McHenry County Blog

Folks in McHenry County can probably be excused for not knowing that 14th District Congressman Randy Hultgren, a Republican re-distracted into all of McHenry County except Algonquin Township (which is to be in Congressman Peter Roskam’s 8th District) has a Democratic Party opponent.

His name is Dennis Anderson and he is from Gurnee.  (Yes, Gurnee is in this Madigandered district.)

14th Illinois Congressional District Republican and Democratic Party primary election results.

Anderson beat Woodstock resident Jonathan Farnick 9,344 to 3,258 in the Democratic Party primary.

Dennis Anderson for Congress sign on Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

Note that Hultgren received 64,419 votes in the GOP primary.

That means Anderson has a Himalayan slope to climb in his attempt to win the 14th Congressional District seat.

Driving to Woodstock I’ve noticed two yard signs in front of the strip mall where 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo used to have his office.

They said, “Anderson for Congress.”

I went up to look in the office a while ago and saw no activity.

Monday, there were lights in the office.

As I was taking photos a young man got out of a car and asked what I was doing.

I told him and he indicated that was the office where he was going.

I asked if the candidate were in and he said Anderson was at a meeting.

I asked if he were the campaign manager.

He said he wasn’t.

Jonathon Farnick

An email and press release from Jonathon Farnick, whose filing for the 14th District Democratic Party nomination for Congress I previously missed.  He advanced his candidacy for the 2010 primary against Melissa Bean, as well as for the 2008 primary.  Both times his petitions didn’t hold up.

This time he has no Democratic Party incumbent to contend with. He will face off against Gurnee’s Dennis Anderson.

“It’s a new day, a new year, and a new election cycle.

“Hope that you’ve been keeping up with the races all about.

“I’m back in it again, and this time am on the ballot. Passing along a PR I’ve been sending out.”

The press release:

This is a notification of the candidacy of Jonathan Farnick for the Democratic nomination for newly redrawn 14th Congressional District in Illinois, encompassing

primarily parts of the old 8th District, previously of Melissa Bean (D) and

currently of Joe Walsh (R) and

the old 14th District, previously of Bill Foster (D) and currently of Randy Hultgren (R).

From the home page of his web site: http://www.farnick.com:

Jonathan is running for the Democratic nomination for the newly redrawn 14th Congressional District in Illinois in the March 20th, 2012 Primary Election.

He believes that we need more and better Democrats in elective office and that this will bring a positive, needed change for this country.

The major obstacle that has to be addressed is this country’s $15 trillion national debt.

We will shortly come to a point where we cannot afford the programs that we need, let alone the programs that we may want.

It won’t matter if you are left or right, Democrat or Republican, progressive or conservative, independent or partisan: there will come a time that there is no money left for whatever you may want or expect the Federal Government to do.

We got into this mess because of overspending in many areas on one side of the ledger and constantly lowering taxes, and therefore revenue, on the other side.

Some spending cuts and the raising of some taxes need to be done to address this.

He has been a critic from the left of the Administration and Congress (past and present).

Supportive of what Candidate Obama has said, he would press President Obama to put them into action, but would try to curtail his penchant of continuing some of George Bush’s worst policies and actions that do a disservice to this nation.

The continued occupation of Afghanistan and operation of the detention facilities at Guantanamo both need to end. The application of the rule of law regarding torture and other war crimes has never been addressed.

The application of the rule of law regarding fraud and corruption on Wall Street has never been addressed.

The continuation of drone strikes and unfortunate “collateral damage” of civilians.

The summary execution of an American citizen (and his 16 year old son two weeks later) without trial or proven guilt.

14th Congressional District map created by Elgin political consultant Drew Veeneman.

Republican claims of “Protecting Your Freedoms and Liberties” is a farce when it comes to passing bills from

• the liberty reducing Patriot Act,
• the Military Commissions Act,
• the FISA Amendments Act, to
• the latest Defense Authorization.

They also care not about fair trade, consumer protections, or free speech and the internet.

Nowhere on this site will you see a link or button to “Donate Here”.

Jonathan wants your vote, not your money.

We need to get money and undue influence out of politics.

Until we do, politics as usual will be what happens, don’t expect otherwise. Congress has an average 12% approval rating, sending the same people back will only result in the same results:

• More debt,
• more legislation beneficial to special interests at the detriment of the rest of the country, and
• more gridlock,

as the Republicans of this day have shown: it’s their way or they will try to stop anything from happening.

Thank you for stopping by this site.

This is the top of Jonathan Farnick's campaign web site.

Tell your family members and friends, associates and co-workers.

