McHenry County Blog

With Township Supervisor Linda Moore in Texas for her daughter’s college graduation and Rob LaPorta also absent, the meeting was relatively short and peaceful.

No one raised his voice or went off on a rant. Trustee Gerry McMahon even sat facing the audience.

Unlike the outgoing McHenry County College Board, the old Township Board, chaired Thursday by Barbara Murphy, spent much of the meeting deferring to their successors, referring several times to newly-elected Independent Supervisor Jim Kearns, who was sitting in the back row.

The Road District’s budget, for example, was not passed, even though that was the wish of outgoing Road Commissioner Jack Freund.

“The new Board comes in on the 20th,” Trustee Betty Zirk, the only member of the Board to seek and win re-election.

When it came time for to consider the bills, Zirk had a list of those to exclude. They included

• $2,644.68 charged to a BMO Harris credit card (postage, telephone, equipment maintenance, travel expenses, etc.)
• $864.20 for J.A. Jetchmark, Ltd.
• $475 for McHenry County Council of Governments dues
• $295.60 for printing to Total Point of Video, Inc.
• $24,162.50 billed for legal fees by Moore attorney John Nelson
• $39,007.89 billed for legal services from March, 2012, through March, 2013, by Moore attorney Ottosen Britz Kelly Cooper Gilbert & DiNilf

The Trustees’ law firm, Ancel Glink, however, was paid $5,747.48.

“In order to meet the payroll next week, I don’t think we can pay any bills,” Zirk said.

Zirk also mentioned that Township Road Commissioner was owed $7,161.20 to cover health insurance for his wife.

“He could get it cheaper by getting it through his wife’s than through the Township,” she explained.

The motion approving the bills noted that they would be paid when money was available.

As outgoing Township Assessor Bill Ottley was leaving after the bills were approved, he was thanked for his service for the last four years. The sparse audience applauded.

Ottley reminded them that he would be around through December, when his term expires.

“And you, too, Jack,” one of the Trustees added.

Zirk then talked about how audit expenses should be allocated. She suggested Public Assistance pay 5% and the Road District 35%.

Freund objected to the number she suggested, saying, “I’ll pay 25% like I’ve always been paying.”

Trustee Gerry McMahon suggest a compromised of 28%. Freund did not agree.

After some discussion, Zirk suggested asking the auditor how much time he spent on the Road District budget and the matter was deferred.

As the meeting was drawing to a close, Murphy said,

“There’s a part of me that is worry for the way things ended up. I regret that.”

A letter from the forensic auditor was read in which he detailed Moore’s refusal to sign the engagement letter and a payment until ordered by Judge

He also said he was unable to obtain original copies of the warrant lists.

Township Clerk Harriot Ford pointed out the documents were on the web site.

“I look forward to things moving on a real positive way,” she said shortly before the meeting adjourned.

Also in the audience was newly-elected Township Assessor Al Zielinski.

With Jim Harrison deciding that he is going to run as an Independent in the McHenry County Sheriff’s race next year, it’s time to look at what has happened in the recent past when Independents ran against Republicans.

The most prominent was when State Rep. Mark Beaubien’s widow Dee.

In that contest, Republican David McSweeney was the Republican.

Each spent heavily to demonize the other.

Coming off a contentious three-way GOP primary, McSweeney won 58% to 41%.

Grafton Township’s most recent election had a well-publicized slate of Independents running for election against winners of the Republican Party primary election.

On the top of the ticket was Huntley Village Trustee Pam Fender facing off against Independent Jim Kearns.

Republican Fender, who won a hotly-contested three-way primary election with 39% of the vote, spent about $2,500 in the first quarter of the year. This does not include the week before the election, so more may have been spent.

Independent Kearns won by just under three-quarters of one percent (1944-1877). Kearns has not filed a report with the State Board of Elections. Such reports are required if one raises or spends over $3,000 in an election.

The third recent example also occurred in Grafton Township.

In a two-way race, Al Zielinski beat incumbent Bill Ottley 55% to 45% in the Republican Primary Election.

Zielinski spent a bit over $6,200, filing his report after the required deadline. I can find no campaign disclosure report for Ottley. [Looked again after a commenter said he could find it. The only way I could find it was by using the search word "Huntley" in the name of the town. He spent spent $2,461.21, but reports a negative balance of $461.21, something I believe the State Board does not allow. All the money came from Ottley and his wife.] No report has been filed by Jensen either, but as mentioned earlier, one is only required if the $3,000 threshold has been exceeded.

In the general election, Republican Zielinski edged out Independent Terra Jensen by 5.8 percentage points (1,998-1,774).

