McHenry County Blog

Here are the McHenry County Board members who signed Nick Provenzano’s petition to call a special meeting on Friday, January 18th at 9 AM to consider whether voters should have a shot in April at passing a referendum on whether the Board Chairman should be elected.

You can see eleven signed the petition.  Eight–one-third of the Board’s members–were required to sign to call a special meeting.

So people can find their names, let me list them in the order in which they signed and who they ended up voting for in the County Board Chairman’s race:

• Nick Provenzano (supported Koehler)
• Mike Walkup (new, supported Hill))
• Ken Koehler (supported Koehler)
• Robert Nowak (supported Koehler)
• Joe Gottemoller (new,  supported Gottemoller)
• Mike Skala (new,  supported Gottemoller)
• Robert Martens (new, supported Hill)
• Diane Evertsen (supported Schuster)
• Donna Kurtz (supported Schuster, then Hill)
• Sandy Salgado (supported Koehler)
• Mary McCann (supported Hill)

Four supported Tina Hill for Board Chairman.

Four supported Ken Koehler for Board Chairman.

Two supported Joe Gottemoller.

One supported Schuster.

All are Republicans, which when one thinks about it, that probably just recognizes the lay of the political land, that is, Democrats are more likely to gain positions of power, e.g., Paul Yensen’s appointment as Chairman of the Management Services Committee, through politicking in the current system of selecting a Board Chairman than through a one-on-one fight with any Republican in a countywide contest.   Both Yensen and first time Democratic Party Democratic Party Board member Nick Chirikos voted for Hill and neither showed any support for an at-large election at the Monday Management Services Committee meeting.

Only one of what I would consider hardcore supporters of Hill broke ranks to potentially endanger the new ruling coalition’s ability to continue its power after the 2014 election cycle.

Just because someone signed the petition does not mean that they are committed to vote for an April referendum.

There are twenty-four Board members and a majority vote will be required to put the question on the ballot.

Do you want to express your viewpoint to your County Board members?

Here are their phone numbers:

• Michele Aavang – 815-648-4210
• Yvonne Barnes – 847-516-2719
• Nick Chirikos – 847-658-3434
• Sue Draffkorn – 815-653-6057
• Diane Evertsen – 815-943-3298
• Joe Gottemoller – 815 382 9940
• John Hammerand – 815-728-0700
• Jim Heisler – 815-459-1971
• Tina Hill – 815-347-4222
• John Jung – 815-338-6201
• Ken Koehler – 815-459-7841
• Donna Kurtz -815-788-0632
• Bob Martens – 815-675-6353
• Mary McCann – 815-568-1061
• Mary McClellan – 815-482-5693
• Anna May Miller – 847-639-5112
• Robert Nowak – 847-516-9637
• Nick Provenzano – 815-355-8540
• Sandy Salgado – 815-271-5293
• Carolyn Schofield – 815-455-9550
• Ersel Schuster – 815-338-2207
• Mike Skala – 847-669-3804
• Mike Walkup – 815-459-7090
• Paula Yensen – 815-404-3918

At this point one can see that Nick Provenzano read the political wind better than the Management Services Committee did on Monday.

Whether the wind is blowing hard enough to overcome the reticence of Board members who like the current insider system (for reasons including an inability to raise sufficient funds to mount a countywide campaign–campaign cost having been mentioned by several Board members during the ongoing debate) remains to be seen on Friday morning.

And whether the measure passes or fails, the roll call will be used in the 2014 elections.

It will be interesting to see if any County board members from the last Board who voted to put a tax hike on the ballot in April will refuse to allow their constituents to vote on whether to elect their County Board Chairman at the ballot box.

Just from examining the agenda that newly-installed Management Services Committee Paula Yensen drafted, one could predict that nothing would come of the Monday morning meeting concerning whether the public should be allowed to vote on whether the Chairman of the McHenry County Board should be elected or not.

And, guess what?

Nothing did.

Parenthetically, let me point out that the previous County Board managed to put something probably more important on the ballot before they left office–a tax hike referendum.

So, the public will get a chance to vote on whether their property taxes are increased in April, but probably not whether they will get an opportunity to vote for the next County Board Chairman in 2014.

While 2014 sounds like it is a long way off, for the current insider system of selection of whose hands control County government to be changed in 2014, it has to be approved in April.

