McHenry County Blog

Yesterday, the scene was set for explaining why Algonquin Township has had primary elections instead of caucuses as the method of selecting candidates for township office since the mid-1970’s.

It all started when incumbent Republican Township Assessor Forrest Hare was defeated by 3 votes in a 3000-ballot township caucus, but denied a recount by the majority of precinct committeemen on the township committeemen who wanted the young reformer out of office.

That outraged Forrest’s supporters, among whom was WIVS radio station owner Mal Bellairs.

Forrest decided to run as a write-in candidate.

You know that write-ins very, very rarely are victorious.

Every weekday morning from the caucus to the general election, Mal put the heat on the local Republican Party in support of Forrest’s candidacy.

I remember driving down Route 47 on the way to Springfield and wishing I could hear his whole program that was disappearing between Mazon and Dwight.

The short of it was that Forrest beat the Establishment candidate about 2-1. About 3,500 people voted and Hare got about 2,000.

After Forrest won, I was over in the state senate chamber for something or other and my high school classmate, then state senator, Jack Schaffer approached me in the back of the Republican side. He suggested that we had to do something to make sure such a fight never happened again. He had backed the teacher.

We decided that township central committees should have the right to have a primary election governed by state law, rather than the township central committee. And, with Republicans in control of both the Senate and the House, we passed such a law.

Since then, Algonquin Township has always opted for a primary election. I remember Nunda Township’s having followed suit at least once.

Contention of township office, a not bad paying set of jobs, has been minimal except when a public official retires or dies. Active primary contests resulted when Township Road Commissioner Del Miller died and when Township Supervisor Tom Schober died.

An upset occurred when Fox River Grove True Value hardware store co-owner John Opatrny and a friend ran as a team for township trustee. They sent out a joint post card and won.

Right now Algonquin Township’s Republican precinct committeemen are being polled to see whether they support a caucus or a primary election.

I’ve cast my vote for a primary.

I think voters ought to have a direct say in who is on the ballot for township office.

Yesterday, the scene was set for explaining why Algonquin Township has had primary elections instead of caucuses as the method of selecting candidates for township office since the mid-1970’s.

It all started when incumbent Republican Township Assessor Forrest Hare was defeated by 3 votes in a 3000-ballot township caucus, but denied a recount by the majority of precinct committeemen on the township committeemen who wanted the young reformer out of office.

That outraged Forrest’s supporters, among whom was WIVS radio station owner Mal Bellairs.

Forrest decided to run as a write-in candidate.

You know that write-ins very, very rarely are victorious.

Every weekday morning from the caucus to the general election, Mal put the heat on the local Republican Party in support of Forrest’s candidacy.

I remember driving down Route 47 on the way to Springfield and wishing I could hear his whole program that was disappearing between Mazon and Dwight.

The short of it was that Forrest beat the Establishment candidate about 2-1. About 3,500 people voted and Hare got about 2,000.

After Forrest won, I was over in the state senate chamber for something or other and my high school classmate, then state senator, Jack Schaffer approached me in the back of the Republican side. He suggested that we had to do something to make sure such a fight never happened again. He had backed the teacher.

We decided that township central committees should have the right to have a primary election governed by state law, rather than the township central committee. And, with Republicans in control of both the Senate and the House, we passed such a law.

Since then, Algonquin Township has always opted for a primary election. I remember Nunda Township’s having followed suit at least once.

Contention of township office, a not bad paying set of jobs, has been minimal except when a public official retires or dies. Active primary contests resulted when Township Road Commissioner Del Miller died and when Township Supervisor Tom Schober died.

An upset occurred when Fox River Grove True Value hardware store co-owner John Opatrny and a friend ran as a team for township trustee. They sent out a joint post card and won.

Right now Algonquin Township’s Republican precinct committeemen are being polled to see whether they support a caucus or a primary election.

I’ve cast my vote for a primary.

I think voters ought to have a direct say in who is on the ballot for township office.

It’s really a rolling billboard.

Undoubted from Jack Schaffer’s Liberty Outdoor Advertising.

