McHenry County Blog

Turnout was really terrible in most of the precincts which held Republican Party township primary elections.

Today, let’s take a look at who voted where in Grafton Township’s hot three-way Township Supervisor race and two-way Assessor and Road Commissioner contests.

Grafton Township precinct map.

Here are the precincts ranked from highest to lowest turnout:

• GRAFTON 15 – 25.91% Sun City, No Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 27 – 19.95% Sun City, No Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 26 – 15.75% Sun City, Linda Moore, Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 2 – 10.95% – Lakewood, Mike Hansen, Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 4 – 10.63% – Northwest Grafton Township, farmland, James Ketchmark, Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 1 – 10.29% – Downtown Huntley, Mike Skala, Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 9 – 9.31% – Area around the old high school, Eric Hartmann, appointed Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 6 – 8.76% – Lakewood’s Turnberry & unincorporated area west of Crystal Lake to Route 47, Betty Jane Miller, Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 11 – 6.93% – West end of Crystal Lake, no Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 18 – 6.46% – Lake in the Hills, Tom Wilbeck, appointed Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 29 – 5.56% – Huntley near Village Hall, no Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 7 – 5.50% – Crystal Lake south of Lakewood, Fred Wickham Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 3 – 5.41% – North Shore of Crystal Lake, No Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 10 – 5.23% – Crystal Lake, No Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 22 – 4.70% -  eastern Huntley on the county line, Cheryl Meyer, appointed Precinct Committteeman
• GRAFTON 24 – 4.25% – west of Lakewood Road, north of Miller Road, No Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 17 – 4.18% – Algonquin in southeast corner of township, No Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 5 – 4.06% – Crystal Lake, northwest of the lake, appointed John McGuire, appointed Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 12 – 3.80% – east if Lakewood Road, north of Miller Road in Lake in the Hills, Joseph Oskorep, appointed Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 13 – 3.53% – Lake in the Hills near township line, Gary Cooney, appointed Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 28 – 3.50% – Lake in the Hills, southeast of the intersection of Algonquin and Lakewood Roads, Tom Poznanski, Chairman of the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee
• GRAFTON 23 – 3.49% – Lake in the Hills, southwest of the intersection of Algonquin and Lakewood Roads, no Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 16 – 3.34% – northeast of the intersection of Reed Road and Route 47, no Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 21 – 2.81% – southwestern Lakewood, no Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 30 – 2.77% – southwesternmost Grafton Township precinct in Lake in the Hills, Marty Waitzman, Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 8 – 2.59% – southwestern Crystal Lake, Carolyn Schofield, Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 31 – 2.55% – Lake in the Hills north of Algonquin Road on the Algonquin Township line, no Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 19 – 1.65% – Lake in the Hills west of Lakewood Road, Samuel Paglini, Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 25 – 1.60% – south of Ackmann Road east of Haligus Road, Joe Calomino, Precinct Committeeman
• GRAFTON 20 – 1.54% – Crystal Lake north of Dartmoor, west of Huntley Road, Michelle Nigro, appointed Precinct Committeeman
• Grafton 14 – 1.38%  -  southwest of intersection of Algonquin and Lakewood Roads, wrapping around Grafton 28, Allan Lampert, appointed Precinct Committeeman

Tom Poznanski

Monday night Grafton Township Party Central Committee Chairman Tom Poznanski told me that he favored letting the voters decide who the Republican Party candidates for township office would be.

This is the third cycle during which partisan candidates have run for office.

For the first, eleven years ago, the Central Committee held a caucus.

In 2009, the Party decided on a primary election at which Linda Moore beat out the incumbent John Rossi by a couple dozen votes, while re-electing three out of the four incumbent Trustees from the Rossi years.

The fourth Trustee elected was Gerry McMahon. He was supported by those behind Moore, but quickly switched sides and became Moore most vociferous critic.

Moore has been isolated on the Township board which she chairs, having to go to court to keep the Trustees from usurping her executive branch functions.

The Trustees have appealed Judge Michael Caldwell’s decision.

A primary challenge to Moore is a certainty.

As the McHenry County Republican Central Committee prepares to organize for the next two years tonight at D’Andrea’s in Crystal Lake, word has reached McHenry County Blog that McHenry Township and Grafton Township.

McHenry Township’s GOP held its organization meeting Saturday.

Here’s who won what:

• Bruce Novak – Chair
• Tom Webb – Vice Chair
• Craig Adams – Treasurer
• Marsha Nelson – Secretary

Newly-elected Grafton Township Republican Party officers are, left to right, Chairman Tom Poznaski, Vice Chair Carolyn Schofield, Secretary Mike Skala and Treasurer Martin Waitzman.