And, there is still a chance such a referendum on the ballot.

(Last day to adopt a resolution or ordinance is Tuesday, January 22nd, advised County Clerk Katherine Schultz.)

Committee member Mike Walkup brought up the topic of a special meeting, which takes one-third of the members to call.

Before that, however, Anna May Miller called for more input.

“I still am 110% in favor of allowing the public to weigh in on the subject,” but she said she though more time was needed for citizen comment, e.g., “different focus groups,” including “McCog for municipal perspective.”

“I don’t understand the need for speed on this issue,” she said, pointing out that under 20% of citizens would probably vote in April.

There was discussion of two options, one for a two-year term in which the County Board Chairman candidate would also have to be nominated as a district board candidate.  The other was a four-year term in which the Chairman would not have a vote on the County Board.

Non-member Nick Provenzano was allowed to address the Committee twice.

The first time, he contended County Board candidates “kind of made a grand bargain with the voters” by opposing Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks’ County Executive referendum.

“It was always assumed that we’d follow up immediately.

“I think it’s absolutely a bargain we should fulfill at the next election cycle.

“The decision was to get that to the voters as soon as possible,” he contended.

There was disagreement with that interpretation from member Ersel Schuster, who preferred limiting County Board Chairmen to two terms.

While she said she was “always for the electors being allowed to vote”… she was “totally comfortable with the existing process.

In December, Schuster ran for Chairman, along with Ken Koehler and Tina Hill.  Hill won.

Mike Skala, at his first Committee meeting, told of being told people “wanted change” and “wanted some turnover, fresh ideas, fresh perspectives” when he went door-to-door.

“I’m personally not in favor of it. I think what we have does work,” he said.

“I agree they the voters should need (an opportunity to vote on the issue.)  I don’t think it should be rushed to judgment.”

Anna May Miller suggested that “accountability” of the  Chairman was “the only issue that resonates with the public.”

“We’re trying to do this very quickly,” he said.

“Act in haste, repent in leisure.”

“That’s really right on,” Donna Kurtz interjected.  “It goes back to the problem we’re trying to solve.  The problem is how do I make government more responsive, how do I make it more honest?

“I better dam well sure be sure I’m not making the problem worse.”

But, if I understood her context correctly, Kurtz, referring to the at-large election of the Chairman, said, “Many of us wanted to do that on Day 1 when we took office.”

Advanced earlier by Schuster as a means of making the Board Chairman more accountable was the proposal of putting term limits in the Board Rules.

Assistant State’s Attorney Donna Kelly explained twice that doing so would subject the County to litigation. from not only an office holder who might want to exceed the term limit, but also from voters whose rights to see the person they wanted in office would be curtailed.

Kelly pointed out that neither the State Constitution nor current Illinois law allowed for such term limits for County Board Chairmen.

“Out concern is litigation,” she said.

Skala, who has chaired many a meeting while he was President of the Huntley District 158 School Board, pointed out,

“The way I’m reading the agenda, we couldn’t pass anything even if we wanted to.”

He then pointed out that “it comes down [to] if we have people that want to have a special board meeting to do it.”

Walkup, who carried the ball on the side of having an April referendum, said he though people out to be put on record.

Provenzano took the floor again, saying,

“The fact that you had no resolution on the agenda doomed this proposal.

“The only way to do that is a special election.

“We’ve talked about it for two years.

“There have been numerous public hearings.

“There’s been plenty of opportunity [for input].

“We do have all the answers; some just don’t understand [them].

“We have a four-year term.  Put it on the ballot.

“Let the County Board members vote on it.”

“It’s not something where you just toss a coin and it’s heads or tails,” Kurtz replied. “We could paint ourselves into a very dangerous situation. We could potentially create far worse problems than we have now.”

Closing the debate was non-member, newly-elected Nick Chirikos:

“I respectfully disagree with Mr. Provenzano. Fully a third of this board is new [and] haven’t had the opportunity to weigh in on this subject.”

Discussion also covered the monetary requirements to finance a countywide campaign for Board Chairman.

“I agree with some who have said [candidates would be ]self-funding millionaire or millionaire backing or special interest [financing, such as] developers,” Walkup said.

Newly-elected McHenry County Board Chairman attended about three-fourths of the discussion.