And the message might be considered humorous, if you really think a President Barack Obama and a Democratic Party-dominate Congress will raise taxes.

It’s sitting out in front of the McHenry County Republican Headquarters on Route 14 in the building Pauly Toyota used to occupy.

And, yes, that is a car pulling out of the Republican Headquarters parking lot about 3:45 on Friday afternoon.

It’s really a rolling billboard.

Undoubted from Jack Schaffer’s Liberty Outdoor Advertising.

And the message might be considered humorous, if you really think a President Barack Obama and a Democratic Party-dominate Congress will raise taxes.

It’s sitting out in front of the McHenry County Republican Headquarters on Route 14 in the building Pauly Toyota used to occupy.

And, yes, that is a car pulling out of the Republican Headquarters parking lot about 3:45 on Friday afternoon.

$25,000 is the grand total raised by McHenry County Republican Central Committee Mike Tryon for his non-central committee political action committee.

There were 36 contributors.

The 22 non-PAC donors are

$2,500 – Alliance Contractors Inc. owned by Chuck Ruth
$1,000 – T Manning Concrete Inc. of Huntley
$1,000 – Richard Stephenson, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
$1,000 – John & Janet Smith, Smith Engineering, McHenry
$1,000 – IHC Construction Companies LLC of Elgin
$1,000 – Elmhurst-Chicago Stone Co., Elmhurst
$1,000 – Thomas & Julie Carey, Carey Electric, McHenry
$1,000 – Kenneth Cabay of Cabay & Company, Lake in the Hills
$600 – Marlene Lantz, McHenry County Coroner
$500 – Fox Valley Internal Medicine
$500- James Hennig, Union
$500 – Human Resource Techniques Inc., Algonquin
$500 – Kathleen Kuchta, McHenry
$500 – Lee Jensen Sales Co. Inc., Crystal Lake
$500 – Don Lewis, Crystal Lake
$500 – Luke Johnsos Business Graphics, Woodstock
$500 – Madsen Sugden and Gottemoller, Crystal Lake
$500 – McHenry Savings Bank, McHenry
$500 – Jack R. Schaffer, Metra Board member using his Crystal Lake business address
$300 – Michael & Margaret Sullivan
$200 – M. J. Munaretto & Co. Inc., McHenry County Board member, Algonquin
$200 – John & Mary Breeden, Scott Breeden running for county board

That total is $15,800.

In addition, $9,200 was contributed by 14 political action committees, as follows:

$1,500 – Republican Central Committee of McHenry County
$1,100 – Citizens to Elect Phyllis K. Walters, Recorder of Deeds
$1,000 – Illinois Merchants Political Action Committee Team
$800 – Manzullo for Congress, U.S. Representative
$800 – Citizens for Beaubien, State Representative
$800 – Committee to Elect Michael Tryon, State Representative
$600 – Citizens to Elect Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney
$600 – Committee to Elect Katherine Keefe, Circuit Clerk candidate
$600 – Committee to Elect Pamela Palmer, County Auditor
$500 – Citizens to Re-Elect Bob Miller, Algonquin Township Road Commissioner
$200 – Citizens for Hammerand, county board member
$200 – Committee to Elect Sue Draffkorn, county board member
$200 – Citizens for Mary L. Donner, county board member

The only ones who are on the ballot I see missing are State Senator Pam Althoff, state senate candidate Dan Duffy and a couple of judges running for retention.

When Al Jourdan was central committee chairman, the money from candidates was paid directly to the central committee. It was basically a fee to allow the committee to print literature and/or mail it.

$12,000 was transferred to the McHenry County Republican Central Committee last week.

Other articles on the Tryon-contolled political action committee that might be of interest:

Part 1 – The McHenry County Chairman’s Circle

Part 2 – The McHenry County Chairman’s Circle

$25,000 is the grand total raised by McHenry County Republican Central Committee Mike Tryon for his non-central committee political action committee.

There were 36 contributors.