There was also a race against Republican nominee for Grafton Township Road Commissioner Tom Poznanski. He won the GOP Primary against Richard Dvorak by 63% to 37%. Poznanski is the Chairman of the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee.

In the April General Election, Poznanski was challenged by Independent Tim Hoeft. Poznanski won by 54-46.

Over in Nunda Township Independent Leda Drain ran against Republican Lee Jennings.

Jennings had a hot primary with three people running. One withdrew her candidacy, but too late for her name to be taken off the ballot.

Jennings barely beat Bridgette Provenzano, but Provenzano endorsed his candidacy in the General Election.

The result was that Jennings got over 57% of the vote. It was Jennings 2,614 and Drain 1,937.

So in the five most recent examples, those on the Republican Party ticket four out of five contests.

If I were Harrison, I would be hoping that the GOP Primary would be so heated that the backers of Bill Prim, if Andy Zinke won the primary, would back me.

Conversely, if Prim emerged victorious, I would be hoping that Zinki’s supporters would rally around my candidacy.

That did not happen, however, in the cases of

• McSweeney
• Zielinski
• Poznanski

It apparently did occur in the case of Jim Kearns victory over Pam Fender.

This is too small a sample from which to draw a conclusion, but it does indicate that when a primary contest in contentious, supporters of those who lose can rally to the campaign of an Independent.

In the case of Independent Jim Kearns’ victory, however, his Republican opponent Pam Fender was opposed by over 60% of the Republican Primary voters.

The fractured Republican Party in Grafton Township manged to elect its Chairman Tom Poznanski Road Commissioner and Al Zielinski Assessor, but failed to get enough votes to put three-way GOP primary winner Pam Fender in office.

Independent Jim Kearns got 67 more votes than Fender. There are absentee and early votes outstanding, so this margin could narrow, but will be unlikely to be overcome.

For Township Assessor, Independent Terra Jensen gave Republican nominee Al Zielinski a run for his money, but, with the same caveat about additional votes that will show up, the Lakewood resident beat the Restore Grafton Township candidate by 224.

Independent Tim Hoeft was trailing by 213 votes prior to the addition of early and absentee ballots.

And finally, for Grafton Township Trustee, newly-elected Supervisor Kearns obtained a working majority.

Winning were

• former Crystal Lake Mayor Bob Wagner
• incumbent Trustee Betty Zirk (the only incumbent to run for re-election)
• Dan Ziller, Jr., in his second attempt (the last one being a write-in); a member of the Restore Grafton Township slate
• Joe Holtorf, member of the Restore Grafton Township slate

Jeff Thorsen is a long-time Crystal Lake City Councilman known for not kowtowing to the “party line” at meetings.

He also is not endorsing Pam Fender, the Republican candidate for Grafton Township Supervisor.

Thorsen, a Grafton Township resident is supporting James Kearns.

He send me an email with his reasoning. It is below:

“I just want to offer you my perspective…and why I have it.

“There was a spreadsheet passed around 4 years ago illustrating the the financing mechanism for the repayment on the proposed and at that time approved Township facility debt.

“Combined with the income available to service the debt illustrated on the document, and compared to the financial results (AUDITED) from years past, the result was fairly anticipated…..it indicated that all things being equal, the Township would have been in need of alternative funding to finance the new facility [township hall]…

“I was the one originating that document and to this day I have not heard the premise nor the conclusion of that illustration challenged…..So I throw it out again.

“My estimate for the need for an alternative funding source i. e. tax anticipation warrants…came out in the fifth or sixth year…on that document, as I recall.

“The Tax anticipation warrant funding mechanism, would have lasted as a resource (mathematically) for a period longer than what would be acceptable to the holder of the warrant i. e. the bank.

“However, it would have stopped by law in (I think it was) the 8th or 9th year; thus requiring a NEW levy on the township taxpayers….

“That said, I supported the candidate that promised a termination of the project.

“I am not ashamed of that. (Trouble is we are 4 years down a different road and we are close to the need for tax anticipation warrants now…and no bank seems to want to offer that funding mechanism to our township.)

“Fast forward.

Jim Kearns

“It soon became clear a personal township cat box conflict accelerated into something more than I can conceive of even in comparison to the outrageous actions the state and federal government representatives can sometimes be capable of.”About two years ago I had a conversation with Jim Kearns…We had just met but I knew of him for many years and I know to this day as I did then that Jim is a man of his word and his hand shake.

“I know that by his reputation and because I do business with him.

“Anyway, when we talked about Grafton Township, he indicated then that he was so dissatisfied with the activities on the board…en masse..that he was considering a run for Supervisor.

“I immediately offered my support.

“I am proud of that.

“I know that Jim is the most qualified candidate for the Supervisor position.

“He is a fiscal conservative and he hates paying lawyers.