You, and they, will not be

• seeing ads on television,
• hearing ads on the radio,
• see ads in the print or online media,
• be getting unwanted robo-calls, or
• see signs plastered all over the district.

A conversation, with dialog and debate, about this race and the others that each of you will be voting on, is more important, will be more informative, and leave you with a better understanding of what we all need from our elected representatives.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Any questions can be directed to the candidate.

Jonathan Farnick

jonfarnick@gmail.com

Woodstock’s Jonathan Farnick was passing petitions at the August 26th meeting of the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee.

“A person with her voting record doesn’t deserve re-election,” Farnick told me.

Now, Democrats are trying to kick him and 8th congressional district Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer off the ballot.

No one from the left side of the political spectrum apparently is considered eligible to run against incumbent Democrat Melissa Bean.

Two years ago, Farnick filed as a Democratic Party candidate and Scheurer’s wife Randi, who was also a candidate against Bean in the primary, filed a successful objection against his candidacy and won. It was based on Farnick’s having too few petition signatures.Gregory Ferritto, 1526 Anderson Trail in Zion, is the challenger to Bill Scheurer’s petitions.

Same with Farnick.

It appears the same Ferritto challenged Green Party candidate Iain Abernathy in 2008. At that time Ferritto sported a Winthrop Harbor address.

He works for the Post Office and has contributed to the Committee On Letter Carriers Political Education.

There were not challenges among six Republicans running in the 8th district GOP primary.

= = = = =

Jonathon Farnick is seen at the top of the story; Bill Scheurer at the bottom.

That’s what State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) said he was going to tell McHenry County Democrats at their central committee meeting Wednesday night.

Lang is a 22-year member of the Illinois House and Mike Madigan’s floor leader.

“I’m involved in a lot of noise on the floor,” he said.

“We just got through five years of a governor who didn’t understand his job. I’m not just talking the criminal charges.”

Lang talked about the impeachment trial, observing that there had been a lot of talk about it in the back rooms for a long time.

“One who did not talk about it quietly in the back rooms was your own State Rep. Jack Franks.

“I’d prefer to have taken him out (in an election). Impeaching a governor isn’t too good for your party.

“Democrats were moving forces in cleaning up our own act, in cleaning up Springfield,” said one of the members of the House Impeachment Committee.

“While it looked like fun, it was not fun.

“This is the most important time I’ve spent in the legislature.

“Governor (Pat) Quinn takes over…at the worst possible time.

“(We are in) unprecedented fiscal crisis in the state. All fifty states (are in the same condition).”

Referring to Quinn, Lang said, “He’s been practicing for this job for a very long time. He wakes up as Lieutenant Governor and went to sleep as Governor.”

Lang praised the courage of Quinn for proposing an income tax increase.

“It took a significant amount of political courage.”

“We must do something to maintain the level of services,” was the way Lang characterized Quinn’s motivation.

Lang told how the Federal government made it impossible to use most of the stimulus money to fill the $6-11 billion budget hole. Congress wrote into the law that Medicaid payment cycles had to be lowered from Illinois’ 90-days to 30-days.

“All that was left was the human service programs.”

He pointed out that when human service agencies faced a 50% cut in subsidies that “doesn’t equal 50% of the cost because of fixed costs.”

“I voted for the income tax.”

Lang was one of 42 Democrats who voted for it.

“Jack Franks, my very good friend, didn’t vote for it. He had legitimate, thoughtful reasons.”

“Dozens who voted, ‘No,’ did so just to protect their next election.

“Jack Franks is my good friend, but at least he had a reason.

“There are so many who did not.

“We did have thirteen more people (Democrats) ready to vote for an income tax increase,” Lang added.

Doing the addition, that meant the Democrats had 55 of the needed 60 votes to pass an income tax. Lang said that those 13 saw no reason to expose themselves to political challenge, if the bill were not going to pass.

Tomorrow: “Twelve Brave Souls.”

The next day: “More About the Income Tax Fight.”

= = = = =
In the photograph of the three men during the question and answer session, you see, from left to right, Mark Freund, John Darger and Jonathan Farnick

Before the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee at the Farm Bureau building in Woodstock, I met Jonathon Farnick.

He’s gathering signatures to run against 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean in the February Democratic primary election.

So far, he has gotten 259 signatures and needs something under 1,000 good signatures. He realizes the need to get a cushion in order to withstand a challenge from Bean supporters.

Why is he running?

“In a democracy you should have people to vote for and I don’t want to be a resident of the 8th District and see only one person running for that seat,” the Woodstock resident told me.

“Nothing’s changed since two years ago. A person with her voting record doesn’t deserve re-election.

