McHenry County Blog

I don’t know what he’s hunting for, but Jack Roeser just donated another $25,000 to his Family Taxpayers Network.

In the last six months of last year here are the candidates who got contributions from FTN:

• Jim Krenz, running for state representative against Tim Schmitz – $10,000
• Jim MacRunnels, running for Kane County Board chairman – $10,000
• Nick Provenzano, candidate for re-election to the McHenry County Board – $1,000
• Lou Bianchi, candidate for re-election as McHenry County State’s Attorney – $1,000
• Terry Hunt, candidate for state representative to replace Pat Lindner – $5,000

The Federal Election Commission announced Wednesday a finding (MUR 5568) that “the Empower Illinois Media Fund (EIMF) violated the Federal Election Campaign by failing to register with the FEC as a political committee and file disclosure reports.”

The committee supported Alan Keyes in his U.S. Senatorial campaign against Barack Obama.

According the decision’s summary, “The FEC determined that EIMF’s fundraising communications made clear to potential donors that any funds received would be used to influence the 2004 Senate race in Illinois by conducting a media campaign targeting Barack Obama. EIMF spent about $83,000 during the 2004 election cycle, with more than $75,000 devoted to production and placement of radio and television ads opposing Obama’s candidacy.

“The Federal Election Campaign Act states that an organization that makes expenditures, or receives contributions,in excess of $1,000 must register with the Commission as a political committee and file regular financial disclosure reports. The Act prohibits political committees from receiving contributions from corporations or labor organizations and limits contributions from individuals to no more than $5,000 per year.

“EIMF accepted approximately $70,000 in contributions in amounts exceeding $5,000 per individual. EIMF signed a conciliation agreement and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $3,000.”

The FEC reports the respondents in the case were

1. Empower Illinois
2. Empower Illinois Media Fund
3. Jeffrey D. Davis
4. Alan L. Keyes
5. Keyes 2004, Inc. and Eugene T. Carter in his official capacity as treasurer
6. Jack Roeser

Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington was the complainant.

I couldn’t find anything else on the FEC web site, but Politico had this on the 527 group.

Noted in the August 17th article is the following:

”Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, MoveOn.org and the League of Conservation Voters late last year agreed to pay nearly $630,000 to settle charges they skirted campaign finance rules during the 2004 elections.”

There was this additional information. It identified Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics as

“a left-leaning watchdog group, (which) complained to the FEC that Empower Illinois was skirting campaign finance rules, partly by coordinating its attacks with the Keyes campaign through Davis and Jack Roeser, a wealthy donor.

”Roeser, an Illinois high-tech business owner who pledged to raise $1 million for Keyes’ campaign, contributed $40,000 to Empower Illinois and a related group and also met with Keyes to discuss his campaign.

“But the FEC said he wasn’t complicit in Empower Illinois violations.”

The Federal Election Commission announced Wednesday a finding (MUR 5568) that “the Empower Illinois Media Fund (EIMF) violated the Federal Election Campaign by failing to register with the FEC as a political committee and file disclosure reports.”

The committee supported Alan Keyes in his U.S. Senatorial campaign against Barack Obama.

According the decision’s summary, “The FEC determined that EIMF’s fundraising communications made clear to potential donors that any funds received would be used to influence the 2004 Senate race in Illinois by conducting a media campaign targeting Barack Obama. EIMF spent about $83,000 during the 2004 election cycle, with more than $75,000 devoted to production and placement of radio and television ads opposing Obama’s candidacy.

“The Federal Election Campaign Act states that an organization that makes expenditures, or receives contributions,in excess of $1,000 must register with the Commission as a political committee and file regular financial disclosure reports. The Act prohibits political committees from receiving contributions from corporations or labor organizations and limits contributions from individuals to no more than $5,000 per year.

“EIMF accepted approximately $70,000 in contributions in amounts exceeding $5,000 per individual. EIMF signed a conciliation agreement and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $3,000.”

The FEC reports the respondents in the case were

1. Empower Illinois
2. Empower Illinois Media Fund
3. Jeffrey D. Davis
4. Alan L. Keyes
5. Keyes 2004, Inc. and Eugene T. Carter in his official capacity as treasurer
6. Jack Roeser

Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington was the complainant.

I couldn’t find anything else on the FEC web site, but Politico had this on the 527 group.

Noted in the August 17th article is the following:

”Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, MoveOn.org and the League of Conservation Voters late last year agreed to pay nearly $630,000 to settle charges they skirted campaign finance rules during the 2004 elections.”

There was this additional information. It identified Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics as

“a left-leaning watchdog group, (which) complained to the FEC that Empower Illinois was skirting campaign finance rules, partly by coordinating its attacks with the Keyes campaign through Davis and Jack Roeser, a wealthy donor.

