McHenry County Blog

when I saw the Chicago Tribune editorial on McHenry County’s former Democratic State Representative Tom Hanahan, I sent his and my former State Senator Jack Schaffer an email asking for his memories. It gave me two of the five belly laughs that everyone should have every day to keep healthy. It follows:

Sorry Cal, I don’t check my emails as often as I should.

I did have an opportunity to talk to Tommy about a week before he died. While you could tell the disease was getting to him, you could also tell that the old Tommy was still there. You are right, I do have a lot of memories of Tommy.

In 1974 when the RTA was being created, I was a little curious as to what Tom was going to do about it because the labor unions were very much for the new unit of government and Tom was first and foremost a labor guy.

He must have convinced his leaders that he had to oppose it or he wouldn’t be back (a very accurate perception), which led to a very unusual election in that primary with the four of us; Tommy, you, Bruce and I out stomping against the RTA.

I recall one meeting in Crystal Lake (at the Nature Center) at which all 4 of us took different approaches as to why the RTA was evil – Tommy said it was bad for working men and women. As the meeting broke up a proponent for the RTA, who I knew, thought the four of us had covered every negative angle he could think of against the RTA.

The crowd was so hostile, I felt the need to walk the proponent back to his car. And as you know, 90%+ of the voters voted no with the largest primary turnout in history.

Another time, Tom and I were working on a piece of legislation to give homeowners property tax breaks if they improve their homes, or put an addition on.

I got wind, through a friend in the Dept. of Rev., that the Dept. was about to adopt rules that would require three inspections to qualify for the exemption.

I got hold of Tommy and we both went to see the Director of the Dept of Rev. I don’t recall that I got 5 words in during the meeting but Tom did such a war dance on his desk and threatened him and his descendents…the rule came out with a simple procedure.

During the RTA fights, we came up with the idea to send Gov. Walker petitions signed by people in the area opposing the RTA.

The problem was Tom got along with the democratic Governor Walker no doubt about as well as Jack Franks did with democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich…probably for some of the same reasons.

Governor Walker indicated he’d be happy to meet with me but refused to meet with Tom.

So we issued press release saying that opposition in McHenry County was bipartisan and if the Governor wouldn’t meet with Tommy then I wouldn’t meet with him either.

You’ve already talked about Tommy’s famous/infamous (choose your own word) opposition to the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), but one of the things that I do definitely remember the time during candidates nights when the speeches and Q & A were over;

• you would be in the corner talking about property tax assessment,
• Bruce in another corner discussing creeping socialism,
• I would be talking with a group about Mental Health and the state budget, and
• Tommy would be in the front of the room talking to every good looking woman there about the ERA with a huge grin on his face.

It’s almost impossible today to explain the cumulative voting system that allowed for a minority party member in every district, and while the system certainly had its flaws, we did see some incredible individuals elected because of it.

And Tommy Hanahan was one of those.

About the only thing Tommy and I had in common was the same constituency and because of that we worked together fairly well.

I doubt we’ll see his likes again.

Thanks for letting me share some of my thoughts with you (it’s more than the local paper did!!!!!)!

The pamphlet printed on my father’s offset printing machines–180,000, maybe more–can be seen interspersed throughout the article. The little kNOw RTA clip-on button, front and back, is also shown.

Other stories about Tom Hanahan:

Johnsburg Democratic Party State Rep. Tom Hanahan Dies – Part 1

Johnsburg Democratic Party State Rep. Tom Hanahan Dies – Part 2

More Memories on McHenry County’s State Rep. Tom Hanahan

Jeff Ladd Calls for RTA Tax Hike

The Wiring of Rep. Pete Pappas

This time from former State Rep. Penny Pullen (R-Park Ridge).

The Chicago Tribune obituary concentrated on the opposition of former State Representative Tom Hanahan (D-Johnsburg) to the Equal Rights Amendment.

I asked, Penny Pullen, the Republican leader of the opposition to the ERA, to jot down a few thoughts and here they are,

“When Illinois was besieged by the radical feminists, demanding that the Illinois House vote over and over again (something like 13 times!) on the so-called Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution, it was Rep. Tom Hanahan who marshaled the votes on the Democrat side.  

