McHenry County Blog

A friend of McHenry County Blog has forwarded an invitation to Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks’ September 29th fundraising breakfast at Donley’s Wild West Town.

The Jesse White Tumblers will perform.

As usual Franks provides a list of those who have agreed to be on his Host Committee.

Unlike last year, GOP Sheriff Keith Nygren is not on the list.

But Woodstock Mayor Brain Sager still is.

He’s there with Chicago Democratic Party Ward Committeeman and Alderman Ed Burke.

Last year, such sponsorship was less significant than this year.

Then, Sager was only a minor cog in the McHenry County Republican Party, a Precinct Committeeman from Greenwood Township Precinct 6.

The mayoral post is non-partisan.

Sure, I’ve written that I believe he wishes to run for Franks’ seat when Franks runs for something else, but his official role is that a GOP Precinct Committeeman.

This year, Sager

• was recruited to run as an Alternative Delegate by State Treasurer Dan Rutherford,
• was elected and
• is just returning from the National Republican Convention.

Looking for Republican County Board member candidates, I see far fewer than last year.

Randy Donley, who is retiring this year is listed.

There is a listing for “Bob & Judi Martens.”  I do not know if that is the District 4 candidate listed on the ballot as “Robert Martens Sr.”

Want to see who was on the Host Committee last year? Click away below:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11

The employees aren’t paid that much.

People really need drivers’ licenses.

Some people have a hard time getting one.

Is that a recipe for corruption or what?

Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office sent the following  press release about corruption in the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.

No, it’s not like when Democrat Paul Powell and Republican George Ryan were in office.  No checks made out to Jesse White were found in his desk, as was the case with checks made out to Paul Powell when he died.

Here are the details:

STATE ROAD TEST EXAMINERS INDICTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ACCEPTING CASH BRIBES TO GUARANTEE PASSING TEST

CHICAGO — Two former road test examiners for the Illinois Secretary of State were indicted for allegedly accepting cash bribes to pass customers who were unqualified or never took the road test, federal law enforcement officials announced today.

The charges stem from an investigation that was unveiled in 2009 when members and associates of an alleged crime ring were accused of selling fraudulent identification documents in Chinatown on the city’s near south side.

The new defendants allegedly conspired between 2005 and 2007 with several of the defendants charged previously to accept cash bribes in return for guaranteeing that an unspecified number of customers would pass the road test, enabling them to obtain an Illinois driver’s license.

One defendant, Christopher Wardlaw, 36, was arrested today, while the other defendant, Alanda Jackson, 31, both of Chicago, will be ordered to appear for arraignment at a later date in U.S. District Court.

Both were road test examiners at the Secretary of State’s Chicago South Facility, located at 9901 South Dr. Martin Luther King Dr.

They were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit extortion in an indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury last Thursday and unsealed today following Wardlaw’s arrest.

Wardlaw was released on his own recognizance after appearing this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffery T. Gilbert.

The indictment seeks forfeiture of $40,000, representing alleged illegal proceeds.

The charges were announced by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the FBI; Chicago Police Superintendent Garry F. McCarthy; and Illinois Secretary of State Inspector General James B. Burns.  The charges are part of Operation Paper Mountain, which has resulted in federal charges against approximately three dozen defendants since 2009.

According to the indictment, Wardlaw and Jackson conspired with another former SOS employee, Timothy Johnson, as well as with Jun Yun Zhang, Lili Liu, Tiansheng Zhang, and others, who were indicted in 2009.

Each of those defendants has pleaded guilty to related federal charges.

The Zhangs and other defendants routinely escorted customers to Secretary of State driver’s license facilities to fraudulently obtain state identification cards or driver’s licenses, typically using counterfeit or altered authentic Chinese passports and legitimate social security account numbers with the prefix “586” that were assigned to other people.  The 586 prefix is unusual because it is assigned to individuals in the Northern Mariana Islands, including Saipan, Guam and American Samoa.

When co-conspirators accompanied customers to the Chicago South facility, Wardlaw and Jackson allegedly guaranteed passing results on the road test either by serving as the examiner and passing  the customer even if he or she failed the road test, or by obtaining the customer’s road test paperwork from a co-conspirator and indicating that the customer passed when, in fact, the customer never took the test.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Madden, Steven J. Dollear and Yasmin Best.

