McHenry County Blog

A press release from Dave McSweeney, candidate for State Representative

McSweeney Endorsed by Four Pro-Life Organizations

Dave McSweeney

Barrington Township: David McSweeney, candidate for State Representative in the 52nd District has been endorsed by four well known Pro-Life organizations.

• The Illinois Federation for Right to Life,
• the Illinois Citizens for Life,
• the Lake County Life PAC, and
• the Pro-Life Victory PAC of Right to Life of McHenry County

have all endorsed McSweeney within the past week.

“We are pleased to announce our endorsement of Dave McSweeney as Republican candidate for the fifty-second Illinois House District,” reads the release from the Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC. In a release from the Illinois Citizens for Life,

“Additionally, we believe that you are the only pro-life candidate that can win the 52nd House District seat and return it back to representing the pro-life district constituents of the district”.

“Based upon his stance on Life issues, his strengths as a candidate, and his willingness to defend the dignity of every human being on issues presented before the General Assembly, we believe that David McSweeney is uniquely qualified to serve the people of the 52nd House District in Springfield. We urge all pro-life voters in the District to give him their support,” read a Lake County Life PAC statement.

“The Pro-Life Victory PAC examines three factors in the decision to endorse candidates:  Their stand on Life issues, their track record on Life issues, and their electoral viability.  “On all of these counts, Dave McSweeney has been a standout,” said Irene Napier, founder of Right to Life McHenry County,” read a release from the Pro Life Victory PAC.

“I am proud to receive the endorsement of these grassroots Pro-Life organizations. Their support of my campaign and the energy that comes with that support will carry us to victory in the March Primary and then the November General Election,” said David McSweeney.
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McSweeney is running to unseat appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney, as is Danielle Rowe.

When I went to the mailbox this afternoon, I found something that obviously was supposed to be delivered before yesterday’s election.

It was the Illinois Family Institute’s 2010 Voter’s Guide for the primary eleciton.

Since the races for governor as so close, I thought people still might be interested in what the statewide Illinois government candidates had to say about civil unions, abortion, gambling, medical marijuana, the Equal Rights Amendment, the Marriage Amendment, sex education increasing the state income tax by 50% and allowing illegal aliens to have Illinois drivers’ licenses.

You can see the candidates’ answers below. Click to enlarge.

Last night at Crystal Lake’s 1776 restaurant will be a night that Jason Plummer, an aggressive Downstate candidate for lieutenant governor, will remember forever.

How do I know?

Lientenant governor candidate Jason Plummer begins speaking after being introduced by McHenry County Young Republican President Bryan Javor.

Because I’ve been on the same route he took twice, once in 1982 when I ran for State Comptroller against Roland Burris and twenty years later when I ran for governor in 2002 against Rod Blagojevich and Jim Ryan.

A statewide candidate doesn’t remember all the stops on the campaign trail, but some are memorable.

Like the night at some big meeting hall in Carbondale when all the candidates on the ticket were standing under a big photo of us all and Jim Thompson was commenting on the St. Louis Globe’s endorsement that day.

“Even Skinner got endorsed,”

he exclaimed.

Of course, I thought and still think I was more qualified than incumbent Burris to be State Comptroller, but even I was surprised I had received the endorsement.

Last night the McHenry County Young Republicans held a candidates’ night for county board candidates.

Thank goodness, the YR’s were not as hidebound as the DeKalb League of Women Voters in 1982, when I was not allowed to speak because I wasn’t a legislative candidate.

In any event, the tallest Republican candidate I have seen since Thompson walked to the podium and was told, as the other candidates had been told, that he had five minutes and that when he was at the four minute mark, he would be told.

He started by pointing out the Illinois lieutenant governor had “no constitutional duties.”

He cited the three statutes giving the office some things to do—probably all enacted while Neil Hartigan was serving under Governor Dan Walker—and said,

“Clearly it’s not an overwhelming workload.”

Plummer talked about his having created jobs in companies he had started, as well as his role in the family lumber business, RP Lumber, with 43 yards in Illinois and two in Missouri.

He told of how he was in intelligence in the Navy Reserve, had worked at the Heritage Foundation and for U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald.

And, how he had returned from Washington to run for Madison County Republican Party Chairman.

He talked about fighting corruption in Madison County, something that no knowledgeable person would deny exits.

“I battled corrupt legislators, a corrupt county board and a corrupt judiciary.”

Plummer said,

“The state needs someone who knows how to sign the bottom of a check, not just the back of a check.”

Great line, don’t you think?

While at a trade convention in Indiana, he told a woman he was running for lieutenant governor.

“In Indiana?” the woman asked.

“No, Illinois.”

The New Jersey resident reacted with dismay, wondering why anyone would want to run for office in our corrupt state.

“When the people of New Jersey are questioning the ethics of Illinois, (we’re in trouble).”

Then, a very bright light put up by YR President Bryan Javor went out.

Jason Plummer's expression after the bright light went out at 1776, plunging the room into relative darkness.

Then came the best quip of the night:

“Is that what you do at one minute?”

I’m still chuckling.

Tell me that Plummer won’t remember last night for the rest of his life.

In that last minute, Plummer listed some endorsements. I caught the Illinois State Rifle Association and the Illinois Federation of Right to Life.

Lientenant governor candidate Jason Plummer posing at 1776 in Crystal Lake with his campaign manager, Ray Marchiori.