The McHenry County Board’s Committee on Committees met today and made the following recommendations for committee assignments and chairmanships and vice chairmanships. Click to enlarge either image.

Recommendations for other Board assignments follow:

Can you spot any changes from the first meeting’s lineup, which is below, except for the recommended committee chairmen, which you can find here.

= = = = =
I got some more details on the meeting that I’d like to share with you:

Present at the Committee meeting were Tina Hill, Donna Kurtz, Mary McCann, Anna May Miller, Paula Yensen, Sue Draffkorn, Mary McClellan.

Audience members were Nick Provenzano, Ken Koehler, Charles Eldridge, Ersel Schuster,Diane Evertsen, Jim Heisler, Jana Blake (State’s Attorney’s Office) & 1 other male department head whose name escapes me at this time.

During discussion by committee members, assignment changes were made naming Sandy Salgado as chairman of Human

Resources and Mary McClellan was moved to Vice Chair; Sue Draffkorn volunteered to serve strictly as a member.

Management Services Vice Chair position was discussed, first considering Schuster as Vice Chair but settling on Hammerand.

Planning and Development Committee Chairmanship of Joe Gottemoller was discussed, including any potential for problems with conflict of interest debates. Miller assured the committee there would be no legitimate public concerns with Gottemoller serving as chair of P&D and his many years as an attorney dealing with zoning issues.

Miller took the discussion further, with commentary about Schuster, saying that because of the blog’s having posted a story about the last Committee of the Whole meeting, she had received calls about Schuster’s not having “a balanced approach,” that she was too environmentally-oriented.

At that point, Schuster told those in the room, “I have not pushed to be on this chair position. I have not promised any vote for any chairmanship of any sort and I was promised this chairmanship if I voted for Tina, so I feel very irritated by some of this.

“Ms. Miller, you make comment about the fact that maybe I am a little bit too much in the environmental crowd. That is totally unreal because that might be the perception.

“Let me finish.

“My participation on every committee has been to be the devil’s advocate and to work to be able to bring those issues out. And, yes, sometimes it sounds I’m on the other side. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I am but I believe everybody needs to address these things.

Schuster went on the point out that Board members who are attorneys “do not represent us legally. The State’s Attorney is our legal representation.

“And we get into trouble sometimes when we defer to lawyers sitting on committees. And, it’s not that their expertise isn’t needed. It’s wonderful, but the State’s Attorney’s Office is our legal representative.

Referring to Gottemoller, “Ask yourself this question. A man who has a business that was, is primarily zoning…is willing to give up that portion of his business to accept a $20,000 a year job.

“Put that little thought in your mind. That’s what the public is going to be looking at.

“So, I think that’s what Jim and Donna are trying to get across.

“I think his expertise is phenomenal.

“Do I really want to take on the UDO?

“Probably not. It’s going to be a load.

“I would do it if I were there. I will do it as Vice Chair. I will do it as a member of any committee, as I have always done.

“But I think there are some issues that we are going to be confronted with on P&D, whether it’s considered on the environmental side, which I have never personally considered myself an environmentalist in that respect that we normally think of it, or [whether it's] a lawyer that may be steering us a little bit in decision-making that maybe it isn’t the direction as legislators we should be asking our State’s Attorney to respond to.”

Schuster then left the meeting.

County Board member Provenzano sprang to Gottemoller’s defense. “He has always been my sounding board (about zoning matters).”

He praised his expertise and said, “I’m a little concerned about the ‘innuendo.’”

“I can’t think of anyone in the County I’d rather have there defending and identifying those issues than Joe Gottemoller.”

Back to the less detailed notes.

Liaison member to Economic Development: Donna Kurtz offered to relinquish the leadership position to Mike Skala.

Ken Koehler spoke to the Committee about his desire to be on the Law and Justice Committee because of his expertise.

The Committee went into closed session to discuss sensitive material.

Upon return to open session, Mr. Koehler continued to promote his desire to be on that committee and members of the Committee on Committees in turn discussed and determined they’d leave that assignment as it is.

Woodstock’s Tina Hill has taken the gavel that Crystal Laker Ken Koehler wielded for the last eight years.  Elected as Vice Chairman was Jim Heisler, who held the same post under Koehler two years ago.