The 22 non-PAC donors are

$2,500 – Alliance Contractors Inc. owned by Chuck Ruth
$1,000 – T Manning Concrete Inc. of Huntley
$1,000 – Richard Stephenson, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
$1,000 – John & Janet Smith, Smith Engineering, McHenry
$1,000 – IHC Construction Companies LLC of Elgin
$1,000 – Elmhurst-Chicago Stone Co., Elmhurst
$1,000 – Thomas & Julie Carey, Carey Electric, McHenry
$1,000 – Kenneth Cabay of Cabay & Company, Lake in the Hills
$600 – Marlene Lantz, McHenry County Coroner
$500 – Fox Valley Internal Medicine
$500- James Hennig, Union
$500 – Human Resource Techniques Inc., Algonquin
$500 – Kathleen Kuchta, McHenry
$500 – Lee Jensen Sales Co. Inc., Crystal Lake
$500 – Don Lewis, Crystal Lake
$500 – Luke Johnsos Business Graphics, Woodstock
$500 – Madsen Sugden and Gottemoller, Crystal Lake
$500 – McHenry Savings Bank, McHenry
$500 – Jack R. Schaffer, Metra Board member using his Crystal Lake business address
$300 – Michael & Margaret Sullivan
$200 – M. J. Munaretto & Co. Inc., McHenry County Board member, Algonquin
$200 – John & Mary Breeden, Scott Breeden running for county board

That total is $15,800.

In addition, $9,200 was contributed by 14 political action committees, as follows:

$1,500 – Republican Central Committee of McHenry County
$1,100 – Citizens to Elect Phyllis K. Walters, Recorder of Deeds
$1,000 – Illinois Merchants Political Action Committee Team
$800 – Manzullo for Congress, U.S. Representative
$800 – Citizens for Beaubien, State Representative
$800 – Committee to Elect Michael Tryon, State Representative
$600 – Citizens to Elect Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney
$600 – Committee to Elect Katherine Keefe, Circuit Clerk candidate
$600 – Committee to Elect Pamela Palmer, County Auditor
$500 – Citizens to Re-Elect Bob Miller, Algonquin Township Road Commissioner
$200 – Citizens for Hammerand, county board member
$200 – Committee to Elect Sue Draffkorn, county board member
$200 – Citizens for Mary L. Donner, county board member

The only ones who are on the ballot I see missing are State Senator Pam Althoff, state senate candidate Dan Duffy and a couple of judges running for retention.

When Al Jourdan was central committee chairman, the money from candidates was paid directly to the central committee. It was basically a fee to allow the committee to print literature and/or mail it.

$12,000 was transferred to the McHenry County Republican Central Committee last week.

Other articles on the Tryon-contolled political action committee that might be of interest:

Part 1 – The McHenry County Chairman’s Circle

Part 2 – The McHenry County Chairman’s Circle

The anti-incumbent political action committee in Cary during the last village election was called the Cary Area Citizens for Responsible Government. Former State Senator Jack Schaffer was and continues to be its chairman.

Of the slate supported – Raymond Chisholm, Jean Friedline, Robert Bragg and David Henry – Chisholm was elected.

$4,000 was spent on the 2007 campaign.

Unlike lots of village election committees, this one did not disappear after the election.

It’s address is Sketch Book Reality on Route 14.

Mike Rein is the committee’s treasurer.

The committee has only $142 in the bank, but filing for village office starts next month, as Cary Grade School District school board member explains here.

I wonder if any of the gravel pit opponents will be angry enough to run for village board. Their web site, Stop the Quarry in Cary, is still up.

Or will they turn out to have been “Meteors?”

The anti-incumbent political action committee in Cary during the last village election was called the Cary Area Citizens for Responsible Government. Former State Senator Jack Schaffer was and continues to be its chairman.

Of the slate supported – Raymond Chisholm, Jean Friedline, Robert Bragg and David Henry – Chisholm was elected.

$4,000 was spent on the 2007 campaign.

Unlike lots of village election committees, this one did not disappear after the election.

It’s address is Sketch Book Reality on Route 14.

Mike Rein is the committee’s treasurer.

The committee has only $142 in the bank, but filing for village office starts next month, as Cary Grade School District school board member explains here.

