McHenry County Blog

Remember that poll I wrote about getting yesterday?

Turns out it was not from a candidate.

The “Mark” recorded the questions for Battleground Polling.

Here are some results.

Looking at the 2014 Illinois Republican Party candidates for Governor, who would you support to represent the GOP in the 2014 General Election?

• State Senator Bill Brady 19%
• State Senator Kirk Dillard 14%
• State Treasurer Dan Rutherford 27%
• WLS Radio Personality Dan Proft 13%
• Businessman Bruce Rauner 5%
• Other 22%

Here’s the candidate breakout for conservatives to social moderates:

The ideological make-up of the Republican primary election:
What type of Republican would you describe yourself as?

• Conservative 63%
• Moderate 18%
• Fiscal Conservative 15%
• Social Moderate 4%

Are you currently a member of a Tea Party Organization?

• Yes 15%
• No 85%

Thanks to Warner Todd Huston for pointing me to this information.

Mark called me about noon with nine questions about the upcoming Republican primary election.

First, he wanted to know whether I considered myself a Republican.

Next, he wanted to know what faction (although he didn’t use that term). First was “conservative.”

He asked whether I belonged to any Tea Party group.

Was I a member of a Republican Party organization?

Next he listed five potential Republican candidates for Governor in the following order:

• State Senator Bill Brady
• State Senator Kirk Dillard
• State Treasurer Dan Rutherford
• WLS Talk Show Host Dan Proft
• Businessman Bruce Rauner
• Other

There was no opportunity to say “undecided,” so I didn’t punch any button on the phone.

That provoked the robo-call to repeat the question.

To avoid being caught in an infinite loop, I pressed the “other” button.

Candidates for Illinois Attorney General were tested next:

• Tom Cross
• Jim Durkin
• Other

Then there was a question about whom I would support for State Treasurer.

The two candidates whose names were given were

• Bob Grogan
• Bob Schillerstrom

Both are from DuPage County.  Schillerstrom was County Board Chairman when ran for Governor last time and, while withdrawing, it was too late to get his name off the ballot and probably cost Dillard the primary nomination.  Schillerstrom is also one of the DuPage County politicians who agreed to triple McHenry and the other collar county’s RTA sales tax from one quarter to three quarters of one percent. (I probably have spelled Grogan’s name wrong.  The recording said he was DuPage County Auditor, I think.  I admit to having not heard of him before.)

Additional information requested pertained to

• gender
• age

No indication as to who paid for the survey.

Two weeks ago Bruce Rauner’s folks called asking for similar information. He did not include Proft’s name as a possible gubernatorial candidate and did not poll on AG or State Treasurer.

It won’t be Ghostbusters.

The Senate roll call of override of Governor Pat Quinn’s Senate Bill 9. which overrides an Illinois Commerce Commission decision,  is below:

The Senate roll call on the veto override of Senate Bill 9, the legislation that would raise electricity rates for Commonwealth Edison and Ameren.

Besides two of three State Senators representing McHenry County–Pam Althoff and Karen McConnaughay–potential candidates for the Republican nomination for Governor–Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard–voted for the electric rate hike.

State Senator Dan Duffy voted to uphold the Governor’s veto.

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The House voted Wednesday to override the veto. You can see who voted in favor of raising electric rates in the roll call below:

The House veto override vote on Senate Bill 9, the bill that raises electric rates.

Voting in favor were all local state reperesentatives:

• Jack Franks
• David McSweeney
• Tim Schmitz
• Mike Tryon
• Barbara Wheeler

Joe Walsh was introduced by Phil Ponce like this: “And now to Carol Marin and a former congressman who is hard to ignore.”

Pretty amazing that a losing Congressional candidate would be interviewed by liberal commentator Carol Marin, but on Wednesday night, there was Joe Walsh, all alone, answering her questions on WTTW.

Under the posted interview is the following explanation:

“National star of the Republican Party, Joe Walsh, joins us to talk about the state of the GOP in Illinois, and what’s next on his agenda.”

Walsh was asked if he were running again for something.

“You wouldn’t deny that, would you?”

“Not at all,” Walsh replied in his calm TV manner.

“I don’t know if another run is in the cards. That’s in God’s hands.”

Marin interspersed comments by Walsh that made nightly news shows during the campaign.

Acknowledging the “gotcha” kind of politics we live in, Walsh replied by explaining that he had more constituent contact than any other congressman and it was impossible not to make mistakes here and there.

With regard to his lack of reaction to the attacks made on him with regard to abortion, he said that he should have pointed out that Tammy Duckworth favored using taxpayer dollars to finance abortions. [My disagreement with that approach has already been written.]

“We train our politicians to act like seals and not say anything to offend voters,” Walsh said.

