each other, they really aren’t.  Five people are running for two spots on the November Republican ticket.

I would not at all be surprised if both are on the fall ballot.

Today District 2 candidate Ken Koehler, McHenry County Board Chairman, sent out a postcard, complete with a real stamp, bragging about “being a reasonable voice for you on the McHenry County Board…Over the last nine years.”

The headline over a photo of an unfrozen Crystal Lake asks,

“What has Ken Koehler Done for You Lately?”

The answers?

• Championed low county taxes
• Secured over $500,000 to protect groundwater
• Worked with the conservation district to protect additional open space
• Improved traffic safety and efficiency
• Secured $82 million in State and Federal funds for the Western Bypass

As I was knocking on doors in my Algonquin Township Precinct 7 neighborhood I saw someone had distributed

Protecting our
Crystal Lake
Watershed

door hangers.

The Clear
Choice
for Our
Community

That’s the message on front with Kurtz standing in front of water. I don’t recognize where, maybe Dog Lake on the North Shore.

On the back is a “Dear friends and neighbors” note from Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen

It reads,

“A half century’s effort resulted in best management practices adopted by Crystal Lake protecting the lake’s watershed. Not only are these practices essential to the continued health of the lake, they also protect property surrounding the lake. Trouble, is, most of the watershed is governed by the County and not subject to these practices. The county ignores them.

“The County Board apparently remains blissfully ignorant of the sensitivity of watershed development. Where has our representation been on this issue? It is time for some new direction. It has to come from District 2.

“I witnessed Donna Kurtz stand up to protect our watershed when it was not easy task doing so. Her actions were politically risky, selfless, but most of all, righteous.

“We need representation free of conflicts or personal gain. Someone willing to stand up and fight to protect our lake, our homes, and our neighborhoods. Donna Kurtz is our best hope for County Board in District 2.

“Please vote for Donna Kurtz on Feb. 2nd.

“Jeffrey T. Thorsen”

= = = = =
Click to enlarge any image.

So, who do you think has done more to protect the watershed of Crystal Lake?

From looking at District 3 candidate Nick Provenzano’s fancy Pro-Life post card (see bottom of the liked article), one would think he was the only Pro-Life candidate running.

A post card from Barb Wheeler hopes to clear up any confusion.

But, he isn’t, as McHenry County Blog reported exactly a month ago.

To recap, the candidates endorsed by Illinois Citizens for Life follow

Sheriff – Zane Seipler

County Board

Irene Napier

• District 1 – Robert Nowak
• District 2 – Ken Koehler and Sandra DePaul
• District 3 – Nick Provenzano and Barb Wheeler
• District 4 – No endorsement
• District 5 – Dave Fredrick
• District 6 – No endorsement

Wheeler, like Provenzano is endorsed by local pro-life leader Irene Napier, who heads McHenry County Right to Life.

Personal PAC, probably the most radical and most effect pro-abortion political action committee in the country (they certainly beat me) endorsed

• District 2 – Donna Kurtz
• District 4 – Jeff Thirtyacre (only Democrat whose endorsement is reported on this page)
• District 5 – Tina Hill

Personal PAC actually has a McHenry County agenda, as you can read here.

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 County Board in December, the draft ordinance was shipped off to the State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

The review came back with some good points, along with some trivial ones.

And the number of county board candidates voluntarily filing the form kept increasing. Here’s who have filed so far:

• District 1 – None
• District 2 – All but Ken Koehler, that is, Sandra DePaul, Donna Kurtz, Ellen Brady Mueller and Lyn Orphal
• District 3 – Everyone of them! Veronica Armstrong, Nick Provenzano, Craig Steagall, Barbara Wheeler and Karen Tynis
• District 4 – Sandra Salgado and Jeff Thirtyacre (Democrat)
• District 5 – Tina Hill, John Jung and Frank Wedig (Green).  Incumbent Jim Kennedy and challenger Dave Frederick have not yet filed the form.
• District 6 – All but incumbent Dan Ryan, that is, Richard Draper, Diane Evertsen, Mary McCann and Vic Narusis.

Since there is no deadline, candidates or public officials can still download the conflict of interest form, fill it out and send it in.

Indeed ALAW did not even ask candidates to fill out the ethics form; it did have a questionnaire on issued of interest, however, the results of which can be found here for the twelve county board candidates who completed it.

As you can see more candidates filled out the ethics statement than filled out the issue questionnaire.

Along the way, every candidate for sheriff has answered the conflict of interest questionnaire.

And, two incumbent county board members not up for election have completed it. One, Republican Virginia Peschke, the other, Democrat Paula Yensen.