Grafton Township Republicans organized Monday. Here’s who’s who there:

• Tom Poznaski – Chair
• Caroline Schofield – Vice Chair
• Mike Skala – Secretary
• Martin Waitzman – Treasurer

Tom Poznanski

Tonight starting at 6, the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee was planning on gathering McHenry County Board candidates at the Huntley Park District building.

People have been invited by robo-call, but the extent of the predicted snow storm has led Township GOP Chairman Tom Poznanski to cancel the event.

If you are interested in attending the $30 Grafton Township Republican Central Committee’s Golf Outing at Pinecrest next Monday, it’s time to get your tee time.

Tom Posnanski is the man to call.  His number is 847-951-5468.

Proceeds will go to Pioneer Center, not the local GOP organization, as you can see in the invitation below. [A commenter says the split will be split 70-30, but does not indicate which organization gets the 70%.]

The Grafton Township Republican Central Committee is holding its second fund raising golf day for Pioneer Center.

The event will be held October 10th at the Pincrest Country Club on Algonquin Road in Huntley.

The cost is $30 a person.

With 15 out of 31 precincts having no elected GOP precinct committeeman, the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee met to select officers for the next two years.

Tom Poznanski will continue to be chairman of the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee,

Grafton Township Precinct Map (click to enlarge)

Running against him was Tammy Lueth an ally of Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore.

The weighted vote was 1,302 for Poznanski and 626 for Lueth.   (“Weighted” votes allow each precinct committeeman to cast the number of votes cast by their constituents in the last Republican primary election.)

The other officers are

• Dan Ryan, Treasurer
• Mike Skala, Recording Secretary

All 16 elected committeeman were present, except Tom Halat, whose proxy vote was allowed.

Grafton Township precinct map. Click to enlarge.

Continuing a series of Republican turnout in the February 2nd primary election, we now turn to Grafton Township. Previously, precinct results for Algonquin Township have been previously  published.

As in Algonquin and Nunda Townships, all Grafton Township precincts had contests for county board.

Part of the Crystal Lake July 4th TEA Party demonstration. My favorite is "If you're not outranged, you're not informed."

What you see below are the thirty-one Grafton Township precincts. Next to the precinct number is the percentage of Republican Party turnout. If there was a person on the ballot for precinct committeeman, his or her name is seen in parentheses.

If you live in a precinct with no elected committeeman, you could volunteer to fill that slot. If you are interested—and maybe some TEA Party demonstrators may wish to make their citizenship more intense—just send me a email and I’ll pass your name along.

• Grafton 1 – 11.0% (Mike Skala)
• Grafton 2 – 19.3% (Scott Breeden)
• Grafton 3 – 9.9%
• Grafton 4 – 10.7% (Tammy Lueth)
• Grafton 5 – 9.8%
• Grafton 6 – 17.5% (Harriet Ford)
• Grafton 7 – 17.2% (Fred Wickham)
• Grafton 8 – 12.5%
• Grafton 9 – 10.1% (Eric Hartmann)
• Grafton 10 – 13.8% (Lloyd Everard)
• Grafton 11 – 11.0% (Bernice Gora)
• Grafton 12 – 8.1%
• Grafton 13 – 8.4% (Gene Goeglein)
• Grafton 14 – 7.9% (Terry Aavang)
• Grafton 15 – 25.5% (Daniel Ryan)
• Grafton 16 – 6.1% (Tom Halat)
• Grafton 17 – 10.5%
• Grafton 18 – 8.2%
• Grafton 19 – 4.4% (Samuel Paglini)
• Grafton 20 – 6.3%
• Grafton 21 – 10.2%
• Grafton 22 – 7.1%
• Grafton 23 – 6.1% (Linda Betzold)
• Grafton 24 – 8.3%
• Grafton 25 – 7.1%
• Grafton 26 – 17.7% (Linda Moore)
• Grafton 27 – 21.1%
• Grafton 28 – 7.8% (Thomas Poznanski)
• Grafton 29 – 9.7%
• Grafton 30 – 12.4%
• Grafton 31 – 11.1%

Sun City continued it reputation of being a high turnout area. County board member Dan Ryan got 25.5% of his constituents to vote GOP. He was on the ballot, but did not win. He blamed his loss on not filling out the conflict of interest questionnaire proposed by the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water. He was the only committee who topped the 20% benchmark that I am using.

Huntley’s Joe Williams rolled out his candidacy for Regional Superintendent of Schools at the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee last Wednesday in Lakewood’s Lou Malnati’s Pizza.

That was the night I was listening to State Rep. Lou Lang speak to the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee in Woodstock. Grafton Republicans provided free pizza, so by attending the Democrats’ event, I probably avoided gaining two pounds.