“Removing habeas corpus protections is a deal breaker,” he said referring to either the Military Commissions Act or the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007.

“There’s been so many, I can’t keep track.”

When introduced as a guest to the almost 30 people in the room, Farnick said,

“I’d like to see a Democrat in here because for the last couple of years we haven’t had one.”

Farnick tried to get on the ballot two years ago.

When I interviewed him, he knew that Randi Scheurer was running against Bean in the Democratic primary, but had a disagreement with what he perceived to be her stand on abortion.

Both, however, could have been characterized as anti-war or peace candidates.

Scheurer challenged Farnick’s petitions for having too few signatures. Farnick withdrew his candidacy.

Election results for Bean over the years can be found in this article about Bill Scheurer’s intention to run as the Green Party candidate for the 8th District seat in Congress.

8th congressional district United States Representative Melissa Bean had two Democratic Party primary opponents when the filing period ended.

One, Randi Scheurer, was following up on husband Bill Scheurer’s third party challenge last year in which he tallied 5% of the vote for the Moderate Party.

She, like her husband, opposes the Iraq War.

Another anti-war candidate, Jonathan Farnick of Woodstock, passed petitions and also filed, but with less than the number of signatures required by law. In 2006 he ran a write-in campaign for the office.

Having two anti-war candidates running against one being characterized as “pro-war” would have given incumbent Bean an extraordinary advantage.

Incumbents always want as many challengers as possible.

Farnick admitted he realized that and you can read why he continued running anyway here.

When Farnick’s petition signatures came up short, Scheurer herself challenged his petitions.

Most candidates, Robert Abboud being a local example this year, get a supporter to do the dirty work of eliminating an unwanted contender.

The State Board of Elections web site says Farnick withdrew on November 19th, late on the afternoon before Thanksgiving, but no one in the media noticed until yesterday, when the Daily Herald’s Russell Lisssau put up a story online at 2:06 in the afternoon.

= = = = =
At the top, Randi Scheurer is on the left and Melissa Bean on the right. Jonathan Farnick is below Scheurer.

8th congressional district United States Representative Melissa Bean had two Democratic Party primary opponents when the filing period ended.

One, Randi Scheurer, was following up on husband Bill Scheurer’s third party challenge last year in which he tallied 5% of the vote for the Moderate Party.

She, like her husband, opposes the Iraq War.

Another anti-war candidate, Jonathan Farnick of Woodstock, passed petitions and also filed, but with less than the number of signatures required by law. In 2006 he ran a write-in campaign for the office.

Having two anti-war candidates running against one being characterized as “pro-war” would have given incumbent Bean an extraordinary advantage.

Incumbents always want as many challengers as possible.

Farnick admitted he realized that and you can read why he continued running anyway here.

When Farnick’s petition signatures came up short, Scheurer herself challenged his petitions.

Most candidates, Robert Abboud being a local example this year, get a supporter to do the dirty work of eliminating an unwanted contender.

The State Board of Elections web site says Farnick withdrew on November 19th, late on the afternoon before Thanksgiving, but no one in the media noticed until yesterday, when the Daily Herald’s Russell Lisssau put up a story online at 2:06 in the afternoon.

= = = = =
At the top, Randi Scheurer is on the left and Melissa Bean on the right. Jonathan Farnick is below Scheurer.

I can’t improve on the headline of Randi Scheurer’s challenge of Woodstock Democratic primary rival Jonathan Farnick. Both of them filed against incumbent Melissa Bean.

Having two primary challengers is what any incumbent legislator would desire.

Scheurer claims Farnick filed 200 too few signatures.

You can find more information about Farnick here and here.

Here’s the press release:

Scheurer Challenges Farnick Petition

Democratic Party candidate Randi Scheurer (IL-8TH Congressional District) filed a legal objection on Tuesday with the State Board of Elections to disqualify Jonathan Farnick’s petition to appear on the February 5 primary ballot as a second challenger to the incumbent Melissa Bean.

“Mr. Farnick did not turn in the required number of valid signatures to qualify as a candidate,” says Scheurer. “Running for Congress is no small thing. It takes a big commitment to do it right.”

The Scheurer campaign claims that Farnick fell short by more than 200 signatures after removing names that are not registered voters at the addresses listed in his nominating petition.

Mrs. Scheurer says that she and a campaign worker met with Farnick at the beginning of the petition period, to see if they could reach agreement on which one of them should challenge Bean.

“He (Farnick) told me then, and has since repeated in public interviews, that he did not even intend to run a real campaign,” says Scheurer.

