Northwest Herald Editor Agrees Sheriff’s Candidate Andy Zinke’s Office Email Was Political

New Northwest Herald Editor Jason Schaumburg agrees that the email sent to all McHenry County Board members was political in nature.  (Read the email here.) Here is the top part of his comments about the McHenry County Ethics Commission decision: … Continue reading

Skinner Ethics Complaint about Zinke Political Email Found Insufficient

Meeting this afternoon at the Administrative Building, the McHenry County Ethics Commission voted 4-0 that Cal Skinner’s ethics complaint against Undersheriff Andy Zinke was not sufficient. The Commission gave no idea to the public or the parties why they reached … Continue reading

Reply to Freedom of Information Request for Authorization to Use Sheriff’s Office Email Account for Campaign Purposes

Ten days ago, I filed a Freedom of Information request with the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department asking the following question: “Under the FOIA I request all documents that authorize Andy Zinke to use his official email for campaign purposes.” The … Continue reading

McHenry County Ethics Commission Will Hear Complaint about Undersheriff Andy Zinke’s Using Office Email for Political Purposes

I mailed the complaint last week and the McHenry County Ethics Commission will hold its hearing next Thursday: The ETHICS COMMISSION has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. to conduct a hearing to determine sufficiency … Continue reading

Do Pictures Lie? Zinke “Victimized” by “a Local Blogger”? – You Decide

Below is an email from Undersheriff Andy Zinke sent from his place of work…even though he talks about his “candidacy” and “my run for office.” I believe campaigning on the taxpayers’ dime is against the law. (Sentences in some paragraphs … Continue reading

The Other Tuesday Night Meetings – Township Annual Meetings & McHenry County Board’s with Vote on Slot Machines in Rural Bars

Besides the 6 PM meeting at McHenry County College at which the lame duck Board seems destined to renew President Vicky Smith’s contract, there are other meetings people might find of interest. Each of McHenry County’s 17 Townships will hold … Continue reading

Sheriff’s Candidate Andy Zinke Uses Government Email and Street Addresses for Fund Raising Invitations

A full court press is being put on by Andy Zinke, Keith Nygren’s anointed successor for McHenry County Sheriff. Nygren, of course, was elected two years ago and has a term that does not expire until 2014. Nevertheless, Zinke filed … Continue reading

Press Conference Called to Reveal Kevin Burns’ Use of his Geneva Mayoral Email Address for Political Purposes

Early this morning, McHenry County Blog did its best to describe contents of over 100 pages of email exchanges involving Kane County Board Chairman Kevin Burns and supporters in his campaign against Chris Lauzen. Now, a Geneva press conference has … Continue reading

Kane County Board Candidate Geneva Mayor Burns Uses City Email for Campaign

Into my inbox yesterday dropped over a hundred pages of email exchanges between Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and others. A combination of official and campaign emails for Burns show up in the following exchange after the campaign learned that Congressman … Continue reading

The Grayslake School Board Incumbents’ Campaign (Email) Trail – Part 3

In our examination of political emails involving the re-election of Grayslake School Board members Mary Garcia, president of a Skokie school district’s union, and Sue Fackham, we are now about two weeks away from the April 5th election. Fackham was … Continue reading

Lake County State’s Attorney Looking into Grayslake School Board Members Campaign Emails

That’s what the Trib Local scribe Andrea Brown is reporting. An official investigation has begun. You may remember that the Special Prosecutors of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi spent $225,000 we know of looking into the alleged use of … Continue reading

The Grayslake School Board Incumbents’ Campaign (Email) Trail – Part 2

I became interested in a series of emails from and to incumbent candidates running for re-election on the Grayslake Unit School District 46 Board. They are of interest, first, because they were sent on two school district email accounts and, … Continue reading

The Grayslake School Board Incumbents’ Campaign (Email) Trail – Part 1

What caught my interest today was an article on the Lake County Tea Party site by Paul Mitchell about Grayslake Unit School District 46. It is based on emails sent to and from the school district’s email server and shows … Continue reading

Philpott Hearing finds Nygren Attorney Saying,”Seipler Was Terminated for Complaining about Racial Profiling”

When Woodstock Advocate blogger Gus Philpott went to Rockford Federal Court to object to Sheriff Keith Nygren’s attempt to get all of his emails to and from any number of people, Philpott challenged the decision and won his motion to … Continue reading

Dan Duffy Asks Folks to Email Madigan and Cullerton about Tax Hike

State Senator Dan Duffy, who spoke forcefully against the Democrats 67% income tax hike bill, has issued the following statement in which he asks people to email House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton. The statement follows: “In … Continue reading