McHenry County Blog

Click to enlarge this map of McHenry County precincts. County Board Districts are shown.

McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz revealed that about 26,060 people have cast early votes.

Shultz’ office is making coding changes, so she warns that the number is a preliminary one.

Early voting ended Saturday afternoon.

Since there are 203,225 registered voters in McHenry County, that means 12.8% of those eligible to cast ballots have done so.

For information on two precincts in Algonquin Township, where Republican candidate for Congress Peter Roskam sent out post cards encouraging people to vote early, click here. For one precinct the partisan make-up of the early voters was calculated.

Fifty-three Republican Precinct Committeemen attended the Central Committee meeting at the Algonquin Township Hall Monday night.  Mike Tryon addresses the crowd.

Just as there was not a quorum at the Special Meeting called to determine whether Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks would have Tonya Franklin as an opponent, there was no quorum Monday night.

Mike Tryon

Gathering at the Algonquin Township meeting room, 53 GOP Precinct Committeemen answered the Roll Call. That’s about ten more than came to the Special Meeting that Tryon discouraged people from attending.

65 were needed for a quorum.

As usual, a meeting was held anyway, although no official action was taken.

Chairman Mike Tryon explained that the Romney campaign won’t be supporting the Party on the local level, but that there probably would be television ads bought in the Chicago market in order to reach the swing state of Indiana.

Tryon said he looked forward to Tea Party Republicans campaigning for those running for local office.

As he talked about how it may be difficult to convince Republican voters to think anything is at stake, I thought of how a Tonya Franklin candidacy against Jack Franks would have energized Tea Party enthusiasts in County Board Districts 4, 5 and 6, all of which have Democratic Party challengers.

A lost opportunity to increase GOP turnout, in my opinion.

John McCrory

That, he hoped, would bring some sense of excitement to the closing days of the campaign.

McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz explains the importance of getting the card filled out to the person’s past election authority.

The Party is trying to find a Crystal Lake Route 14 storefront from which to mount a campaign, but, with the economy improving locally, affordable locations are difficult to find.

Nevertheless, the campaign is going forward under the assumption that a location will be found. Those willing to volunteer should contact John McCrory. His email address is john.mccrory@mchenrycountygop.com.

After the party pitches, McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz instructed the new committeemen on how to register voters and swore them in as Deputy Registrars.

Kathie Schultz

Here’s the report from McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz:

As of the close of voting [Saturday] there have been 3702 absentee ballots applied for. Of these 2770 were early voters.

February 2010 3233 total absentee—2409 early voters

February 2008 6235 total absentee—4720 early voters

Kathie Schultz

A press release from Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore:

Linda Moore, Grafton Township Supervisor, is pleased to announce that McHenry County Clerk Kathy Schultz will speak about “Opportunities to Vote”on February 21st at 11 A.M. at the American Legion, 11712 Coral Street, Huntley

She will discuss early voting, grace period voting, voter registration, serving as an election judge, voter eligibility and much more.

A free lunch and bingo will be available following the presentation.

Our next event will be March 13, 2012. State Representative Mike Tryon presents, “New Laws in 2012.”

Your generous donations to the Grafton Township Food Pantry, 10109 Vine Street, Huntley, are greatly needed and appreciated.

Katherine Schultz

When I checked with McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz on whether there were any petition challenges or withdrawals of candidacies, I was informed,

“No withdrawals or objections filed today.”

That is in sharp contrast to the petition assault of State Rep. Dave McSweeney in his 52nd District primary race.

McSweeney asks that both of his opponents’ ballot access be denied, Kent Gaffney because of fraudulent circulation and notarization. (Read the complaint here.)

Danielle Rowe replied.

I think I have concluded that the Marengo Settlers Day Committee puts the politicians and candidates who march or ride in order of importance:

Federal

State

County

Since we did Federal on Sunday and state on Tuesday, we’re now down to county politics.

McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer is on the left. She is up for re-election in 2012. McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz, on the right, is not.

Leading off that section of the parade were McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz and Auditor Pam Palmer.

This Model A Ford owner is a member of Henry's A's Region 47.

A neat, green Model A Ford followed them.

Could Jack Sparrow be running for county office? If so, which one?

Then, I noticed a Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator.

Somehow it seemed appropriate that Captain Jack Sparrow see these messages. about repentance.

He was walking straight–or as straight as Captain Jack can walk–toward a part of the crowd carrying religious proclamations.

Part of Marengo Girl Scout Troop 1332's contingent in the Settlers Days Parade. Click to enlarge.

Girl Scouts from Troop 1332 walked behind a flat bed trailer with a man standing on top with a camera.

No one had a problem knowing this was the Marengo Woman's Club's entry in the Settlers Days Parade.

Then, the Marengo Woman’s Club rounded the corner.

This Holar-Ships entry must be related to nutrition. Note the settler woman is wearing gloves, so this must be a special occasion.

I’m not sure what Holar-Ships was all about, but it had a woman and a girl in the back of a pickup truck dressed in pioneer garb.

I wonder if a trainee or an instructor was driving this semi.

