McHenry County Blog

Seen on the bottom row from left to right, are John and Sheri Haselgruber, Paulette Wainberg, Chairman Nunda Republicans Central Committee Brent Smith and Chris Halloway. On the back row, from left to right, are Jim Batastini, Scott Brown, Nunda Trustee Joni Smith, Brian Prather, Patti Pauley, Adam "Moose" Pringle, Nunda Trustee Tom Palmer, Karen Tynis, Wally Tynis, Nick Provenzano, Chairman Republican Party McHenry County Mike Tryon, Dave Gervais, Jake Justen, YR Chairman Bryan Javor, Adam Wallen. Missing from the picture, but attending, are Zachary Smith, Chelsi Smith, Bob Halloway, Mark Daniel, James Jirasek, organization Vice Chairman Jon Heideman.

Under Brent Smith’s leadership, the Nunda Township Republican Central Committee has held the first of its monthly meetings.

There was even a commemorative cake.

Now, Nunda Township Republicans are rolling out a fund raising raffle, the prize for which will be a politician to cook dinner for the winner in his or her home.

I bought my ticket in between getting signatures for the “Fair Map” reapportionment constitutional amendment petition at the Crystal Lake Business Expo.

Workers posing at the Republican Party booth at the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. From left to right are Rebecca Lee, Bob Miller, Anna May Miller, Tom McDermott, Brent Smith, Cal Skinner, Bill Miller, Mike Shorten and Jon Heideman.

I figured the only woman on the list, Barb Wheeler probably would provide the best meal, so she’s going to learn where the Lakewood home with the tree house is, if I win.

Below is the flyer for the fundraiser:

Ticket contact email is coonpy@att.net.

YR Chairman Bryan Javor and Vice Chairwoman Erica Poremba

Erica Poremba, Vice-Chairwoman of the McHenry County Young Republicans has sent out the following weekly newsletter:

Weekly Newsletter

We hope that everyone is enjoying the sunshine and warmth.  Spring is fast approaching.  We would love if you would join us at the March Happy Hour which is being held at the Cottage in Crystal Lake on March 11 from 6 to 8 pm.  Its time that we all come together and have some fun before elections begin.  We hope to see you there!

We are proud to announce our Education Chairman Jon Heideman has ran yet another successful campaign (previously Precinct Committeeman) and is now the Vice Chairman of the Nunda Township Republican Central Committee.  A big congratulations to Jon!

We sincerely thank and welcome our two newest members of MCYR; Thomas Kantner of Crystal Lake and Mike Clarke of Harvard.  Its always great to have new and active members join us.  Welcome!

Don’t forget that MCYR is looking for a new logo.  We are offering a $25.00 gift card to a local bar or restaurant of your choice to the winner.  The deadline is March 10, 2010.  Forward your logo to the webmaster@mchenryyoungrepublicans.com  We will vote on the logo at the April meeting.  Good luck.

Jon Heideman the MCYR Education Chair is working on a Candidate Rally for the Spring/Summer that will include candidates from the area running for public office.  They will introduce themselves and explain their visions and plans for building better communities.  More information to come.  This will be a great way for MCYR members to meet the candidates and find campaign volunteer activities.

Also, Jake Justen, the MCYR Membership Vice-Chairman is working with the McHenry County GOP for this summer’s upcoming parades.  If you would like to be involved or volunteer for any of the parades please contact Jake at jakejusten@mchenryyoungrepublicans.com

That’s it for now.  I hope this e-mail finds you excited about the upcoming MCYR events and political events in general.  If there is anything in particular that you would like to see highlighted in the emails please let us know.

The post of party precinct committeeman is usually not contested.

One doesn’t get compensated. If one writes a precinct letter, one has to dip into one’s own pocket to pay for it.

Look at the bottom of the sample ballots for the Republican and Democratic Parties and you’ll see precincts all over the place with no candidates.

I see no contests in the Democratic Party.

There were a couple in the Republican Party, however.

The Northwest Herald made a big deal about a three-way race between McHenry County Board member Ersel Schuster, attorney Mark Gummerson and Robert Schlenkert, a prime supporter of McHenry County Sheriff’s candidate Zane Seipler.