“Most importantly, he wants to serve his neighbors, as a neighbor should, with respect and faith.

“He, unlike his opponent, was not a part of and an escalating insider to the disaster that unfolded. Please consider Jim when you print about Grafton Township.

“Tell your neighbors to VOTE FOR JIM!

In Grafton Township there is a battle between the Republican Party slate, which is showing no signs of being unified, and a slate of Independents branded as the “Restore Grafton Township” candidates.

The Independents’ candidate for Supervisor, Jim Kearns has made a mailing, which you can see below:

Kearns notes his endorsement by the Daily Herald and quotes part of it” …”we think he would be a more even-keeled leader.”

The back of piece has a re-run of this palm card, plus endorsements for his team.

The group of Independent candidates grouped under label “Restore Grafton Township” invite the public to meet them at the Boulder Ridge Country Club this Thursday night from 7-9.

Continuing in my effort to bring readers campaign literature, here is the palm card for Grafton Township’s Independent candidate for Supervisor, Jim Kearns:

In case you want to search the text, here it is:

• Strong Leadership to unite all branches of Grafton Township government including Board of Trustees
• Integrity & Honesty
• Resolve childish disputes, avoid unnecessary legal fees, practice fiscal responsibility Jim Kearns is a Life Long resident of
• Honesty, Integrity, Morality

Huntley with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from Illinois State. He and Dacia got married 26 years ago, moved to a country home, and raised three children, Erika, Jennifer, and Ryan.

Having owned and operated two successful businesses, Jim has a financially responsible approach to spending and budget-wise practices.

He understands the importance of maintaining appropriate audits and fiscal business plans for full financial disclosure.

Jim knows the importance of working with others in a respectful manner.

He will rebuild relationships and encourage cooperation, thus ending senseless spending on lawyers.

Rest assured, Jim Kearns will work hard for the citizens of Grafton Township and support the programs which are most important to you.

Programs such as the Original Grafton Food Pantry at 11481 Allison Ct. Huntley, and the Senior and Disabled Residents Bus Transportation program, and Bingo.

He will give consideration to new ideas presented as well.

Jim Kearns is the person who will lead without arrogance, with civility and honesty, as we work together to restore integrity and financial stability to Grafton Township once again.

Sign stealing is a park of the dark side of local politics.

Though despicable, it happens every election.

I’m hoping that it was just the very strong winds that were at fault for the loss of the signs referred to below.

I know that two plastic straps holding a sign to posts in my front yard broke (on separate sides at different times), as did both straps holding a Lake in the Hills Algonquin Road four-by-four foot Marc Munaretto sign to a pole holding up one for the slate of four Algonquin Township Trustees .

Here’s the email I just received from Terra Jensen that prompted this article.

“I just wanted to give you a heads up… My 4×4 signs are being stolen throughout town.

“The ones that I am aware of at this moment were located on the corner of Kreutzer and Huntley Black Top, one located on private property on Square Barn Road, and one on the corner of Kruetzer and Route 47 – there, Tim, Jim and I had 4×4′s in a row… Mine was in the middle.

“Mine was cut out and taken and Jim and Tim’s were left dangling on the one side.

“In addition – our 4×8 Restore sign located on private property on Huntley Blacktop where Ruth dead ends was taken…”

A more systematic look at the signs revealed the following:

• 4×4 located on the corner of Kreutzer and Huntley (Dundee) – Gone
• 4×4 located on Square Barn in a residential property – Gone
• 4×4 located on 47, North side of town – Gone
• 4×4 located on the corner of Kreutzer and Route 47 – This was the location where Jim, Tim and I had (3) 4×4 attached in a row. Mine sign was located in the middle. It snipped and gone, blown away and Tim found it located back in the field along the creek line
• 4×4 located on Huntley Rd and Ackman – Detached from posts and found in ditch

Sign Locations that are ok:

• 4×4 Haligus and Lakewood
• 4×4 Haligus and Foster
• 4×4 Haligus and Ackman
• 4×4 Square Barn and Route 62
• 4×4 Hemmer by High School

Tim Hoeft’s 4×4 sign located at Haligus and Foster is Gone

The large 4×8 RESTORE sign that was located on Dundee Rd (Huntley Black Top) where Ruth ends is Gone

It appears no one wants possession of the signs and is more or less going around town, snipping the zip ties to let the signs blow away…

It was called a candidates’ forum by the Civics Committee of Sun City, but three of the Grafton Township Supervisor candidates turned it into a game of pile-on Linda Moore.

Moore, of course, is the incumbent.

Republican primary opponents Marty Waitzman and Pam Fender, as well as Independent Jim Kearns took turns taking shots at Moore.

The result was that Moore was on the defensive most of the evening.