Extortion conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

OK. You got me.

It’s July 3rd.

And it wasn’t sweltering hot.  I found the shade most of the hour and a half 90-something entry parade.

The biggest political entry was Congressman Joe Walsh’s.

He followed Congressman Don Manzullo and his wife Freda, who rode in a convertible.

Between them was McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.  If one did not recognize the Sheriff, one would not have known that he was in the parade.

Last year at parades there were Sheriff’s Department motorcyclists, a snow mobile, a community service vehicle, plus a convertible with identification signs on the sides in which the Sheriff rode.

There was an unmarked gray car that followed with a female officer. I’m not familiar enough with the patch she wore to know if she’s a Sheriff’s Deputy.

Can’t do a story without mentioning the Grand Marshall. After all she is the mother of McHenry County Board member Jim Heisler and Nunda Township Supervisor John Heisler.

Next came the Crystal Lake Lions huge flag. I only wish I had had a higher vantage point.

JA Frate’s Fallen Heroes semi-trailer paid appropriate honor to those who have defended our freedom.

Then the banner of Congressman Joe Walsh came down the hill.

A man with a bull horn said patriotic things.

Next came Congressman Walsh.  He was greeting people along the parade route, the only politician besides McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi to do so.

What you see below was not an isolated occurrence.  A number of people made the effort to reach out to Congressman Walsh.

Parents seemed please that Walsh did not ignore the future voters.

Marching music was playing from Joe Walsh’s parade vehicle and a line of girls were marching to its beat.

Walsh saw them and stepped over to clap in time with them.

The Congressman who has had his 8th District reapportioned out from under him did not ignore the ladies of voting age.

Some women were as enthusiastic to see him as the men above.

A blue-shirted lady nearby was not to be outdone. She also grasped Walsh’s hands and told him something.

Walsh was not the only member of the family greeting voters.

His wife Helene was pressing the flesh, too.

The truck from which the sound was coming contained that part of a mariachi band that needed a stable platform.

Ever since I heard my first mariachi band in the 1960′s, I always wished I had enough money to hire them for parades.  He hired the Ranchitos.  I hope he does it for every parade.

But that wasn’t all I noticed in the Joe Walsh contingent.

One of the rejected applicants to replace State Rep. Mark Beaubien, Nick Sauer, introduced himself. Since I didn’t have a picture of him, you can bet I pushed the button.

The Barrington School Board member was waving an American Flag at the end of the Walsh group.

I also spotted past Crystal Lake City Council candidate Mike Shorten.  He is now a  Nunda Township precinct committeeman.

The next political entry was a bicycle ridden by a man displaying signs for McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz. (She tells me she and her mother, former State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz, were in the parade, but my eyes must have been elsewhere.)

The only County Board member I saw at the parade was Nunda Township’s District 3 member Mary Donner.

Looking very much as if he will be a candidate in the 2012 elections was McHenry County State’s attorney Lou Bianchi.

The political entry was the PTLAG contingent.

The acronym is short for “Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.”  The group is a member of the coalition that convinced the Illinois General Assembly to enact the civil union legislation that took effect June 1st.

The next political group was the Jesse White Tumblers.

Before you get all bent out of shape, do remember that Secretary of State Jesse White did accompany his tumblers in one 4th of July Parade.

Coming near the end of the parade were the McHenry County Young Republicans.

McHenry County State Rep. and GOP Chairman Mike Tryon walked with the Young Republicans.

While State Rep. Mike Tryon marched with the Young Republicans, I didn’t see State Sen. Pam Althoff.

If newly picked State Rep. Kent Gaffney was in the contingent, I did not recognize him.

His new district will contain more votes in McHenry County than anywhere else.  About a third of Crystal Lake is in it.

A surprise addition was West Dundee Village Trustee Allen Skillicorn.

As I look at the contents of the photos, I see a delightful tee shirt.

It says,

“Honk if you hate red light cameras.“

That is relevant to McHenry County because Democrat Jack Franks was one of the sponsors of the bill to legalize this form of highway robbery.

And, although it has no political implications, the South Shore Drill Team brought up the rear of the parade.

The team was worth waiting for.