Marin wanted to know if the Tea Party ship had sailed.

“Gosh, no,” Walsh replied, saying the size of government and the problem of piling debt on the back of our children was still a fervent issue.

He pointed out that Tea Party adherents came with views on social issues than spanned the spectrum, but pointed out that he was “Pro-Life without exception.”

How about the chance to be a radio talk show host on WIND syndicated by the Salem Radio Network?

“There’s an opportunity.”

“There are discussions.”

And what did he say about potential Republican gubernatorial opponents and other Republicans?

Joe Walsh

• Bill Brady – Shouldn’t run again. He’s run twice.
• Kirk Dillard – Nice man. He’s been down in Springfield forever.
• Dan Rutherford – Nice man. He’s been down in Springfield forever.
• Adan Kinzinger – You know what, not as conservative as people think, but a good congressman.
• Christine Radogno – Part of the problem. The face of the Republican Party along with Tom Cross, a Republican Party in Illinois, Carol, that has been devoid of any ideas. We haven’t stood for anything, which has enabled the Democrats to run the state into the ground.
• Judy Baar Topinka – Go to Florida and just retire and have a good life.
• Bruce Rauner – He’s a Democrat. Bruce Runner and again I know got gazillion dollars and he wants to run for governor as a Republican. He’s Rahm Emmanuel’s best friend. He’s given Democrats more money than he’s given Republicans. He gave Mike Madigan’s House candidates money. I just don’t think he’s a Republican.
• Peter Roskam – Great congressman
• Randy Hultgren – Nice man. Very good congressman.
• Mark Kirk – God, it was good to see him walk up those steps and I hope and sincerely hope and pray every day that he can stay where he is and do his job. (So you would support him?) Oh, gosh yeah. And, again, Carol, Mark Kirk and I are very different Republicans, but we’re still under that big tent.

It was over 90 degrees Wednesday when McHenry County Republicans were golfing at the McHenry Country Club.

Two potential contenders for the Republican nomination for Governor spoke to Party faithful at the McHenry County Country Club Wednesday.

During the cocktail time before dinner State Treasurer Dan Rutherford spoke after an effusive introduction by Party Chairman Mike Tryon.

State Treasurer Dan Rutherford got chuckles when he asked those at the McHenry County Republican Play Day to imagine what it was like going to work every day knowing that Illinois had the worst financial situation in the country.

Rutherford left before dinner.

Kirk Dillard

After dinner State Senator Kirk Dillard was introduced as a potential candidate for Governor by Tryon.

But not before Tryon said,

“We’re fixing to have a right turn.”

Pam Althoff didn’t repeat her happy day in front of Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, but she did enjoy talking about trying to imitate Snoopy in her office after she read the McHenry County Blog article that mentioned it.

The former DuPage County GOP Chairman, State Senator and Republican gubernatorial primary candidate who was barely edged out by Bill Brady spoke of the importance of McHenry County in statewide races and why Illinois needed a Republican Governor after Democrat Pat Quinn.

Although Republican Precinct Committeemen were told that Congressmen Peter Roskam and Randy Hultgren would be attending the event, they weren’t there after I arrived at about 4:20.

I was looking forward to chatting with them.

State Senator Pam Althoff enjoyed my comparison of her happy dance to that of Snoopy.

Dave McSweeney

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay was in attendance making post State Senate primary connections.

Also speaking to the group after dinner was GOP State Rep. candidate David McSweeney.

State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay chatted hospital certification with Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley.

Rumors that Independent opponent Dee Beaubien might attend the event were found to be incorrect.

McSweeney has developed a good “stump speech” which takes first aim at replacing Democrat Mike Madigan as Illinois House Speaker.

I continue to bemoan the fact that besides electing McSweeney, a sure vote for Madigan’s opponent Tom Cross, with no opposition being fielded against Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks, the only thing McHenry County residents for major chance in Springfield can do is help Mike Tryon put together the $10,000 he is assessed annually for GOP House races elsewhere and the $20,000 that Pam Althoff has to provide for State Senate races where a Democrat might be taken out.

There were a number of McHenry County Board members at the event.

Caught in the camera’s lens were Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager in the foreground, Algonquin Township Trustee Dan Shay, District 3 McHenry County Board candidate Joe Gottemoller and County Board incumbents Tina Hill and Anna May Miller.

With the possibility of having missed some County Board members and candidates, here are the ones I saw or heard introduced:

Grafton Township GOP Central Committee Chairman Tom Poznanski catches me in the act of taking his photo while he and District 4 County Board candidate Michael Rein were chatting.