”Roeser, an Illinois high-tech business owner who pledged to raise $1 million for Keyes’ campaign, contributed $40,000 to Empower Illinois and a related group and also met with Keyes to discuss his campaign.

“But the FEC said he wasn’t complicit in Empower Illinois violations.”

Salvos continue to be fired around Bob Kjellander’s continuing to be Illinois Republican National Committeeman.

Conservatives, led by Jack Roeser, have been after his scalp.

But they didn’t have the votes to replace him with Steve Rauschenberger at the last state convention.

Now, Tom Roeser (not related to Jack) has written a piece in his new Chicago Daily Observer in defense of Kjellander.

And, Doug Ibendahl, a polemicist in the Tom Paine mold, has replied. (And, he must have read my Family PAC article, because my picture of Tom Roeser and Bob Kjellander is at the top of his open letter.)

If you are interested in GOP intra-party feuds, you might find the two pieces of interest.

Salvos continue to be fired around Bob Kjellander’s continuing to be Illinois Republican National Committeeman.

Conservatives, led by Jack Roeser, have been after his scalp.

But they didn’t have the votes to replace him with Steve Rauschenberger at the last state convention.

Now, Tom Roeser (not related to Jack) has written a piece in his new Chicago Daily Observer in defense of Kjellander.

And, Doug Ibendahl, a polemicist in the Tom Paine mold, has replied. (And, he must have read my Family PAC article, because my picture of Tom Roeser and Bob Kjellander is at the top of his open letter.)

If you are interested in GOP intra-party feuds, you might find the two pieces of interest.

McHenry County Blog tried to play the role archivist for the District 300 School Board campaign, but did such an inadequate job compared to tax hike proponent Nancy Zettler.

This only spokesman I’ve seen this year for the tax hiking group Advance 300 said John Ryan and Monica Clark “ran a very expensive, professionally run campaign with

• a professionally produced web site at citizensforjohnryan.org,
• two automated phone calls,
• professionally produced oversized yard signs,
• a professionally produced mailer which apparently went out to all District 300 residents, and
• two door hangers, one of which was personalized by voting area.

Wow!

Sounds a lot like the professionally produced “Vote Yes! Vote Yes!” campaign that hiked District 300 tax rates and put homeowners into debt for decades, doesn’t it?

The one that cost $150,000 or so.

Zettler reports asking Ryan after the League of Women Voters candidates’ forum whether Jack Roeser was backing him.

In her complaint, she says he replied that

“yes, Roeser was paying for his signs, his phone calls, his mailers and his door hangers. He denied Roeser paid for his website.”

Zettler then reports she asked how much Roeser had spent on Ryan’s campaign and Ryan reported he did not know because Roeser hadn’t told him.

Then comes this interesting sentence:

“It is important to note that Mr. Ryan boasts of running several other candidates’ campaigns so he must be familiar with the requirements of reporting and it is no excuse that a contributor of goods and services hasn’t told you what they’ve spent.”

Zettler then notes, incorrectly, I might add, that

“On April 17, 2007, Jack Roeser reported that he donated $30,000 to FTN, presumably to cover expenses or contribute to candidates. He did not disclose any in-kind donations he may have made.

“Two things are clear at this point. One, Mr. Ryan and Ms. Clark have gone way beyond the $3,000.00 minimum and two, that Jack Roeser and FTN are by far the largest contributors to their campaigns. Yet, no disclosures have been made.”

As I mentioned yesterday, I can empathize with Zettler’s frustration. The late reporting of in-kind contributions happened in, I think, all of my primary challengers’ campaigns during the 1990’s. The primary offender was the pro-abortion Personal PAC.

The problem is that state law provides no penalty for a candidate’s not reporting them until after he or she is informed of how much they cost.

I would note that Zettler is an attorney and I would expect a higher degree of precision from a lawyer making a complaint than from a layman.

Jack Roeser did not contribute $30,000 to FTN. It was from Otto Engineering.

At least that’s what the State Board of Elections web site says.

I do note a pre-election report amended May 1st that FTN reports March 13th $1,320 of in-kind expenditures to both Ryan and Clark

Previously, they did not show up and should have.

Ryan, by the way, filed a statement of organization of his committee, Citizens for John Ryan, on May 1st.

So did Monica Clark.

A candidate is required to file such a statement whenever it spends or raises $3,000.

McHenry County Blog tried to play the role archivist for the District 300 School Board campaign, but did such an inadequate job compared to tax hike proponent Nancy Zettler.