Almost forgot Crystal Lake’s politicians.

Mayor Aaron Shepley was not present, but City Clerk Nick Kachiroubas was.

So were two of the three women on the City Council, Ellen Brady Mueller and Cathy Ferguson.

And, finally, Councilman Ralph Dawson was seated comfortably in the back of a pickup truck.

The invitation is out for State Rep. Jack Franks October fund raiser. That’s the one where he solicited all over McHenry County and beyond building a political base for his anticipated run for the United States Congress in 2012.

As McHenry County Blog did last year, the names of the hosts will be published.

The invitation this year does not use the characterture that graced last year’s invitation.  This one looks more dignified.

Here are the special interest groups who have signed on to State Rep. Jack Franks’ fund raising 2010 Host Committee:

• Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois
• BNSF Railway
• Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen
• Carpenters Local 2087
• Elevator Constructors Local 2
• Fraternal Order of Police, IL State Lodge
• IBEW Local 117
• IBEW Local 134
• Illinois AFL-CIO
• Illinois Bankers Association
• Illinois Education Association
• Illinois Pipe Trades
• Ironworkers Local 1
• Labors Local 1035
• Laborers’ International Union – Midwest Region
• Local 11 Cement Masons
• McHenry County Building Trades Council
• Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association
• Northern Illinois Fire Protection Districts
• Plumbers Local 93
• Police Benevolent PAC
• Rockford-Area United Auto Workers 265
• Sheriff of McHenry County
• United Transportation Union

The invitation says that Lisa Madigan and Jesse White will be attending Franks’ breakfast fundraiser on October 2nd at the Bull Valley Country Club.

= = = = =
Compare the logo on the golf ball with the Jack Franks’ sticker being distributed at the Johnsburg Saufen und Spiel Parade.

The premier gay newspaper in Illinois has featured McHenry County’s Jack Franks in an article with a picture The Windy City Times says was supplied by his office.

Franks is standing with teen hero Trevor Hall, who rescued another swimmer and whom, before Chicago Sun-Times intervention, Aurora Health Care was going to charge for his trip to the Kenosha hospital.

Also flanking Hall was Franks’ Canadian fishing buddy Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

The averted drowning took place in Lake County, well out of Franks’ district, but he issued a commemorative proclamation, according to the the TribLocal for that area.

Besides going fishing with Jesse White, Franks sponsored and got passed not one, but two House Resolutions (HR 874 and HR 904) praising the Jesse White Tumblers on their 50th anniversary.

The McHenry County Fair is a place that a politician can meet a lot of people. I loved working them while I was running for County Treasurer and in that office from 1966-70. Not to mention the 16 years I served as state representative in the 1970′s and 1990′s.

Yesterday afternoon, I arrived just after 5.

Before I got in the gate, I saw 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean greeting people outside the ticket gate.

Pretty much everyone without a pit pass for the tractor pull had walk past her and her aide. A real “pressing the flesh” event. She was giving away something with sugar in it, which, amazingly, I was able to pass up.

The next candidate, Joe Williams, introduced himself at the ticket booth. Having no fall opponent for the office of McHenry County Regional Superintendent of Schools, he was in family mode. Just taking in the fairgrounds’ experience.

Republican candidate for State Representative John O’Neill, a McHenry Grade School Board member and McHenry Library Trustee, had paused to buy corn on the cob from the Knights of Columbus of Woodstock and McHenry.

I passed Jack Franks’ booth, but he wasn’t there. I did get a smiley face from a young man staffing his well-placed tent, however.

Sally Wiggins, the Independent candidate for judge, had a tent on the way to the main place politicians were gathered.

I discovered she was not wearing high heels, as she has been every other time I have seen her.  She was wearing boots.

She was passing out stickers with multiple messages.  I imagine most of her campaign themes, experience and background are included.

That’s a campaign technique I have never seen before. So, that makes two innovations (three, if you could running as an “Independent”):

• roses at parades and
• stickers with multiply messages

Walking past Wiggins’ booth was Democratic Party candidate for sheriff, Mike Mahon.

Nunda Township Trustee Joni Smith came walking down the path. She and her son were wearing Nygren tee shirts, so I got photos to balance this story.