When the vote was taken to elect the McHenry County Board Chairman to replace Ken Koehler, the following were nominated:

• Tina Hill
• Ken Koehler
• Ersel Schuster
• Joe Gottemoller

After nominating speeches, the vote was taken with the names being called in alphabetical order. Here’s how members voted on the first ballot:

• Tina Hill – 11
• Ken Koehler – 6
• Ersel Schuster 4
• Joe Gottemoller – 3

For Tina Hill

• Michele Aavang
• Nick Chirikos
• Sue Draffkorn
• Jim Heisler
• Tina Hill
• Bob Martens
• Mary McCann
• Mary McClellan
• Anna May Miller
• Mike Walkup
• Paula Yensen

For Ken Koehler

• Yvonne Barnes
• John Jung
• Ken Koehler
• Robert Nowak
• Nick Provenzano
• Sandy Salgado

For Ersel Schuster

• Diane Evertsen
• John Hammerand
• Donna Kurtz
• Ersel Schuster

For Joe Gottemoller

• Joe Gottemoller
• Carolyn Schofield
• Mike Skala

I note that the two Democrats, Paula Yensen and Nick Chirikos voted for Hill.

On the second vote, three votes shifted to Hill, two from Koehler and one from Schuster.  Koehler lost Jung and Nowak and Schuster lost Kurtz.

For Vice Chairman, two men that traded places two years ago–Heisler and Jung–were nominated along with newcomer Mike Skala.

The vote was 13 for Heisler, 9 for Jung and 3 for Skala.

In the vote for Vice Chairman, Hill held her majority together with the exception of Aavang, Jung, Martens and McCann.

Stepping in to fill the void were Barnes, Schofield and Schuster.

A message from Woodstock attorney Jane Collins, who lives in the most rural District in McHenry County:

“Good reasons for the new County Board to elect a chairman from the most rural district: fairness, Open Meetings accountability and the County’s draft Unified Development Ordinance.

“Please note: this is not about Ken Koehler.

“It has been far too long since a board member representing residents in rural McHenry County had a turn at heading up the board.

“I think most agree that uninterrupted control and power concentrated in board members from the Southeast and in the same person is not in our best interests.

“And would it not be good if those board members who violated the Open Meetings Act by rotating in and out of a secret meeting stepped down from running for chairman?

“It would be the honorable thing to do.

“Giving a District 6 member the responsibility of overseeing the draft county development ordinance would be just and fair.

“After all, it’s the groundwater, farmland and quality of life in the Western part of the County that are most at stake.

“Yes, we know that deals have been made, horses already traded before the new board is seated.

“Will that board surprise us and set aside politics as usual and do the right thing?

“One can only hope.”

The pretty secret jockeying to be Chairman of the McHenry County Board for the next two years will culminate tomorrow morning in Woodstock.

After the 9 0.clock swearing in, three, perhaps four, perhaps more people will have their names entered into nomination.

“For sure” candidates are incumbent Ken Koehler, Tina Hill and Ersel Schuster.

My prediction is that none will achieve thirteen votes on the first ballot.

You can see my early guesses as to who would vote for whom for Chairman here.

Two new members, Joe Gottemoller (Crystal Lake) and Mike Skala (Huntley), apparently got earfuls of questions about whether they would support the re-election of Koehler and are schemish about voting for him on the first ballot.  Earlier, I pegged them as Koehler votes.

Others seem to be pledged to Koehler on the first ballot, but not the second.

Hill seems to have been the most aggressive at courting the votes of the eight new and one “re-tread” member (Yvonne Barnes).

Schuster was late out of the box on this treasurer trove of potential support.

A new rumor surfaced last week.

It suggests that Hill approached former County Republican Party Chairman Al Jourdan for support and, then, he and Sheriff aspirant Andy Zinke began working to bring votes to Hill.

And Sheriff Keith Nygren back in town for Shop with a Cop.

Could those who wish Zinke to replace Nygren be motivated by the wish-fulfillment that should Nygren retire that Hill would nominate Zinke to take Nygren’s place?

There will be those voting for Hill who would not vote to confirm Zinke, so such a nomination would not necessarily be a slam dunk in the game of succession.

My father used to say if a political rumor sounded like it might be true, it probably was.

Whether or not that side arrangement is in play, I believe that Hill will emerge the next Chairman of the McHenry County Board.