“That is completely unacceptable. We want a real candidate, to give Democrats a real alternative to a totally unacceptable Republican-Lite incumbent. Not someone who is just dabbling in it and not committed to running a real campaign.”

“What good does that do?” She asks. “That would only help the incumbent. We want Democrats to have a clear choice.”

The Scheurer campaign turned in over 2,300 signatures on her nominating petition, outstripping even the number submitted by the incumbent Melissa Bean.

I can’t improve on the headline of Randi Scheurer’s challenge of Woodstock Democratic primary rival Jonathan Farnick. Both of them filed against incumbent Melissa Bean.

Having two primary challengers is what any incumbent legislator would desire.

Scheurer claims Farnick filed 200 too few signatures.

You can find more information about Farnick here and here.

Here’s the press release:

Scheurer Challenges Farnick Petition

Democratic Party candidate Randi Scheurer (IL-8TH Congressional District) filed a legal objection on Tuesday with the State Board of Elections to disqualify Jonathan Farnick’s petition to appear on the February 5 primary ballot as a second challenger to the incumbent Melissa Bean.

“Mr. Farnick did not turn in the required number of valid signatures to qualify as a candidate,” says Scheurer. “Running for Congress is no small thing. It takes a big commitment to do it right.”

The Scheurer campaign claims that Farnick fell short by more than 200 signatures after removing names that are not registered voters at the addresses listed in his nominating petition.

Mrs. Scheurer says that she and a campaign worker met with Farnick at the beginning of the petition period, to see if they could reach agreement on which one of them should challenge Bean.

“He (Farnick) told me then, and has since repeated in public interviews, that he did not even intend to run a real campaign,” says Scheurer.

“That is completely unacceptable. We want a real candidate, to give Democrats a real alternative to a totally unacceptable Republican-Lite incumbent. Not someone who is just dabbling in it and not committed to running a real campaign.”

“What good does that do?” She asks. “That would only help the incumbent. We want Democrats to have a clear choice.”

The Scheurer campaign turned in over 2,300 signatures on her nominating petition, outstripping even the number submitted by the incumbent Melissa Bean.

Yesterday, I wrote about Jonathan Farnick, a new potential contender from Woodstock for the 8th congressional district Democratic Party nomination.

His entry into the race brings up to two the number of “peace” candidates challenging incumbent Melissa Bean.

The first was Randi Scheurer, whose husband ran unsuccessfully against Bean in the 2004 Democratic Party primary and in the 2006 general election on the Moderate Party ticket.

In 2006, Scheurer got over 5% of the vote–5.8%, to be more precise–against Bean and Republican David McSweeney, so his party has the ability to put a candidate on the ballot next year. Already, Iain Abernathy has announced he will be the candidate.

I asked Farnick why he was running. His answer follows:

“For a couple of different reasons. In 2004, her husband lost against Bean in the primary. In 2006, he lost in the general. In 2008, will things be any different?

“Another thing I was thinking, when I decided to run…I had not heard that Mr. or Mrs. Scheurer would be running in the Democratic Party. I was under the general assumption that Mr. Scheurer was going to continue with his Moderate Party candidacy.

“Around the time I announced and started to collect signatures (end of August) I has seen an article that said Scheurer was going to run against Bean in 2008. I did not read the article. I just tagged it.

“I’m continuing to collect signatures. When I went back and read the article and saw that it was Randi and not Bill, I thought of the Scheurers not having too good a track record. The other thing I immediately thought of was Illinois’ sore loser law. If you lose the primary, you can’t run in the general.

“If she loses in the primary, he can run in the general.

“That’s a back handed way to get around that.

“I knew about Mr. Scheurer’s stands on various issues and I would presume that his wife would be similar in her views. But just because someone was also running, that doesn’t mean that I should drop or that she should drop out.

“And I would rather see two or three or four or five or six people running than for us to just blindly support the incumbent Democrat just because she is a Democrat.

“One of the main reasons I could not get behind Mr. Scheurer in 2006 was his stance on abortion. He was personally opposed to it, but stated publicly that he would not try to restrict it in any way. And I was not comfortable with supporting somebody who could potentially down the road restrict a woman’s right to choose.”

“If you run, do you understand that you might split the primary vote?” I asked, pointing out the accepted political wisdom that incumbents love to have more than one challenger.

“I understand that,” he replied.

“Unfortunately most people don’t know of Bean’s vote” he continued. “I lot of people just assume she is just a Democrat who could be there to oppose the then Republican-controlled Congress and the President, and not knowing she voted with the Republicans and the President on a number of very important issues.”

A photo was not available of Farnick.