The letter Williams sent to Republican precinct committeemen and committeewomen follows:

My Fellow Committeemen and Committeewomen:

After 40 years of service to the public education system, Mr. Gene Goeglein has decided that he will not seek another term as the Regional Superintendent of Schools for McHenry County.

The Regional Office of Education plays a critical role in the governance and regulation of the key functions of the public education system as well as providing professional services to the thousands of McHenry County educators on a daily basis. This is a great responsibility which requires experience, expertise and a commitment to maximizing the available resources on behalf of the students of our county.

With the full support of Mr. Goeglein, I am seeking election as the next Regional Superintendent of Schools for McHenry County. I have served as the Assistant Regional Superintendent and County Truant Officer for the past 4 years and am intimately familiar with the functions, duties, responsibilities and most importantly, the expectations of this office. I am fully prepared to effectively discharge these duties and improve upon an already excellent office.

My professional efforts are driven by and focused on my belief that all of our kids deserve the best efforts that the adults in the community can provide. I also believe that it is our responsibility to seek constant improvement.

I became a school teacher upon my return from active duty in the United States Marine Corps and continue to benefit from the self-discipline and commitment to the service of others that I learned there.

In my career as a teacher, coach, administrator and leader, I have sought opportunities for student success, teacher achievement and systemic improvement.

I hold a Doctorate in Educational Administration, have twice been appointed to serve on state-wide task forces, and provide regular insight to legislators and stakeholders who shape public education policy.

It is also my good fortune to work with the members of our community on a daily basis as they navigate the increasingly complex world of public education.

However, the most rewarding aspect of my career thus far is the continued contact with the students, athletes and families of McHenry County.

It is a sincere joy to watch our young people transition beyond public education and into their adult lives, knowing that our educational system has partnered with the community to make this happen.

As a former United States Marine Corps infantryman, it is especially powerful for me to see many of my former students have transitioned from being protected into becoming the very protectors of our society.

I am a Huntley resident and have served as an appointed and elected precinct committeeman in Grafton Township.

My wife, Laura, and I are the proud parents of Joseph Jr. and Elizabeth. Joseph started school this year and Elizabeth will enter kindergarten in two years.

We are proud of the educational opportunities that our children will have in the system, and have made our home here largely for that reason. Like you, we are committed to helping them get the most out of this opportunity.

As with all of the challenges I have faced, I am fortunate to have the support of mentors, friends and family. However, my fellow Republicans, I need your help if my efforts are to be successful. I need your support as Republican Committeemen and Committeewomen in securing the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot. I have enclosed nominating petitions and a self-addressed stamped envelope for their return.

As a committeeman myself, I understand the effort required to secure signatures and I extend my thanks in advance. I would greatly appreciate any and all signatures that you would secure on my behalf.

Please feel free to contact me personally with any questions, comments or concerns. I am confident with your support that I can continue the tradition of excellence that McHenry County has come to expect from our Regional Office of Education.

Respectfully submitted,

Joseph R. Williams

The Grafton Township Supervisor race heated up today with the arrival of a post card from John Rossi and his slate of incumbent trustees.

Incumbent Rossi is running against challenger Linda Moore.

You can see the side with the text here (click to enlarge).

I’m pretty amazed that he emphasizes that no referendum was held. Of course, he doesn’t tell constituents that he and township trustees put them in debt for $3.5 million without allowing them to vote for or against the proposal at the polls.

And, Rossi doesn’t reveal that there would have been tax decreases had the extra $3.5 million (plus interest) tax burden not been foisted on homeowners and businesses.

Instead he brags in boldface type,

Talk about putting lipstick on a pig.

So, instead of a tax decrease, property owners will have to pay off a new tax burden caused by borrowed $3.5 million to build a new township hall.

As to the “no tax referendums” claim, a Linda Moore mailing said,

Rossi also includes the picture of an unnamed couple who have apparently given a contribution to the Grafton Township Food Pantry, new space for which will be extracted from township taxpayers without their having given approval at the ballot box. Rossi is president of the private not-for-profit food pantry.

As this article points out, the Crystal Lake Food Pantry was bought and remodeled (with three years’ utility cost in the bank) for $500,000. The money came from voluntary contributions, not coerced tax payments mandated by a township board.

Rossi states he is willing to “listen to constituents.”

He just won’t let them vote in a referendum whether they should be put in debt.

At least he is paying for this campaign mailing out of campaign funds, instead of tax dollars, the use of which close to the election is banned for state legislative candidates, but not for township officials.

At the bottom of his campaign mailer is this:

“Founder of the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee”

Unsaid is that he supported a Democrat for county board last fall. She beat a Republican.