This only spokesman I’ve seen this year for the tax hiking group Advance 300 said John Ryan and Monica Clark “ran a very expensive, professionally run campaign with

• a professionally produced web site at citizensforjohnryan.org,
• two automated phone calls,
• professionally produced oversized yard signs,
• a professionally produced mailer which apparently went out to all District 300 residents, and
• two door hangers, one of which was personalized by voting area.

Wow!

Sounds a lot like the professionally produced “Vote Yes! Vote Yes!” campaign that hiked District 300 tax rates and put homeowners into debt for decades, doesn’t it?

The one that cost $150,000 or so.

Zettler reports asking Ryan after the League of Women Voters candidates’ forum whether Jack Roeser was backing him.

In her complaint, she says he replied that

“yes, Roeser was paying for his signs, his phone calls, his mailers and his door hangers. He denied Roeser paid for his website.”

Zettler then reports she asked how much Roeser had spent on Ryan’s campaign and Ryan reported he did not know because Roeser hadn’t told him.

Then comes this interesting sentence:

“It is important to note that Mr. Ryan boasts of running several other candidates’ campaigns so he must be familiar with the requirements of reporting and it is no excuse that a contributor of goods and services hasn’t told you what they’ve spent.”

Zettler then notes, incorrectly, I might add, that

“On April 17, 2007, Jack Roeser reported that he donated $30,000 to FTN, presumably to cover expenses or contribute to candidates. He did not disclose any in-kind donations he may have made.

“Two things are clear at this point. One, Mr. Ryan and Ms. Clark have gone way beyond the $3,000.00 minimum and two, that Jack Roeser and FTN are by far the largest contributors to their campaigns. Yet, no disclosures have been made.”

As I mentioned yesterday, I can empathize with Zettler’s frustration. The late reporting of in-kind contributions happened in, I think, all of my primary challengers’ campaigns during the 1990’s. The primary offender was the pro-abortion Personal PAC.

The problem is that state law provides no penalty for a candidate’s not reporting them until after he or she is informed of how much they cost.

I would note that Zettler is an attorney and I would expect a higher degree of precision from a lawyer making a complaint than from a layman.

Jack Roeser did not contribute $30,000 to FTN. It was from Otto Engineering.

At least that’s what the State Board of Elections web site says.

I do note a pre-election report amended May 1st that FTN reports March 13th $1,320 of in-kind expenditures to both Ryan and Clark

Previously, they did not show up and should have.

Ryan, by the way, filed a statement of organization of his committee, Citizens for John Ryan, on May 1st.

So did Monica Clark.

A candidate is required to file such a statement whenever it spends or raises $3,000.

The Northwest Herald’s David Fitzgerald had a story Friday about District 300’s most vocal tax hiker–Nancy Zettler–having filed a quarter inch thick complaint against District 300 board victors Monica Clark and John Ryan, plus Jack Roeser’s Family Taxpayers Network.

I’m not about to pay for a quarter inch of paper at 25 cents a page, so an exploration of the charges will have to wait.

The motivation might be that John Ryan successfully complained about lawyer Zetter’s group not having followed the law. The Advance 300 tax hike folks somehow managed to forget that District 300 School Superintendent Ken Arndt gave $600 to the tax hike committee.

They only forgot for about five months, though.

So, here we are, what, three weeks after the campaign and the tax hike committee’s spokesman is apparently bitter about the trouncing her candidates took.

Oh, I forgot.

The tax hike committee didn’t take sides it this election.

They sat on their over $42,000 and just ran a cheap web site campaign.

Or, maybe we’ll see money was spent on other things when its spending report is filed.

I talked to Ryan Firday night and he told me that he had just learned that his committee had spent more than $3,000 recently and filed the necessary registration form with the State Board of Elections on April 30th.

Zetter filed her complaint a couple of hours later, he said.

Is that a coincidence or what?

The NW Herald’s article reports that the Family Taxpayers Network misreported “$1,320 each for yard signs and paid for campaign literature to be mailed out,” according to the article.

Board member-elect Monica Clark got off the best comment:

“Her efforts to discredit me before I have even been officially sworn into the office voters selected me to serve is petty, vindictive and childish.”

The State Board of Elections hearing is scheduled for May 15th.

I can understand Zettler’s frustration.

During the three Republican primary elections I was under siege by Personal PAC, their mailings and phone calls did not show up in campaign disclosure forms until after the primary election.

I think they should show up ahead of the election, but that, apparently, would require a change in state law.

Maybe Zettler’s lobbying can be expanded from trying to raise our income taxes to changing the campaign disclosure laws.

I’d be happy to join her in such an effort.

In this case, however, one would have to be blind not to figure out that the Family Taxpayers Network was helping Clark and Ryan.