The results for that Seneca Township Precinct 1, in which Gummerson emerged victorious, follow

• Mark Gummerson – 112
• Ersel Schuster – 77
• Robert Schlenkert – 29

Jon Heideman and family

Schuster also lost the election for Seneca Township Supervisor last spring.

Nunda Township Precinct 19 had a two-way contest between active Young Republican Jon Heideman and William Mann.

Heideman won the face-off 88-76.

In Algonquin 35, former Crystal Lake City Council candidate Kay Stanish, having been appointed to the office, was challenged by David King.

Stanish turned back the challenge 54-44. Now she is an elected committeeman.

There was another race I Nunda 15, but when former Crystal Lake City Councilman Mike Shorten filed for the office, Joe Gottemoller, the other candidate withdrew in Shorten’s favor.

If you are not satisfied with the representation of Democrat Melissa Bean in the 8th Congressional District, you might was to head on over to McHenry County College’s Conference Center tonight at 7.

All six of the GOP primary opponents will be answering questions.

In case you have figured out who is running, here they are:

• Dirk Beveridge
• John Dawson
• Christopher Geissler
• Maria Rodriguez
• Joe Walsh
• Greg Jacobs

From the number of them, I would suggests some folks think Bean, who just voted for the Democrats Health Care Plan, is vulnerable.

The event is being sponsored by the McHenry County Young Republicans and Patriots United.

Jerry Agar from the Illinois Policy Institute and WGN will moderate our debate/panel discussion.

Doors will open at 6:30. A $5 donation is requested to defray the MCC rent.

For more information, contact Jon Heideman, MCYR Education Committee Chairman, or Patriots United’s Bill Parrot or Mary Alger.

Jon Heideman, McHenry County Young Republican Education Committee Chairman, announced today that the YR’s will sponsor a November 20th candidate’s night at McHenry County College’s Conference Center.

Six candidates are listed. Not all have filed their petitions in Springfield.

The winner will face off against Democrat Melissa Bean.

The press release follows:

MCYR will be co-hosting the 8th Congressional District Debate on November 20th, 2009 at the McHenry County College Conference Center Building “B” at 7:00PM.  A representative from each of the groups hosting the event will sit on the panel and ask the participating candidates questions.

The Republican Candidates for the 8th Congressional District are:

Dirk Beveridge
John Dawson
Christopher Geissler
Maria Rodriguez
Joe Walsh
Greg Jacobs

MCYR members have the privilege of crafting questions the candidates will be asked.

Please send your questions to

educate@mchenryyoungrepublicans.com.

Please also let us know if it is OK to use your name when asking the question.

MoveOn.org scheduled a demonstration in Fox River Grove at 7:30 last night.

It’s pretty dark then. Looks like some people showed up before dusk.

Jon Heideman was kind enough to send me some pictures of the event.

And, some commentary.

“During the hour that we stood there random people driving by stopped to show their support of the Government’s not taking over our Health care.

“In total there were 10 people that stopped on our side to show support.

“The only thing that the Move ON.ORG group received were honks, thumbs down and the occasional middle finger.

“I know not one passerby stopped to show support about their position or join their vigil,” Heideman wrote.

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The photos are show in the order I received them.

While the McHenry County Young Republicans met Sunday in Crystal Lake’s Veterans Acres for a Petition Party, they will meet tonight at 7 PM at the upscale 1776 Restaurant on Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

The YR weekly newsletter reports that the following candidates attended their Petition Party:

• Congressman Don Manzullo
• State Senator/Gubernatorial Candidate Matt Murphy from Palatine
• United State Senate Candidate Ed Varga from Richmond
• McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren
• McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew
• McHenry County Board Members/Candidates

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Gubernatorial candidate State Senator Matt Murphy can be seen in the red shirt to the left of the top photo and on the left hand side facing right in the bottom picture. Sheriff Keith Nygren is sitting at the picnic table in the top shot looking right. His wife Marge is sitting across from him. Standing behind Nygren in that same picture is County Treasurer Bill LeFew. STAR 105 FM radio newsman Stew Cohen is standing next to LeFew, facing the end of the table. YR Jon Heideman, who is running for Republican precinct committeeman in Nunda 19, is in the foreground right looking away from the camera. He was the grill master.

In the bottom photo, McHenry County Board candidate John Jung is center right facing right next to Brent Smith. Again, you can see YR Jon Heideman’s back in the foreground left.