McHenry County Blog

Late in the afternoon the last day of filing, Eileen Marhoefer and Michael Walkup converged in the parking lot outside the County Clerk's Office and I took this photo.

The robo-call came the day before the election, Monday, at 1:25 PM from 202-220-0202.

Here’s the text, read by a man with a deep voice:

Dear Neighbor-

Don’t be fooled.

Michael Walkup is a long-time Democrat.

In fact, as a Democratic Precinct Captain, Walkup campaigned for Al Gore.

Walkup ran as a Democrat against Senator Dick Klemm…twice. Walkup’s campaigns were financed by Trial Lawyers PAC.

He even declared himself as a Democrat in a non-partisan race for Park District.

And, here’s the worst part of all…Like a true tax and spend Democrat, Walkup voted to increase your taxes every year he’s been in office.

In fact, Walkup voted for a tax increase so large that it triggered a Truth in Taxation hearing to warn the public.

Don’t be fooled. Michael Walkup is a Democrat.

This Tuesday ask for a Republican ballot and vote for true Republicans for County Board.

This message paid for by Republicans for Truth and Transparency

I can’t tell you whether Walkup promoted himself as a Democrat when he ran for the Crystal Lake Park District. In fact, I saw no campaign at all.

What is left out of the message is that he ran in the GOP primary for Nunda Township Supervisor after he ran for State Senate against Klemm.

He also ran for and won the office of Republican Precinct Committeeman in his precinct west of Walkup Road and east of Oak Street.

Now, an observation about the impact of the robo-call.

Name ID counts for a lot in way-down-the-ballot races like County Board.

So from an name identification point of view, the call probably helped Walkup.

And, perhaps forgotten by the anonymous “Republicans for Truth and Transparency” is that Illinois has an open primary.

Not a secret primary, but Democrats can vote in Republican primaries.

So, if, per chance, the Democrat or Independent of a family tagged “Republican” by the firm that did the robo-calls, answered the phone and listened to the message, the result may have been to encourage those who think Republicans have too much of a monopoly on the County Board to vote in the GOP primary for Walkup.

In politics, one should be aware on unintended consequences.

Walkup ended up coming in a comfortable third with four to be nominated.

One more thought.

This fall there are two people running as Democrats for County Board.

If Walkup is perceived as a Democrat by Democrats, does anyone think that they might not vote for the two women on the ballot under the Democratic Party label, PLUS Walkup.

If Republicans vote for Walkup as one of four Republicans to try to get rid of Democrat incumbent Kathy Bergan Schmidt, and Walkup picks up the third vote from those favoring the Democratic Party, might not Walkup run first in November?

As you can see if you click on the image below, the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee is asking help in making blankets for chemotherapy patients at local hospitals.

Clarenda Johnson (847-203-2382) and Eileen Marhoefer (815-455-4717) are heading up the project.

Directions are available for making a “no sew” fleece blanket or people can use their own skills and imagination.

You seen below one that I was given. It’s long enough for me to nap under on the couch.

I’ve put a smaller one on top. That size if more appropriate for someone sitting in a chair.

Keely Cat helps show the scale.

More information may also be obtained from McHenry County Republican Headquarters in the tip of the “V” of the Crystal Lake Plaza. The phone number is 815-444-1910.

Commitments are sought by July 1st with the hope that blankets will be handed in by September 15th.

I missed last Thursday night’s John McCain party at the new Republican Headquarters on Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

You know, the place with the spiffy new sign where Pauly Toyota used to be.

My wife had her Methodist Church small group meeting Thursday night and society frowns on leaving 11-year olds home alone.

I even missed last Thursday night’s airing of the Crystal Lake audience reaction on ABC Channel 7.

In any event, ABC showed up in McHenry County. It was the only suburban video taping I saw on Channel 7.

McHenry County Board member Mary Donner got to be the local star.

She was quoted thusly,

“John McCain is the down-to-earth guy. The commonsense man, the person who’s going to go in and take care of the situation that needs to be taken care of.”

I wonder if Channel 7 came to Crystal Lake because the Northwest Herald has partnered with Channel Two.

ABC wasn’t the only crew on hand.

NASA Education’s John Blanchard brought camera and microphone.

= = = = =
On top you see the lead in shot that was on the Crystal Lake segment of last Thursday’s piece on Channel 7.

Next is McHenry County Board member Mary Donner being interviewed.

John Blanchard can be seen interviewing McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Mike Tryon at the bottom of the article. His show, “Muster America,” airs on Comcast on its public access channel.

In the picture below the photo credit line is veteran Crystal Lake Republican Precinct Committeeman Eileen Marhoefer on the right. To her left is Barbara Klassen, a Republican Precinct Committeeman from Wonder Lake.

I missed last Thursday night’s John McCain party at the new Republican Headquarters on Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

You know, the place with the spiffy new sign where Pauly Toyota used to be.

My wife had her Methodist Church small group meeting Thursday night and society frowns on leaving 11-year olds home alone.

I even missed last Thursday night’s airing of the Crystal Lake audience reaction on ABC Channel 7.

In any event, ABC showed up in McHenry County. It was the only suburban video taping I saw on Channel 7.

McHenry County Board member Mary Donner got to be the local star.

She was quoted thusly,

“John McCain is the down-to-earth guy. The commonsense man, the person who’s going to go in and take care of the situation that needs to be taken care of.”

I wonder if Channel 7 came to Crystal Lake because the Northwest Herald has partnered with Channel Two.

ABC wasn’t the only crew on hand.

NASA Education’s John Blanchard brought camera and microphone.

= = = = =
On top you see the lead in shot that was on the Crystal Lake segment of last Thursday’s piece on Channel 7.

Next is McHenry County Board member Mary Donner being interviewed.

John Blanchard can be seen interviewing McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Mike Tryon at the bottom of the article. His show, “Muster America,” airs on Comcast on its public access channel.

In the picture below the photo credit line is veteran Crystal Lake Republican Precinct Committeeman Eileen Marhoefer on the right. To her left is Barbara Klassen, a Republican Precinct Committeeman from Wonder Lake.