McHenry County Blog

A press release from Democratic Party McHenry County Board candidate Scott Summers:

Summers calls for heightened conflict-of-interest standards

Scott Summers of rural Harvard, a Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County Board (District 6), addressed county board members on Tuesday evening (May 15th) and urged them to set a high standard for all conflict-of-interest matters.

At issue was a proposed waiver to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Kris Koehler is the executive director of the McHenry County Attainable Housing Corporation, which seeks funding under a HUD program.

His father, Ken Koehler, chairs the McHenry County Board.

“I do not doubt the adequacy or sufficiency of the reviews to date. And on a personal basis, I wish the Koehler family well,” Summers said.

“But all of the affidavits and examinations and reviews and recusals in the world will not change the appearances.”

“I believe that public service carries with it daunting standards and solemn responsibilities,” Summers continued.

“It’s not enough to avoid conflicts of interest.

“In order to enjoy the confidence of our fellow citizens, we must also avoid the appearances of conflict.”

In his remarks to board members, Summers drew upon Canon 2 of the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct:

“A judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge’s activities.”

“Let us follow our judges onto that high road,” Summers said as he urged the board to vote “no” on the HUD waiver.

Later, in a 17-5 vote, the waiver was advanced. Board members face future votes in association with the project.

“I hope that the majority comes to a change of heart,” Summers remarked.

“The continued support and good will of the citizens of McHenry County depend upon it.”

For more information, visit www.ScottSummers.org.

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Votes against the resolution were cast by

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

All are Republicans.

Commenting on the McHenry County Board’s decision to send a conflict of interest waiver to the Federal government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development, District 2 Democrat Jim Roden made the following comments:

“I can’t believe what just happened.

“17 people on the County Board think that HUD can make a better decision about who should or should not get county money.”

“The County Board’s role in the matter is little more than relaying the request to HUD…because members were uncomfortable with vouching for the accuracy of information in the proposal,” Roden quotes an article in the Northwest Herald by Kevin Craver.

“Are you saying you can’t vouch for information about people in your own back yard?

“You want some outside government agency to do it?

“ARE YOU NUTS?

“This is our county!

“Oh, and by the way, who keeps the $13,000 for the feasibility study either way?

“Guess!

“This is one of the reasons I am running for The County Board.”

The issue is whether there is a conflict between Ken Koehler’s being Chairman of the McHenry County Board and his son’s being Executive Director of the McHenry County Attainable Housing Corporation, which has asked for a $13,000 planning grant for a senior citizens facility in McHenry.

Citing an appearance of a conflict of interest, Wonder Lake’s John Hammerand said, “It cheapens the county board in many ways,” according to the Daily Herald story by Elena Ferrarin..

Votes against the resolution were cast by

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

All are Republicans.