“Though we had little else in common — he being a union Democrat and I being a pro-business Republican — we did share the cause of protecting the family, the Constitution and the sovereignty of the states in our opposition to the ERA.

“We used to meet clandestinely in a little-traveled corner on the south side of the second floor of the state capitol to swap ERA vote counts on our respective sides of the partisan aisle. 

“Tom had very little use for radical feminist types (like the female legislators who sponsored ERA and by the very fact that they had attained positions of leadership in government proved that ERA was unnecessary for the fulfillment of women!).  

“It was he who circulated on the House floor a hilarious color poster showing a woman lined up with the men at a public restroom’s urinals; the radical fems were flabbergasted. 

“It was also he who referred to their pals in the sisterhood (also known as the ERA lobby) as ‘brain-less, bra-less broads,’ in House debate, no less! 

“Flamboyant, cheerful, funny and thoroughly settled in his beliefs, Tom Hanahan was one of a kind and literally contributed to the history not only of Illinois but of this country.”

My memories are here and here.

The last Democrat to serve in the Illinois House before Jack Franks died in Arizona April 3rd. This is the second installment of some of my memories of Tom, who died of cancer in Prescott, Arizona, on April 3, 2009.

The Chicago Tribune obituary yesterday concentrated on Hanahan’s “braless, brainless broads” comment during the ERA debate.

Part 1 of this one concentrated on other aspects of his life.

It also mentions a Federal trial against him for trying to get a $5,000 bribe on some legislation, a rap he beat. I commend the story to you, but Tom was so much more than that.

I rode home with him one time. As we entered the Tri-State Tollway from I-55, he flashed some card or badge that indicated he was a member of the tollway advisory board, which apparently let him skip the toll.

He told me of having to go west of DeKalb for a meeting while that tollway was being built.

Taking the new tollway, he got to a point west of DeKalb where there were barriers.

That didn’t stop him. He kept driving west until he ran into fresh concrete.

He told me that totaled the car.

Hanahan wasn’t all that good at figuring out what was good for McHenry County, but he was good at picking up clues. I can’t remember any local bill that I asked him to co-sponsor where he refused.

We worked together on an illegal alien bill.

One of us came up with the idea of fining employers who hired illegal aliens. This was way back in the 1970’s remember. A logical idea then, as it is now, if one wants to prevent illegal aliens from working in the United States.

Hanahan jumped on the idea and brought all the union guys on board. The business Republicans were opposed to it, but we passed it anyway.

It obviously died in the Senate. I can’t remember the year, but it wouldn’t matter, because the Illinois Senate is always controlled by the Establishment.

Then there was RTA. Tom and all the other suburban Democrats but one (Harold Katz) aligned with suburban Republicans to fight the Regional Transportation Authority referendum held at the 1974 primary election.

We had numerous debates. Hanahan, State Senator Jack Schaffer, I and, sometimes, Waddell on one side and members of the League of Women Voters, Hanahan’s “running mate” Ron Stroupe (D-Huntley) and, in McHenry County, Jeff Ladd on the other side.

I got such a delight in suggesting we would not live to see train service in Huntley. It’s 35 years later and I’ll grant that discussion are being held about a train station in Huntley, but it’s certainly not there yet. Well, two of the legislators on the kNOw RTA side of the debate are not around and neither is Stroupe. Two to go.

With all McHenry County legislators opposed to creating the RTA, the only support was from local municipal officials and women in the League of Women Voters.

McHenry County has never been so united on an issue. I think it was 93% of the votes that were cast against the referendum.

One precinct in Cary is recorded in favor, but when I asked an election judge if it really passed, she said, “No,” and got really flustered when I told her that’s what the election canvass said. Someone is going to look at those results sometime and think a bunch of commuters voted “Yes.”)

The state rep. raced turned out like this:

• Cal Skinner – 34,210 1/2
• Bruce Waddell – 26,932 1/2
• Tom Hanahan – 16,783 1/2
• Ron Stroupe – 8,821 1/2

The half votes are a result of proportional representation. Each voter had three votes. They could vote for one candidate, in which case he got 3 votes, two giving each 1 1/2 votes or three, which meant each would be 1 vote apiece.