Take a look at the return address on the literature.

Come to think of it, Zettler probably included that as evidence in her complaint.

The Northwest Herald’s David Fitzgerald had a story Friday about District 300’s most vocal tax hiker–Nancy Zettler–having filed a quarter inch thick complaint against District 300 board victors Monica Clark and John Ryan, plus Jack Roeser’s Family Taxpayers Network.

I’m not about to pay for a quarter inch of paper at 25 cents a page, so an exploration of the charges will have to wait.

The motivation might be that John Ryan successfully complained about lawyer Zetter’s group not having followed the law. The Advance 300 tax hike folks somehow managed to forget that District 300 School Superintendent Ken Arndt gave $600 to the tax hike committee.

They only forgot for about five months, though.

So, here we are, what, three weeks after the campaign and the tax hike committee’s spokesman is apparently bitter about the trouncing her candidates took.

Oh, I forgot.

The tax hike committee didn’t take sides it this election.

They sat on their over $42,000 and just ran a cheap web site campaign.

Or, maybe we’ll see money was spent on other things when its spending report is filed.

I talked to Ryan Firday night and he told me that he had just learned that his committee had spent more than $3,000 recently and filed the necessary registration form with the State Board of Elections on April 30th.

Zetter filed her complaint a couple of hours later, he said.

Is that a coincidence or what?

The NW Herald’s article reports that the Family Taxpayers Network misreported “$1,320 each for yard signs and paid for campaign literature to be mailed out,” according to the article.

Board member-elect Monica Clark got off the best comment:

“Her efforts to discredit me before I have even been officially sworn into the office voters selected me to serve is petty, vindictive and childish.”

The State Board of Elections hearing is scheduled for May 15th.

I can understand Zettler’s frustration.

During the three Republican primary elections I was under siege by Personal PAC, their mailings and phone calls did not show up in campaign disclosure forms until after the primary election.

I think they should show up ahead of the election, but that, apparently, would require a change in state law.

Maybe Zettler’s lobbying can be expanded from trying to raise our income taxes to changing the campaign disclosure laws.

I’d be happy to join her in such an effort.

In this case, however, one would have to be blind not to figure out that the Family Taxpayers Network was helping Clark and Ryan.

Take a look at the return address on the literature.

Come to think of it, Zettler probably included that as evidence in her complaint.

Maybe homeschooling has really gone mainstream.

Homeschool Dad and McHenry County Republican precinct committeeman John Ryan of Algonquin knocked off the Carpentersville District 300 School Board President Mary Fioretti.

And up Route 31 in McHenry, Republican precinct committeeman John O’Neill, also from a homeschooling family, won enough votes to capture the third seat on that town’s grade school district.

Both candidates were attacked for not having their children in the public school system in whispering campaigns. O’Neill found this piece of poorly printed literature the weekend before the election. Ryan was under regular internet email attack by the District 300 tax hike committee, Advance 300.

Advance 300 had $42,200 left over from its one-year approximately $150,000 successful referendum effort, but announced it would not support candidates during the election.

There was no doubt from the group’s email blasts, however, that Ryan and his running mate, Monica Clark were not Advance 300 favorites. Ryan, especially, was savaged by Advance 300 spokesman Nancy Zettler in the comment sections below Northwest Herald articles.

Both homeschoolers are fiscal conservatives. Both won a year after their school districts passed large tax rate referendums.

District 300 Board President Fioretti, appointed GOP committeeman by McHenry County Party Chairman Bill LeFew (from the opposite end of the county), is closely aligned with Advance 300, which used about $150,000 in school vendor and developer money to pass both a 55-cent tax rate hike and a huge bond issue a year ago.

One can only guess what caused the backlash for Ryan and his running mate Monica Clark to place first and second.

Maybe it was

• District 300′s use of hugely inflated student population projections.
• conducting school business—like deciding to move a high school graduation site to another location—behind closed doors.
• banishing from school premises Stan Gladbach, a citizens finance committee member and frequent filer of Freedom of Information requests.
• the continuing and penetrating coverage by Daily Herald reporter Jeff Gaunt and, more recently, by the Northwest Herald’s David Fitzgerald.
• good campaigning on the part of the two elected Republican precinct committeemen.
• their Irish names.

And, the assistance provided by Jack Roeser’s Family Taxpayers Network to Ryan and Clark certainly helped, too.

Ryan says his goal is to immediately begin the process of opening the district’s activities to the public. He said he believes the board needs to immediately make the process of delivering information to community members far easier and friendly.

“We should never have a standoff with our community members over the information available to them.”

A third homeschool Dad, David Etling, lost his bid for the Prairie Grove School District 47 Board.