I wonder if any of the gravel pit opponents will be angry enough to run for village board. Their web site, Stop the Quarry in Cary, is still up.

Or will they turn out to have been “Meteors?”

I was in Andy’s Family Restaurant last Saturday morning and who should walk in but State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake).

Tryon, whom I discovered was there in his role as McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman, was having breakfast with Crystal Lake’s Bryan Javor, its newly-elected president.

He’s about the same age as I was when I took over the reins when Jack Schaffer was off the Germany to serve in the Armed Forces.

For once, I didn’t have my camera, but Javor handed me his cell phone as if I would know how to use it.

He showed me what button to push and you seen the result.

Later he sent me this press release:

MCGOP Launches “Young Republicans”

Crystal Lake, IL… September 3rd 2008 at approximately 7:45 PM the McHenry County Republican Central Committee chartered The McHenry County Young Republicans (MCYR) and the 48 members it represents.

The MCYR are the 11th state recognized Young Republican organization. Prairie Grove native and Nunda 21 Precinct Committeemen Brent Smith and Dan Regna founded the organization with the assistance of Republican Party leaders.

Elections were held at the McHenry County Campaign Headquarters. Candidates elected were Bryan Javor as Chairman, Erica Poremba as Vice Chairman, Greg Austin as Treasurer and Garret Hill as Secretary.

The MCYR are looking for people between the ages of 18 and 40 to support McHenry County’s Republican leadership and values. For more information on membership please contact subscribe@mchenryyoungrepublicans.com or visit http://www.mchenryyoungrepublicans.com/

Later he emailed me this executive meeting notice:

Sunday September 21st the second executive board meeting will occur.

The MCYR Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary will be in attendance.

The meeting will determine who is appointed as committee Chairmen.

The available committee positions are Bylaw Chairman, Social Chairman, Fundraising Chairman and Membership Chairman.

Positions will be determined in part based on responses received from the MCYR Chairman’s survey and emailed request for additional member involvement.

The Executive board members will also choose a day for the next member meeting.

This will again be based largely on responses to the attached survey. The survey was sent September 14th using internet polling technology thru Poll Daddy.

I was in Andy’s Family Restaurant last Saturday morning and who should walk in but State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake).

Tryon, whom I discovered was there in his role as McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman, was having breakfast with Crystal Lake’s Bryan Javor, its newly-elected president.

He’s about the same age as I was when I took over the reins when Jack Schaffer was off the Germany to serve in the Armed Forces.

For once, I didn’t have my camera, but Javor handed me his cell phone as if I would know how to use it.

He showed me what button to push and you seen the result.

Later he sent me this press release:

MCGOP Launches “Young Republicans”

Crystal Lake, IL… September 3rd 2008 at approximately 7:45 PM the McHenry County Republican Central Committee chartered The McHenry County Young Republicans (MCYR) and the 48 members it represents.

The MCYR are the 11th state recognized Young Republican organization. Prairie Grove native and Nunda 21 Precinct Committeemen Brent Smith and Dan Regna founded the organization with the assistance of Republican Party leaders.

Elections were held at the McHenry County Campaign Headquarters. Candidates elected were Bryan Javor as Chairman, Erica Poremba as Vice Chairman, Greg Austin as Treasurer and Garret Hill as Secretary.

The MCYR are looking for people between the ages of 18 and 40 to support McHenry County’s Republican leadership and values. For more information on membership please contact subscribe@mchenryyoungrepublicans.com or visit http://www.mchenryyoungrepublicans.com/

Later he emailed me this executive meeting notice:

Sunday September 21st the second executive board meeting will occur.

The MCYR Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary will be in attendance.

The meeting will determine who is appointed as committee Chairmen.

The available committee positions are Bylaw Chairman, Social Chairman, Fundraising Chairman and Membership Chairman.

Positions will be determined in part based on responses received from the MCYR Chairman’s survey and emailed request for additional member involvement.

The Executive board members will also choose a day for the next member meeting.

This will again be based largely on responses to the attached survey. The survey was sent September 14th using internet polling technology thru Poll Daddy.