There are so many more stories about Tom Hanahan. I’ve asked some to send me their favorites. If you have any, I’d like to hear from you, too.

McHenry County College’s baseball stadium has gotten most of the attention of people interested in college expansion plans.

That has irritated those pushing the baseball stadium to no end, because they think the nursing program part of Health, Wellness and Athletic Complex is most important.

The MCC board majority would probably be surprised that, when they learn about it, most people agree.

“Why are they even talking about a baseball stadium?” is a typical reaction.

But, Economics Research Associates do not break out the revenue streams for the baseball stadium from those for the fitness center.

How strange.

As if ERA had been instructed not to do so.

My guess is that it’s because the baseball stadium will provide 36% (or something in that range) of the revenue, while its cost exceeds that.

For almost the entire debate prior to the city council vote, the public was led to believe that the baseball stadium would bring in 64% of the project revenues. That’s what the Northwest Herald reported MCC President Walt Packard said in early June, 2007.

But, he admitted to me that he misspoke in that interview.

64% is significantly more than what the expansion would cost.

Now the question is whether the baseball stadium will pay what it costs.

The first ERA report seemed to say the answer was “No.”

I couldn’t find an updated answer in the 2nd ERA study.

One should be able to find that cost-benefit ratio.

It tells whether the taxpayers can expect to be forced to subsidize baseball promoter Pete Heitman’s and Mark Houser’s little game.

Now the question is whether the baseball stadium will pay what it costs.

I couldn’t find that answer in the ERA study.

One should be able to find that cost-benefit ratio.

McHenry County College’s baseball stadium has gotten most of the attention of people interested in college expansion plans.

That has irritated those pushing the baseball stadium to no end, because they think the nursing program part of Health, Wellness and Athletic Complex is most important.

The MCC board majority would probably be surprised that, when they learn about it, most people agree.

“Why are they even talking about a baseball stadium?” is a typical reaction.

But, Economics Research Associates do not break out the revenue streams for the baseball stadium from those for the fitness center.

How strange.

As if ERA had been instructed not to do so.

My guess is that it’s because the baseball stadium will provide 36% (or something in that range) of the revenue, while its cost exceeds that.

For almost the entire debate prior to the city council vote, the public was led to believe that the baseball stadium would bring in 64% of the project revenues. That’s what the Northwest Herald reported MCC President Walt Packard said in early June, 2007.

But, he admitted to me that he misspoke in that interview.

64% is significantly more than what the expansion would cost.

Now the question is whether the baseball stadium will pay what it costs.

The first ERA report seemed to say the answer was “No.”

I couldn’t find an updated answer in the 2nd ERA study.

One should be able to find that cost-benefit ratio.

It tells whether the taxpayers can expect to be forced to subsidize baseball promoter Pete Heitman’s and Mark Houser’s little game.

Now the question is whether the baseball stadium will pay what it costs.

I couldn’t find that answer in the ERA study.

One should be able to find that cost-benefit ratio.

In my Fantasy Baseball article in late February, re-printed Tuesday, McHenry County Blog examined McHenry County College’s Economics Research Associates’ second feasibility study on its baseball stadium.

First attendance projections were analyzed and found to be woefully inadequate.

A college professor would label that section “INCOMPLETE.”

Secondly, the ERA naming rights analysis was examined.

Despite the reported fact that the team in Schaumburg gets $200,000 a year from Alexian Brothers, a hospital group, the consultants think the junior college could get $250,000 a year.

Today, let’s look at non-baseball events at the stadium.

Concerts, amateur baseball games, etc.

Here’s the developer’s project on non-baseball events:

”The developer has projected net revenues of $275,000 per year from non-baseball events (such as concerts, other sporting events, civic events, and others). This line item is considered separately from other team and ballpark items, as it would not contribute to rent or ticket surcharge payments. The only details provided to support this forecast is an assumption of 50 to 60 events with a total of 25,000 to 35,000 attendees.”