Slightly behind was husband Brent Smith. He confronted Mahon asking if he had been arrested for DUI.

“Have you read my press release?” Mahon replied.

This went on for a while until a women in the booth next door chided them for not setting a good example for the children at the fair.

In any event, I sense the subject of a forthcoming hit piece against Mahon.

I passed two vehicles from the Sheriff’s Department that were right outside the Sheriff’s Department’s official booth.

A uniformed Sheriff Keith Nygren was standing right inside the door at one of two booths (three, if you count the vehicles outside) being sponsored by the Sheriff’s Department.

Nygren was in campaign mode, aiming his pitches at children.

He gave some high fives to kids and bounced a ball for younger ones to catch.

Right around the corner was the GOP booth.

Gordon Graham was passing out nail files and Teddy Grahams. Showing good campaign technique was the positioning of his wife on the other side of the aisle in front of an unmanned booth. That way, if someone turned away from the Republican booth, she could approach them from the other side.

Jack Frank’s opponent John O’Neill was passing out job fair brochures.

Almost across the aisle was Melissa Bean’s booth. Like last night, it was unstaffed.

In the other building I found the Libertarian Party booth.

People were asked to put glass tokens into jars that represented their opinion of governmental expenditures.

There were actually a couple in the jar that said government always spends money wisely. Most, however, were in the “never” or “rarely” jars.

The Democrats were across the aisle. That’s where I found Mike Tryon’s opponent Bob Kaempfe.

8th State Central Committeewoman Nancy Shepherson was with him.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White still had enough money in his budget to pay for a County Fair booth, but it wasn’t manned Saturday night.

From the photo I was sent yesterday, I know Congressman Don Manzullo had a booth and was told he was there earlier, but I didn’t see the booth.

The McHenry County Fair continues through Sunday evening.

Maybe bragging by State Rep. Jack Franks about how he can afford to blow off time and money going to a Scottsdale conference on governmental ethics is supposed to impress potential voters with how hard he is fighting for jobs in Illinois.

However, it may come across as “I’m-above-the-ordinary folks” arrogance to be boasting on Facebook about it.

If you had a million dollars in your political action committee maybe you wouldn’t put much thought in what any little people think?

People who know Jack Franks, know he is at the front of the line to keep the teacher unions’ right to strike and is about as conservative as Barack Obama.

Both would tell you they are fiscally responsible.

Franks oompff as a Democrat in Springfield did get two pieces of legislation he introduced passed; House Resolutions 874 and HR 904.

These two are pieces of improving-your-every-day-life legislation honor the Jesse White tumblers, who, if you didn’t know the obvious, are not from McHenry County. White is a Frank’s contributor and Canadian fishing buddy.

You might say it’s a bit ironic that Franks introduced House Resolution 971 months before the financial head of Metra decided to jump in front of a train.

Franks’ bill tackles the difficult issue of supporting “improved suicide awareness.”

He has been unable to garner enough support to “support improved suicide awareness” and have it pass the House.

To Franks’ credit and legislative prowess, it has been “placed on the calendar order of resolutions.”

So, it probably pass in this fall’s veto session.

Think of the publicity he could have gotten had it been passed this spring.

State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), obviously preparing for a statewide run before campaign contribution limits take effect, reported raising $1,319,769.37 during the first half of 2009.

(In case you are interested in what he spent during the last six months, click here. For the Chicago kingmaker he visited Friday, click here.)

In on the ground floor of whatever State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) is undertaking in the 2010 campaign are the following contributors:

First those donating $50,000 or more:

Eileen Franks, Occupation: retired, Marengo – $450,000

Herbert H. Franks, Occupation: attorney, Marengo – $250,000

Deborah Franks, Occupation: housewife. Marengo – $200,000

Steven W. Kling, Occupation: Real Estate Broker, Employer: Grubb & Ellis, Hampshire – $100,000

Helen Lindow, Occupation: Owner, Lindow’s Appliance, Marengo – $50,000

None of these contributions would be legal in 2011, if Governor Pat Quinn signs the so-called campaign reform bill on his desk. While certainly not an expert on the legislation sitting on Governor Pat Quinn’s desk, the bill seems to have a $5,000 limit on contributions from individuals.

Jack Franks also loaned $150,000 to his political action committee.

