Shannon Teresi Seeks Support in Campaign to Replace Pam Palmer as County Auditor

The top person in the McHenry County Auditor’s Office after the retirement of Pam Palmer on January 5th is Shannon Teresi. Palmer’s replacement will be appointed by McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks. His only restriction is that the person … Continue reading

The Thompson Center – Past, Present and, maybe, Future

The building that looks like a glass ski slope or a huge hot dog stand located across from Chicago’s City Hall was named for Governor James R. Thompson. People call it the Thompson Center. Land on which it sits used … Continue reading

Karen McConnaughay Meets and Greets Local Republican Activists at Lakewood’s Lou Malnati’s

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay brought her campaign for the Illinois State Senate to Lakewood’s Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria Thursday night. Nothing like free eats to bring out a crowd.  And Lou Manati’s pizza.  What a treat! The event featured … Continue reading

The Motor Cycle Helmet Fight of the Mid-1970’s that Brought ABATE to Maturity

I see that the mandatory motorcycle helmet folks are back. The Chicago Sun-Times editorialized about passage last November and I saved the piece to remind me to write this article. Back in 1975, James “Bud” Washburn of Morris was Republican … Continue reading

Pension Winners in the General Assembly Retirement System

Jim Tobin’s National Taxpayers United of Illinois has revealed the top 50 pensions for the General Assembly Retirement Fund. It doesn’t have many pensioners, but the legislative retirement fund has some big payouts. Part of the reason is that statewide … Continue reading

The Illinois State Fair and Other Things Republican Today

Today, the Illinois Republican Party is holding its day at the State Fair. Busloads are people are heading that way as I write this article. When I went, it was called Governor’s Day. That was back in Jim Thompson’s time. … Continue reading

Thoughts About the Governor’s Race

If you looked at the front page of the Chicago Tribune Sunday, you saw five candidates on top of the page. They are ones that the Tribune’s poll found leading in both the Democratic and Republican Party primaries. It was … Continue reading

The Night the Lights Went Out While Jason Plummer Was Speaking

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? Because I’ve been on the same route he took twice, once in … Continue reading

TEA Party Moving Down to Cary

When my son and I got to Cary we discovered people who had been at the Crystal Lake demonstration, 550 strong according to Libertarian Party Chair Dave Brady of Wonder Lake. This was the third McHenry County TEA Party I … Continue reading

Joel Weisman Falsely Frames the Income Tax Hike Issue

Pretty much nothing in public policy formulation disturbs me more than reporters who do not know anything about percentages. Maybe I shouldn’t be so critical, but when an opinion leader like WTTW’s “Chicago Week in Review” host Joel Weisman asks … Continue reading

Joel Weisman Falsely Frames the Income Tax Hike Issue

Pretty much nothing in public policy formulation disturbs me more than reporters who do not know anything about percentages. Maybe I shouldn’t be so critical, but when an opinion leader like WTTW’s “Chicago Week in Review” host Joel Weisman asks … Continue reading