Isn’t that special?

Economics Research Associates brags that it did work on all of Disney’s parks.

Somehow I doubt such non-fact based analysis would have been found acceptable by Disney, even in Fantasia mode.

In the first year stadium revenue is listed as $732,837.

The non-baseball share is $275,000.

That’s a big chunk of the $733,000 to accept on faith.

“According to conversations with the developer, this estimate is based on a generic operating model for a Frontier League ballpark that has been supplied by the league office, and could likely be aggressive.”

Talk about understatement.

No specifics provided.

No specifics requested.

Perhaps Economic Research Associates does not deserve the reputation it projects.

“The eventual amount of non-baseball revenue will be largely dependent on the type and number of the events that are allowed to be held. Events such as concerts would have the ability to generate more revenue, but if only civic events such as high school baseball games can be held at the stadium, these revenues would be significantly lower.

“Without performing a market analysis or having a completed agreement on the number and type of allowable events, it is not possible to analyze this projection in further detail.”

Consider also that a week ago Hoffman Estates has just announced an outdoor concert venue where Poplar Creek used to be, right on the tollway.

This announcement appeared in the Chicago Tribune before ERA’s February 26, 2008, feasibility study submission date.

Sounds like it might draw McHenry County residents and be relevant to any market analysis on non-baseball team use of the new baseball stadium.

Oh.

I forgot, ERA did no market analysis.

In my Fantasy Baseball article in late February, re-printed Tuesday, McHenry County Blog examined McHenry County College’s Economics Research Associates’ second feasibility study on its baseball stadium.

First attendance projections were analyzed and found to be woefully inadequate.

A college professor would label that section “INCOMPLETE.”

Secondly, the ERA naming rights analysis was examined.

Despite the reported fact that the team in Schaumburg gets $200,000 a year from Alexian Brothers, a hospital group, the consultants think the junior college could get $250,000 a year.

Today, let’s look at non-baseball events at the stadium.

Concerts, amateur baseball games, etc.

Here’s the developer’s project on non-baseball events:

”The developer has projected net revenues of $275,000 per year from non-baseball events (such as concerts, other sporting events, civic events, and others). This line item is considered separately from other team and ballpark items, as it would not contribute to rent or ticket surcharge payments. The only details provided to support this forecast is an assumption of 50 to 60 events with a total of 25,000 to 35,000 attendees.”

Isn’t that special?

Economics Research Associates brags that it did work on all of Disney’s parks.

Somehow I doubt such non-fact based analysis would have been found acceptable by Disney, even in Fantasia mode.

In the first year stadium revenue is listed as $732,837.

The non-baseball share is $275,000.

That’s a big chunk of the $733,000 to accept on faith.

“According to conversations with the developer, this estimate is based on a generic operating model for a Frontier League ballpark that has been supplied by the league office, and could likely be aggressive.”

Talk about understatement.

No specifics provided.

No specifics requested.

Perhaps Economic Research Associates does not deserve the reputation it projects.

“The eventual amount of non-baseball revenue will be largely dependent on the type and number of the events that are allowed to be held. Events such as concerts would have the ability to generate more revenue, but if only civic events such as high school baseball games can be held at the stadium, these revenues would be significantly lower.

“Without performing a market analysis or having a completed agreement on the number and type of allowable events, it is not possible to analyze this projection in further detail.”

Consider also that a week ago Hoffman Estates has just announced an outdoor concert venue where Poplar Creek used to be, right on the tollway.

This announcement appeared in the Chicago Tribune before ERA’s February 26, 2008, feasibility study submission date.

Sounds like it might draw McHenry County residents and be relevant to any market analysis on non-baseball team use of the new baseball stadium.

Oh.

I forgot, ERA did no market analysis.

I know that MCC President Walt Packard announced the baseball stadium proposal is dead, but I still want to critique Economics Research Associates’ second analysis on Mark Houser’s and Pete Heitman’s McHenry County College baseball stadium proposal covers naming rights of the stadium and inside recreation facility.

Just in case, it comes back again.