A semi-tractor and trailer used by for CDL training by Spirit CDL was the next to turn the corner…very carefully.

Jack Sparrow hadn't made any progress along the parade route. In this shot, I notice he is carrying a big jar with sand.

And Jack was still lurking around the intersection.

Mary McCann was waving to the crowd from the back of a pickup truck.

I don’t know if Sparrow had anything to do with District 6 County Board member Mary McCann or not, but her pickup truck must have driven by him.

At this point in the parade, I'm still wondering how Marengo managed to attract so many high school bands like the Renegade Regiment from Sandwich High School.

Another crowd-pleasing high school band was next–the Sandwich High School Renegade Regiment.

The Sandwich marching band turning onto to Washington Street.

The band held its formation well.

This Shriner on his high wheeled bike is a consistent performer in area parades.

A Shriner high wheeler was the next thing that attracted my attention.

In days of old, I doubt leases would have been used, but the buckskin looks authenic.

Slipping back still farther in time was this buckskin-clan woman with her dog.

Post 192 didn't undergo the training a marching band does, but they were in good order.

Boy Scouts from Explorer Post 192 marched with their American and troop flags.

I didn't catch the Cub Scout Pack 163 leader doing a wheelie, but, when he did, the Cub had a lot of fun.

Next came some Cub Scouts on miniature race cars pushed by leaders.

There is a separate story on the Cub Scout entries here.

The banner of the Dwight Township Marching Trojans led the high school's band.

Behind the Cub Scout entries was yet another high school band, this one all the way down Route 47 to Dwight.

The town of Harvard contributed its Milk Day Queen and attendant royalty to the Marengo Settlers Day Parade.

The Harvard Milk Day Queen and her Court followed the band from Dwight.

This US. Army biplane had a unique view of the Settlers Days Parade.

Overhead planes were periodically flying.

There were more county officials and candidates, but this story is already too long.

The rest will have to wait for another day.

You know that I read politicians in parades like tea leaves.

Sometimes I just let the photos speak for themselves.

Algonquin’s Marc Avelar shared some photos he took on Saturday’s Algonquin Founders Day Parade.

The one below may speak volumes about who will be run from the GOP faction headed by McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi.

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi poses in Algonquin before the parade with the new Chief of his Civil Division, Donna Kelly.

From the picture of Bianchi in the parade, it is unclear whether Kelly was in the car. The name tag probably means she went to the luncheon at Port Edward before the parade. If so, it means she had an opportunity to meet community influentials from Algonquin. Before next spring’s primary election.

The photo I have of McHenry County State's Attorney from the parade shows him waving beside his wife Jean.

Two other countywide officials were in the parade–Pam Palmer, who is up for re-election next year, and Kathie Schultz, McHenry County Clerk. Schultz was elected last year and is in the first year of a four-year term.

McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer and County Clerk Kathie Schultz were waving to the crowd in Algonquin Saturday.

All the McHenry County Board members are on the ballot next year, but I only got photos of three of them–Donna Kurtz, Anna May Miller and Marc Munaretto.

District 1 McHenry County Board members Marc Munaretto and Anna May Miller rode in one car driven by Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller

District 2 McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz was riding in a convertible behind the two District 1 board members.

Algonquin has seen significant growth into Kane County. This year newly-elected Kane County Board member Maggie Auger was in the parade.

Kane County Board member Maggie Auger was also in the parade.

The list below shows the line-up for the parade. Although I don’t have a photo of newly-appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney, his name is on the list.  So is Algonquin resident Phyllis Walters, McHenry County Recorder of Deeds.

District 1 McHenry County Board member Bob Bless’ and Robert Novak’s names also appear, but, again, I didn’t get photos of them.  Same with District 5 Board members Tina Hill and Paula Yensen.

Karen McConnaughay, the Kane County Board Chairman who is running for State Senator west of Hansen Road, is also in the parade line-up.  Another Kane County politician, State’s Attorney Joseph McMahon is also listed.

There were, of course, the Algonquin Village Board members and Carpentersville’s Mayor.

Certainly the Algonquin Village officials were in the parade. Whether the others listed for which I do not have photos took part perhaps readers can tell us in the comment section.

Notables at the Algonquin Founders Day Parade made this list. Click to enlarge.

Then came the fire engines.

Don Schultz, husband of McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz, passed away Monday morning from lung cancer.

Visitation and funeral information is listed below:

Visitation
Schneider Leucht Merwin Cooney Woodstock, Il
Wednesday. 4:00-8:00

Services
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Dean St. Woodstock
Thursday. 11:00

McHenry County Clerk Katherine Schultz doesn’t go out of her way to publicize her service to citizens, but the Northwest Herald what looks very much like a half page ad encouraging encouraging citizens to vote.

Democratic Party opponent Mark Freund must be envious.

The ad was on page 3 of the sports section.

The fourth page of the Sunday McHenry County GOP newspaper insert is about those running for countywide office:

• Keith Nygren for Sheriff
• Bill LeFew for Treasurer
• Katherine Schultz for Clerk
• Joe Williams for County Supt. of Schools

Again, click to enlarge the image so that you can read it.