Crystal Lake Councilwoman Carolyn Schofield

Late last week, however, the first municipal official sent in answers.

She is Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Carolyn Schofield.

What’s that all about?

She just got elected.

Does this portend an issue in the Crystal Lake city elections next spring?

Will Schofield introduce an ordinance to make completing the conflict of interest form a requirement for elected and appointed city officials, as well as city consultants?

Unlike the County of McHenry, the City of Crystal Lake is a Home Rule unit of government.

What’s that mean?

It means the Crystal Lake City Council and other Home Rule cities have more power than county government.

The standard explanation of what a Home Rule government can do is anything the General Assembly doesn’t say it can’t do.

If Schofield, the newest member of the city council, follows decides to make a variation of the ALAW ordinance mandatory in Crystal Lake, the debate could turn quite interesting.

Since city Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller is running for county board in District 2, she might get elected. She certainly is in the top three in the sign war.

If elected, I imagine she would resign from the council. If so, a replacement would have to be selected.

Might the council require applicants for the possible vacancy to answer the conflict of interest questions first?

Whether or not the city council passed such a requirement, any council member could let it be known that he or she would not support a candidate who did not fill out the form.

Yes, ALAW has started something that could get very, very interesting.

Barbara Wheeler

Diane Evertson

Donna Kurtz

Endorsements from the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water has endorsed folks for the McHenry County Board.

Here is the group’s press release:

John Jung

Mary McCann

The Alliance for Land Agriculture and Water (ALAW) is pleased to recommend the following candidates for McHenry County Board and asks for your vote in their respective districts.

• Donna Kurtz (R) District Two
• Barb Wheeler (R) District 3
• John Jung, Jr. (R) District 5
• Frank Wedig, (Green Party) District 5
• Diane Evertsen (R) District 6
• Mary McCann (R) District 6

Frank Wedig

Each of these candidates has pledged to work for preservation of our natural resources, our fresh water supply and our prime farmland.

These goals are critical to maintaining our quality of life and economic viability in the county.

Survey results are available here.

We would like to remind voters that “vote for two” on your ballot is not a command, but a choice.

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler

McHenry County Board member Lyn Orphal

There’s a five-way race for two seats in the Crystal Lake-Lake in the Hills District 2.

The incumbents are County Board Chairman Ken Koehler and Lyn Orphal.

Challenging them are three women:

• Sandra DePual, a member of the Regional Board of School Trustees
• McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz
• Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller

McHenry County Regional Board of School Trustee Sandra DePaul

If one were to handicap this race, Sandra DePaul would be coming in last place…just because she is the only candidate who is virtually unknown as a result of the low profile position she holds.

So, what’s up with the Northwest Herald’s endorsement of DePaul, along with the perfectly predictable endorsement of Koehler.

Let’s begin by making the perfectly reasonable assumption that the primary goal of the paper is to get Koehler re-elected.

To do that one must split the opposition.

If two women were running against Koehler, he might have some trouble.

But with five women…split the vote evenly and just over 20% of the vote is enough to win.

McHenry County College Board Trustee Donna Kurtz

Let’s agree that it won’t be split even.

Orphal, although able to manage to put out a letter to Republican voters the same day Koehler early this week, is the more vulnerable of the two candidates. Even though in her second term, she does not have a lot of name identification.

So, with Kurtz charging hard and Brady Mueller having quite noticeable signs, how to pull votes to perhaps the least known of the female candidates?

Endorse her along with Koehler.

That will pull some votes to DePaul that otherwise would go to one of the better known women.

Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Ellen Brady Mueller

Koehler will probably get more than enough of the combined vote to win. Surely being chairman of the board, he ought to be able to do that.

He will remember how a strong-charging Leslie Root managed to beat out then-County Board Chairwoman Dianne Klemm, however. In that contest, Mike Tryon was on the ballot. He and Root beat Klemm.

In this race, I can’t point to the second candidate who could beat Koehler.

One final thought.

The Northwest Herald also managed to pick two people who hd not filled out the ALAW conflict of interest questionnaire. The only candidate in District 1 to have done so when the endorsement appeared was Donna Kurtz.  Now, all but Koehler have answered ALAW ethics form, not because they were forced, but voluntarily.

From left to right are Sandra DePaul, Lyn Orphal, Ken Koehler's empty seat, Ellen Brady Mueller and Donna Kurtz. They were participating in Patriots United county board candidates' forum.

In the Patriots Unity county board candidates’ forum Friday night, the only candidate in District 2 who did not come was County Board Chairman Koehler.