Indeed, her closing statement was characterized as being “defensive” by a woman sitting behind me.

She pointed out that before her election she and a list of citizens she enumerated had sued the Town Board to stop the construction of a new township hall.

Her side won the case, but the Trustees appealed the decision “and lost.”

“The Trustees wasted a half million dollars” on legal fees, she said.

Then there was a referendum in which 85% of the people voted against building a new township hall.

When they tried “to remove me from office,” the Trustees ran up legal bills of $470,000.

“There is no way to stop the legal fees [until they are out of office].”

Then she talked about having paid all the bill that were “legitimate proper bills,” she said, pointing to state statutes that governed what type of bills could be paid with township dollars.

“This election will bring us full circle,” she claimed.

She said she was the “only member of the Board to vote against taking more money out of your pockets.”

“There’s no way to stop what’s going on until these people are off the [Township] Board,” Moore had said earlier.

Grafton Township Trustee Jerry McMahon’s wife Donna pointed out during the question period that tax dollars homeowners would have saved if her husband and the other three trustees had voted to tax as much as state law allows was minimum.

She criticized Moore’s characterization of the Trustees’ action as being a “tax to the max” approach. McMahon also criticized Moore for the campaign pitch, “You can lower taxes.” [All four trustees did vote to take as much money from taxpayers as state law allows, as McHenry County Blog has reported several times. The argument in favor of such action has been that the government would lose the money forever if the maximum was not requested.]

Marty Waitzman had several characterizations of Moore’s term:

• “For all intents and purposes, Grafton Township has ground to a halt.”
• “Oh, my God. There is no civility. No cooperation. Nothing but arguments.”
• “You don’t have to spend as much time as is now spent. Garbage in, garbage out.”
• “I think you should be prosecuted.”
• “The Township Supervisor is not the supreme being on this board.”

Pam Fender was loaded for bear, too:

Pam Fender

• “It is obvious Mrs. Moore is in over her head.”
• “A Supervisor is supposed to be nice.”
• “I won’t cash checks that don’t belong to the Township.”
• “[You] need to work on your people skills.”
• “We don’t need more lawsuits, more lawyers.”

Jim Kearns got in his licks, too:

• “You should treat others as you would want to be treated.  There’s not a lot of that going on in Grafton Township.”
• “Right now, this Township doesn’t know where it’s at.”
• “I’m going to stop the legal fees.”


Jim Kearns

• “When we dig our heels in, we’re not going to get very far.  We are fools, folks.”
• “We’ve got to learn how to talk with each other.”

There was a question about the efficiency of the bus service.

Waitzman got first shot.  He said, “It’s not about numbers.  It’s about making certain people get the transportation they need.”

“I don’t think the bus should be efficient,” Fender said.  She talked about making it available from 7 AM to 9 PM.

“We need to treat them with respect,” Kearns added.  He added that there was no reason the Road Commissioner’s employees couldn’t change the oil in the bus, rather than paying $150 to “the Ford Dealer up the street.”

Moore reported that she had reduced the cost by one-third, from $75,000 to $50,000, while ridership had increased “steadily throughout the four years.”

“We can’t have inefficient programs in government,” she asserted.  She said that she asked seniors who had trips that were individual in nature to call Faith in Action and Senior Services.

“We do the best we can with what we have,” pointing to using the van, instead of the bus if wheelchair seniors needed transportation.

All four said they had no plans to build a new township hall.

With regard to campaign financing, all the candidates seem to be pretty much paying for their own campaigns.

The first stage of an election is the petition-passing process.

The second stage is too often the petition-challenging process.

I remember when Marc Munaretto was first running for Algonquin Township Clerk, he knocked challenger Nancy Scalero off the ballot because she did not number the pages of her petition. He won without opposition.

Now, Huntley Trustee and deposed Grafton Township Administrator Pam Fender’s petition for the Republican nomination for Township Supervisor has been challenged by someone whose last name is Krohn.

An Electoral Board hearing will be held Monday night at 7:30 in the multi-purpose room at the Huntley Park District Building.

The Board will be chaired by Township Clerk Harriet Ford. Other members will be Trustees Betty Zirk and Barb Murphy.

Fender announced that Zirk would be running on a slate which apparently disintegrated.

Should Fender be tossed off the ballot for whatever reason(s) cited in the petition, of which I do not yet have a copy, that would leave a two-way race for the GOP nomination for Supervisor.

Since Fender is an enemy of Moore, it is likely that she would end up supporting the third candidate Marty Waitzman.

That would not bode well for Moore.

Of course, if kicked off the Republican ballot, Fender could run as an Independent, as Jim Kearns is.

That would mean the April election would be a three-way race in which I would think the Republican nominee would be the favorite.