On page 16, $250,000 is again reported as the annual price for naming the stadium. It assumes a 20% increase every five years.

ERA’s Dave Stone doesn’t say much about this early expected revenue.

Maybe that’s because there isn’t a lot of support for that very important number.

In Bridgeport, the largest city in Connecticut has been trying to sell naming rights for ten years and have failed to do so.

“As the data shows $250,000 per year is achievable for an independent ballpark, and in fact has been exceeded, but is toward the high end of completed deals in independent baseball,” the report reads.

Fargo got $300,000 to name its stadium Newman Outdoor Field; Camden, NJ got $300,000. Camden’s is named Campbell’s Field.

Neither are in the Frontier League.

The highest naming rights–$125,000–cited in the Frontier League is Florence, Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.

And, that’s in a TV media market, which Crystal Lake definitely is not.

GMC Park in Sauget, Illinois, where Gateway Grizzles play, was $100,000. It’s now called GCS Ball park, but no payment is listed.

Twenty-one teams (five Frontier League teams have no figures) are listed, but naming rights payments are listed for only thirteen.

And, there is no indication of the comparability of any of these teams to Crystal Lake’s market.

In Schaumburg, the team gets $200,000; in Joliet the amount is $150,000.

And ERA says $250,000 a year is achievable.

Competitive area naming rights are not $250,000.

Menard’s like flags, so maybe it will be interested.

Or, perhaps, Blain’s Farm and Fleet will bite. I noticed it is flying American Flags on in Woodstock.

Tinker Bell, where is your magic wand?

I know that MCC President Walt Packard announced the baseball stadium proposal is dead, but I still want to critique Economics Research Associates’ second analysis on Mark Houser’s and Pete Heitman’s McHenry County College baseball stadium proposal covers naming rights of the stadium and inside recreation facility.

Just in case, it comes back again.

On page 16, $250,000 is again reported as the annual price for naming the stadium. It assumes a 20% increase every five years.

ERA’s Dave Stone doesn’t say much about this early expected revenue.

Maybe that’s because there isn’t a lot of support for that very important number.

In Bridgeport, the largest city in Connecticut has been trying to sell naming rights for ten years and have failed to do so.

“As the data shows $250,000 per year is achievable for an independent ballpark, and in fact has been exceeded, but is toward the high end of completed deals in independent baseball,” the report reads.

Fargo got $300,000 to name its stadium Newman Outdoor Field; Camden, NJ got $300,000. Camden’s is named Campbell’s Field.

Neither are in the Frontier League.

The highest naming rights–$125,000–cited in the Frontier League is Florence, Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.

And, that’s in a TV media market, which Crystal Lake definitely is not.

GMC Park in Sauget, Illinois, where Gateway Grizzles play, was $100,000. It’s now called GCS Ball park, but no payment is listed.

Twenty-one teams (five Frontier League teams have no figures) are listed, but naming rights payments are listed for only thirteen.

And, there is no indication of the comparability of any of these teams to Crystal Lake’s market.

In Schaumburg, the team gets $200,000; in Joliet the amount is $150,000.

And ERA says $250,000 a year is achievable.

Competitive area naming rights are not $250,000.

Menard’s like flags, so maybe it will be interested.

Or, perhaps, Blain’s Farm and Fleet will bite. I noticed it is flying American Flags on in Woodstock.

Tinker Bell, where is your magic wand?

For the second meeting in less than a month, I left the room whistling,

“Ding, dong the witch is dead. Which old witch? The wicked witch…”

And, this time I even came up with appropriate words before I got home from the McHenry County College Board meeting.

The reason that minor league baseball promoter Pete Heitman’s pitch was dead?

After an embarrassingly inadequate 3rd party analysis by Dave Stone of Economics Research Associates of Heitman’s and his buddy Mark Houser’s projected figures and probing questions by MCC Trustee Donna Kurtz, MCC President Walt Packard read the following statement:

“The presentation we just heard makes a case that this project was put forward on a sound basis. It suggests that if the Board choose to move forward with just the Health Wellness and Athletic building it has potential for supporting itself.