$1.2 million of the $1.3 million or 90% of the money Franks is using to gain a place on the statewide ticket comes from just six contributors. All but one are relatives, I have been told.

This demonstrates how it almost a necessity to get big chunks of money from a relatively few number of donors. In the best of conditions, those making the contributions want nothing but good government in return.

Political action committees gave $45,800 of the total.

Small contributions came from the following individuals and incorporated entities. None of the money is tax deductible.

Look closely and you will see some who previously gave money to disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The largest six-month amount I see below is $5,000, given by J.B. & M.K. Pritzker.

Large numbers of attorneys appear on the list. There are also a goodly number of firms involved in road construction, landscaping and medical care.

A contributor of $2,500 is Libertyville Judge Mary Schostok. [I talked to now Justice Schostok at the Nunda Township Republican Picnic Saturday, August 8, 2009. She told me that her husband, who has different politics from her, made the contribution from a non-joint checking account and that Jack Franks' campaign recorded it incorrectly. Schostok says a request has been made for Franks to change the way he reported the contribution.]

Several hundred dollars were given by Canadian fishing buddy Jesse White and Ed Burke. Strangely missing is Blagojevich father-in-law Alderman Dick Mell, another regular on the excursion.

Two former Republican officials are on the list:

• State Rep. Sam Vinson and
• Appellate Court Justice S. Louis Rathje

I see one contributor against whom Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed suit.

A for-profit entity in the Mercy Health Systems constellation of entities donated $2,500. You will remember that Jack’s father Herb represented Mercy in its attempts to build a hospital in Crystal Lake.

The corporation that purchased the Woodstock Residence contributed $2,000.

The smaller contributors follow in alphabetical order:

Abbott Contractors LLC, Bartlett – $200

Action K-9 Security Inc, Chicago – $500

Advanced Practical Solutions LLC, Chicago – $2,500

Robert E. Aleksy, Chicago – $250

Ameren, St. Louis, MO – $500

Andrea A. Riala & Associates Inc., Chicago – $250

Astellas Pharma US Inc, Deerfield – $500

Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund Inc., Chicago – $1,000

Robert S. Baizer, Baizer Kolar & Lewis PC, Highland Park – $2,500

Richard Barr, Employer: PLS Financial, Northbrook – $1,000

Barton Management Inc, Northfield – $3,500

Baudin W Randal, Dundee – $500

Baxter & Woodman Inc, Crystal Lake – $250

Stella Black, Chicago – $200

BlueStar Energy Services, Chicago – $250

BNSF Railway Company, Fort Worth, TX – $1,000

Richard Boykin, Chicago – $250

Bricton Group Inc, Park Ridge – $200

Bruce Simon Consulting, Springfield – $250

Duane and Diane Bucksath, Homer Glen – $250

Christopher B. Burke Engineering LTD., Rosemont – $250

Jack Carey, Attorney at Law, Belleville – $350

John and Nancy Castle, Sycamore – $250

Clifford Law Offices PC, Chicago – $500

Cooney And Conway, Chicago – $500

Crossroads Care Center of Woodstock. Woodstock – $2,000

Lynn G. Cutler, Chicago – $250

Jim W. Demoss, Chicago – $250

Alice Dermer, Chicago – $300

George T & Beth J Drost, Arlington Heights – $500

Fidelity Consulting Group, Chicago – $250

Fletcher O’Brien Kasper & Nottage PC, Chicago – $500

Russell & Sara Foszcz, Richmond – $500

Frazier Consulting LLC, Park Ridge – $500

Globetrotters Engineering Corp, Chicago – $250

Lawrence N. Gold, Barrington – $250

Great Lakes Medicaid, Chicago – $500

GRO Horticultural Enterprises Inc, Union – $500

H S Crocker Co Inc, Huntley – $2,500

Richard D. Hannigan Ltd., Mundelein – $250

Charles G Haskins, Jr., Attorney at Law, Chicago – $250

Mark Hassakis, Mt. Vernon – $250

Keith A & Jodi B Hebeisen, Employer: Clifford Law Offices, Northbrook – $1,000

Harry & Carrie J Hightman, Chicago – $500

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Chicago – $250

Illinois Governmental Consulting Group LLC, Chicago – $500

International Profit Associates, Buffalo Grove – $1,000

Intren Inc., Union – $1,250

Johnson, Willis & Shirley, Downers Grove – $250

Kamys Michael A. Law Offices, Chicago – $250

Howard Gordon Kaplan, Chicago – $250

Kraft Foods Global Inc., Northfield – $1,500

Krimson Valley Landscape Inc, Woodstock – $250

Ladden & Allen Chartered, Chicago – $200

Philip & Helene Lambruschi, Lakewood – $200

Law Offices of Rubin & Norris LLC, Chicago – $500

John G. Locallo, Chicago – $250

Edward & Tiffany Long, II, Beach Park – $250

Mackey Landscapes Inc., Libertyville – $250.

ManagCare Inc., Chicago – $500

Medco Health Solutions Inc.. Amherst, VA – $500

MercyCare Insurance Company, Janesville, WI – $2,500

Metropolitan Fire Restoration Inc., Libertyville – $1,500

Charles R Middleton, Chicago – $250

Christopher Mullen PC, Chicago – $250

Edward J Neumann, Jr., McHenry – $257.93

Larry O’Connor, Marengo – $350

O’Brien Farms Inc, River Forest – $1.500

Peter Baker & Son Co., Lake Bluff – $250

Pfizer Inc., Memphis, TN – $500

Pickering & Associates LLC, Elgin – $2,000

Prestress Engineering Corporation, Prairie Grove – $250

J.B. & M.K. Pritzker, Occupation: Partner, New World Ventures, Evanston – $5,000

S. Louis Rathje, Wheaton – $250

Edward M & Marilyn L Riley, Woodstock – $200

Eugene Rintels, Winnetka – $500

Roddy Leahy Guill and Zima LTD.. Chicago – $750

Rodriguez, Marcial and Laticia, Fox Lake – $500

Michael Rohrbeck, Chicago – $250

Arnold G Rubin, Occupation: attorney, Chicago – $1,500

Schain Burney Ross & Citron Ltd, Chicago – $250

Schnell, David and Batsheva, Chicago – $250

Michael & Mary Schostok, Occupation: Illinois Judge, Libertyville – $2,500

Schwartz, David L., Bethesda, MD – $500

Scot Forge, Spring Grove – $1,000

John Sexton Sand & Gravel Corp, Hillside – $350

Shefsky & Froelich Ltd, Chicago – $1,250

Skinners’ Amusements Inc, Crystal Lake – $250

Storino Ramello & Durkin, Rosemont – $250

Strom Neal B & Associats Ltd, Chicago – $350

Superior RX Inc., Chicago – $250

T-Mobile USA Inc, Bellevue, WA – $250

The Burnham Committee (an Ed Burke PAC), Chicago – $500

The Roosevelt Group, Chicago – $500

Thelen Sand & Gravel Inc, Antioch – $500

Ungaretti & Harris LLP, Chicago – $500

United Airlines, Chicago – $250

Sam Vinson, Chicago – $250

Michael P. Vondra, Bartlett – $300

Lawrence Jay Weiner, Barrington – $250

Mitchell Weisz, Woodstock – $250

Jesse White, Chicago – $200

Alfred W. Wieher, Attorney at Law, Hinsdale – $500

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The photo of State Rep. Jack Franks was taken from C-SPAN during the Rod Blagojevich impeachment hearings.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White refused to sign Governor Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of paperwork for Roland Burris as United States Senate.

Now the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that White’s signature is not needed.

White had maintained that his signature was not necessary.

So White won’t have to flip like one of his skilled tumblers.

The move is up to the United Senate now.

What will the weak Harry Reid do now?

= = = = =
The Jesse White Tumblers were in Crystal Lake at the corner of Dole and Crystal Lake Avenues at the 4th of July Parade in 2007.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White refused to sign Governor Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of paperwork for Roland Burris as United States Senate.

Now the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that White’s signature is not needed.

White had maintained that his signature was not necessary.

So White won’t have to flip like one of his skilled tumblers.

The move is up to the United Senate now.

What will the weak Harry Reid do now?

= = = = =
The Jesse White Tumblers were in Crystal Lake at the corner of Dole and Crystal Lake Avenues at the 4th of July Parade in 2007.