Afterward I got a photo of Plummer with his campaign manager, Ray Marachiori. Marachiori staffed my Privatization Committee during the 1995-96 legislative session.

Plummer stayed until the end of the meeting. I guess he figured everybody in the room would vote in the GOP primary election.

I noticed 6th District county board candidate carrying one of Plummer’s signs out of the restaurant.

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If this story interested you, this might, too:

“Jason Plummer calling“

The following press release from congressional candidate Joe Walsh is presented for your information:

Lake Zurich, IL, January 12, 2010. Joe Walsh Candidate for Congress in the IL  8th District is announcing support and endorsements.

Walsh continues to receive endorsements and support in his race for Congress.  The following is an initial list of endorsements, further endorsements will be forthcoming:

The following organizations have endorsed Joe Walsh:

• Illinois Federation For Right to Life
• Tea Party Palatine
• Lake County Tea Party
• Illinois Conservatives on Facebook
• National Taxpayers United of Illinois
• Republican Assembly of Illinois

The following individuals and elected officials have endorsed Joe Walsh:

• Bryan Javor, Chairman McHenry CountyYoung Republicans
• Don Castella, Chairman, Vernon Township Republicans
• Nick Provenzano, Candidate for McHenry County board, District 3
• Tom Roeser, Conservative Catholic Activist
• Louis Rofrano, Mc Henry County Right to Carry Association
• John E. Vincent, Former Wauconda Township Committeeman
• John O’Neill, Candidate for State Representative, 63rd District
• Glenn Garamoni, Precinct Committeeman, Fremont Township 121
• Bill Parrot, Chairman, Patriots United
• Peter S. Karlovics, Precinct Committeeman, Warren Township 308
• Joyce Story, Precinct Committeeman McHenry 14

Walsh has garnered lots of support from numerous committeemen throughout the district as well.

“Once again I am honored to have received the support of these organizations and these individuals.  Their support is providing crucial momentum to my campaign and has raised the energy level going into the final weeks of this election,” said Walsh.
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I would observe that not all of these endorsements are exclusive. The Illinois Federation Right to Life, I know, endorsed more than one candidate.  Maria Rodriguez was also endorsed.

My computer problems have been my excuse for basically ignoring the 8th congressional district’s Republican primary election.

It’s time to start paying attention to what the candidates are saying with the election just five weeks away.

Here’s an invitation from Maria Rodriguez reminding folks of her rally tomorrow night in Long Grove. I think I attended a shower at the Long Grove Village Tavern where this event is being held. Nice place.

Reminder – Come out to the ‘Countdown to Victory’ Rally Tomorrow Night!

As we prepare the countdown to the new year… join us in counting down the 35 days to Maria’s Congressional primary victory!

Tuesday, December 29 at 6:30 p.m.

at the Long Grove Village Tavern
135 N. Old McHenry Road in Downtown Long Grove

Hors d’oeuvres provided by the Tavern

Cash Bar

Melissa Bean’s solutions to the 8th district’s problems are higher taxes, runaway spending, and a government takeover of health care.  While she claims to be a pro-business moderate, Melissa Bean votes with Speaker Pelosi’s radical job-killing agenda more than 90 percent of the time.  For all the right reasons, we need Maria in Congress.

As the village president of Long Grove, Maria knows how to balance a budget and make government live within its means.   As our Member of Congress, she’ll rein in wasteful spending, hold the line on taxes and support a legislative agenda that is pro-job creation.

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Along side of the invitation is a list of those who have endorsed Rodriguez.  I think you might find them of interest:

• Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC
• Libertyville Township Republican Committee
• One of Two Preferred Candidates by the Schaumburg Township Republican Committee
• Christine Radogno, State Senate Minority Leader
• Pam Althoff, State Senator
• Dan Duffy, State Senator
• Ed Sullivan, State Representative
• Joanne Osmond, State Representative
• Bill Peterson, Former State Senator
• Mike Adelizzi, Schaumburg Township Republican Committeeman
• Brent Paxton, Lake County Board Member
• David Stolman, Lake County Board Member
• Linda Pederson, Lake County Board Member
• Aaron Lawlor, Lake County Board Member
• Arlene Mulder, Mayor – Arlington Heights
• Peter Breen, Thomas More Law Center
• Daniel McConchie, Americans United for Life

To motivate pro-life voters, the McHenry County-based Pro-Life Victory Committee spent over $2,000 communicating to like-minded voters.

Despite that expenditure, the political action committee has $3,785.81 left.

McHenry County Blog reported on two of its events last year:

• Pro-Lifers Meet in Crystal Lake
• Democratic Party Candidate for Coroner Dave Bachmann Attends Pro-Life Pig Roast

The Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC spent $4,489.86 last fall and has $3,093.34 left.

The balloon you see was found at the pig roast at Resurrection Center in late June.

To motivate pro-life voters, the McHenry County-based Pro-Life Victory Committee spent over $2,000 communicating to like-minded voters.

Despite that expenditure, the political action committee has $3,785.81 left.

McHenry County Blog reported on two of its events last year:

• Pro-Lifers Meet in Crystal Lake
• Democratic Party Candidate for Coroner Dave Bachmann Attends Pro-Life Pig Roast

The Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC spent $4,489.86 last fall and has $3,093.34 left.

The balloon you see was found at the pig roast at Resurrection Center in late June.