If she or Schuster are successful, the winner will be only the third female County Board Chairman (Chairwoman, if you prefer to use a title different from the one Kane County Chairman Karen McConnaughay used) in McHenry County history.

The first was Ann Hughes, who went on to become a State Representative. the second was Dianne Klemm.

If she does, not only will her salary increase a lot, but so will her retirement benefits under IMRF.

I shall wonder again if those on the new Board wishing citizens to be able to vote in a referendum as to whether to elect the 2014 County Board Chairman at-large in April will have as much success as those wishing to hike taxes in April did in November.

A missive from Mary Joestgen, a new Republican Precinct Committeeman from Spring Grove:

“Let your representative know that we need Ersel Schuster as Chairman of the McHenry County Board.

“The McHenry County board will be seated on Dec 6.

“One of their first tasks of this meeting will be to elect the Chairman.

“Will the members wake up to the fiscal depravity our state is facing and elect Ersel Schuster for a much
needed watch dog for our tax dollars?

“McHenry county residents deserve to have their pay checks treated as what they actually are, the product
of our hard earned money and not a free supply of funds for a county board to fritter away.

“We will all be watching closely to see who is voting for their own interests and who is really concerned about the people who elected them.”

Guess I didn’t read the Sunday Daily Herald article on the contest to be Chairman of the McHenry County Board.

There is a vibrant three-way race consisting of

• current four-term Chairman Ken Koehler
• Tina Hill and
• Ersel Schuster

with Nick Provenzano thinking about entering the contest.

Of the three major contenders Koehler and Hill wear the “Establishment” label, while Schuster would be considered the “outsider.”

A friend pointed out that Koehler did not actually say he was running for a fifth term in the Daily Herald pie.

He’s “still deciding.”

He’s “weighing family considerations”…but he’d “love to continue.”

I find that pretty interesting verbiage.

Do you?

I do know that members are meeting, maneuvering for position and the intrigue continues.

And will until the day the County Board reorganizes during the first week in December.

It’s a comment from County Board Chairman candidate Tina Hill. I found it in a Sunday Daily Herald article.

“I’m not going to have any comment on that because it’s an internal thing,” she said. “I don’t deny what I said (this summer).”

If you are not one of the twenty-four elected to the County Board last week, you have no right to know anything about the maneuvering.

I can tell you that more than one source has told me that current County Board Chairman Ken Koehler cannot get re-elected.

Hill announced that she was running against him this summer.

Ersel Schuster is also seeking the post.

The article says Nick Provenzano is considering running.

The article just belowthis one tried to figure out who would support whom for McHenry County Board Chairman.

There are three active candidates:

• Ken Koehler
• Tina Hill
• Ersel Schuster

I figure no one has a majority.

The first choice of the behind the scenes guys would obviously be Koehler. They have been dealing with him for eight years.

But public pressure for his replacement has come from both of the Heralds in their editorial endorsements of him.

And, his removal was the focal point of State Rep. Jack Franks legendary ire during his unsuccessful County Executive referendum fight.

Some suggest that I have listed three names supporting Koehler who are not. If so, he’s going to have a very difficult time reaching the needed thirteen votes.

Besides Hill, there is even a long-shot chance that well-liked Joe Gottemoller, just elected, might find people lining up behind him.

“Fresh start” could be the rallying cry.

Also jockeying for the leadership spot is veteran Board member Nick Provenzano.

All of this is speculation, of course, because the elected Board members are not showing their cards to the public.

That does not stop you from calling your County Board members-to-be and telling them whom you think they should support for Chairman.

And, if you would rather have the vote yourself, you can ask them to put a referendum on the ballot in February or April that, if passed, would lead to an at-large election of County Board Chairman in 2014. (A lot of phone numbers here.)

If such a referendum is not put on the ballot next spring, an at-large election could not occur until 2016.

If a Board member says it’s impossible to put a referendum on the ballot on electing the County Board Chairman at-large, ask how, then, it is possible for them to put a referendum on the ballot that could raise your taxes 10 cents per $!00 of assessed valuation.

It surely looks as if they plan to do that on November 19th.

Koehler and Hill are battling to become the Establishment candidate.

One source doesn’t believe there is any way that Koehler can be re-election and suggests that his supporters will end up behind Hill.