“That being said, I am recommending that we not move forward with this project in its current form.

“Furthermore, I would propose that we take formal action to sunset this specific project at our April Board meeting.

“The Board should be proud of the fact that it has successful(ly) taken action that will allow us to purchase the Gilger property. It should not be lost on any one that this is a major step for our college. And the Board should be applauded for having made an historic, forward thinking sound business decision.

“The Board also took our Facilities Master Plan and made a valiant attempt at implementing a portion of it in a manner that we believed might very well have allowed us to add much needed facilities to our campus without going to the tax payers as the source for funding.

“For a variety of reasons, this does not appear to be a time when we can bring that plan to fruition.

“Therefore, I am recommending that we

• terminate the combined HWAC stadium project;
• take a fresh look at our Facilities plan and
• aggressively commit ourselves to identifying a sound fiscal approach for making needed facilities become a reality.”

The statement was evidently put together at the last minute. President Packard was kind enough to provide copies after the meeting. I tried to correct the typographic errors.

It was evident long ago, of course, that the Frontier League baseball stadium proposal was melting, just like the wicked witch.

The unanimous rejection of MCC’s re-zoning proposal by the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission during our supremely wet summer gave a clue.

So did the public defection of two articulate board members—Donna Kurtz and Scott Summers–at the Crystal Lake City Council meeting.

And the subsequent rejection by the Crystal Lake’s City Council of Mayor Aaron Shepley strongly stated support.

Plus, the public reaction of the MCC Board majority’s 4-3 censure of the two trustees who announced their change of opinion at the re-zoning meeting.

Then, Geraldine Cowlin made known that she thought the junior college had gone so far off target by involving itself in minor league baseball that she withdrew a $1 million pledge of scholarship money.

After the statement, several trustees made comments.

“For a number of months,” Summers said, “I have had misgivings and anxieties about this project. I will spare the public (my reasons, considering President Packard’s announcement). Candidly, (I remember) with bitterness six months ago (when) two trustees were censured for taking a position not dissimilar from the recommendation (by our own) president.”

“I take umbrage with Mr. Summers (remarks),” MCC Board President George Lowe interjected. “You had an opportunity to vote on this and you did. Then, you changed your opinion at the last minute.”

Committee of the Whole Chairwoman Frances Glosson said that the lesson to be learned was to get community input first.

“Thank you for all of your passions,” she said to those in the audience who had taken part in the debate.

“I think we need to prove ourselves to the public when it comes to the HWAC,” Kurtz added. “To try to get it done without community input (won’t work),”

“I’m glad you’re coming to this late to the table,” Lowe said with a raised voice.

“I want respectful comments,” Glosson chided Lowe.

“Do you want me to leave?” Lowe replied. “I’m fed up!”

The next item on the board agency was “non-violent communication,” which Glosson thought was appropriate.

I stood up, turned around and shook Rosemary Kurtz’ hand. Then, I went out to talk to the Harvard baseball team promoter, whose stadium will be privately financed.

The pitch had melted.

Oh, yes.

The other meeting where I left whistling, “Ding dong the witch is dead,” was the McHenry County Republican Central Committee convention. The analogy was not as good a fit as last night, but I assure you it wasn’t completely irrelevant.

= = = = =
On top, the man taking a picture of me taking a picture of him is baseball promoter Pete Heitman. Next comes Economics Research Associates analyst Dave Stone explaining how ERA agrees with Heitman’s projections. Dr. Walt Packard is the man with his left arm outstretched. Under his picture are EquityOne’s Mark Houser, Pete Heitman and Frontier League Commissioner Bill Lee being led from Packard’s office last spring to a secret meeting. The three Crystal Lake City Councilmen who put the kabosh on the McHenry County College’s appear next. From left to right, they are Ralph Dawson, Brett Hopkins and Jeff Thorsen. Below, in descending order, are MCC Trustees Scott Summers, George Lowe and Donna Kurtz.

And, who should show up after the meeting but my father.

True he was only on a plaque, but the new Board Secretary found his picture in a drawer and brought it out for me to see. He was elected to the original MCC Board and served from 1967-70.