• Mary Donner
• John Hammerand
• Tina Hill
• John Jung
• Ken Koehler
• Donna Kurtz
• Mary McCann
• Anna May Miller
• Nick Provenzano
• Ersel Schuster
• Michael Rein

Most countywide officers and candidates were present, too:

• Katherine Keefe
• Dr. Anne Majewski
• Pam Palmer
• Kathie Schultz
• Phyllis Walters

Missing were the two men:

• Lou Bianchi
• Keith Nygren

The event turned out to be a big day for John Cole of Woodstock. He won$445 in the 50-50 raffle.  Patti Boyd, standing in the center verified Cole’s ticket number.  Geri Davis can be seen on the left.

Leslie Schermerhorn, the newly-appointed Regional Superintendent of Schools was in Springfield meeting with Illinois State Superintendent of Education Christopher Koch and attending Health/Life/Safety inspection training, she told me.

The winner of the main door prize was newly-elected Republican Precinct Committeeman from Fox River Grove Andrew Gasser.  It was a Jack Daniels barbeque kit, complete with a pint of the real stuff.

The 50-50 raffle was won by Woodstock’s John Cole.  He took home $445.

GOP Executive Director thanked Crystal Lake Committeeman Jim Thompson for making the calls to make the event the best in the last six years.

I knew I was getting a lot of hits on my October 28, 2011, story about the campaign contributions given by the electric industry, but look what popped up a couple of weeks ago on Quad Cities OnLine.

It’s a long piece by retired Circuit Court Judge John Donald O’Shea of Moline.  I thought I would share his letter to the editor.

Illinois Senate: When does a contribution become a bribe

Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2011, 7:54 am

I am neither for nor against Smart Grid.

I write because I am appalled by reports that two utility companies, Ameren and Commonwealth Edison, and their friends generously poured money into the campaign coffers of members of the Illinois Legislature at a time when the utilities were lobbying for passage of that legislation.

These allegations show that the Illinois State Senate is a sewer.

When a judge takes “gifts” from a litigant whose case is pending before the judge, we call it a “bribe,” and the judge goes to jail.

But when a legislator takes thousands of dollars from somebody who wants the legislator to vote a certain way on a bill, the money paid is characterized as a “campaign donation.”

The Better Government Association (BGA) states that on May 31, the Illinois Senate passed a controversial bill to raise energy rates and revamp the grid.

In the 18 months ending June 30, Ameren and ComEd interests gave more than $400,000 to all but six members of the Senate. And in the three months after Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto, they gave more than $170,000 to state legislators and party organizations, according to Illinois State Board of Elections records.

Chicago Sun-Times article from November 3, 2011.

Since Jan. 1, 2010, members of the General Assembly and their political organizations received more than $1.5 million from the utilities. Last week 98 legislators voted to override the veto, 71 voted against and eight voted present. All told, 177 legislators shared in the $1.5 million utility “contribution.” You do the math.

The McHenry County Blog obtained this information from a spreadsheet prepared by Campaign for Political Reform. Donations are for the 2011 calendar year through Oct. 18th. ComEd and Ameren got their rate hike and veto override on SB 1652 on Oct. 19. The Blog notes that there is a possibility of additional, last-minute contributions.

The blog lists the 2011 utility contributions to the 39 Senators who voted for Smart Grid.

It also notes a contribution to the Senate Democratic Victory Fund — $89,250 –and to the Republican State Campaign Committee — $42,650. The Democratic Party Senate campaign fund is controlled by Senate President John Cullerton. The Republican Party Senate campaign fund is run by Minority Leader Christine Radogno.

Here’s the McHenry County Blog’s list:

After the Senate override, Sun-Times editorial cartoonist Jack Higgins characterized Senators as yapping dogs jumping on a Commonwealth Edison lobbyist for monetary treats. Two who got more than most were singled out John Kass-style: "Dillard (R) Com Ed" and "Jacobs (D) Com Ed." Kirk even got a quote from the lobbyist: "Bad Kirk - Off my leg!"

• Radogno $38,000
• Kirk Dillard $19,000
• Mike Jacobs $16,750
• Dale Righter $13,930
• Antonio Munoz $13,850
• Don Harmon $11,500
• Toi Hutchinson $11,000
• James Meeks $11,000
• Bill Brady $9,500
• Annazette Collins $8,250
• A. J. Wilhemi $7,700
• Mattie Hunter $7,000
• Carole Pankau $6,350
• John Millner $6,050
• Donne Trotter $6,000
• John Jones $5,750
• Kimberly Lightford $5,500
• William Haine $5.450
• Terry Link $5,000
• Michael Noland $4,750
• Matt Murphy $4,250
• Pam Althoff $4,000
• David Leuchtefeld $3,358
• Kwame Raoul $2,500
• Sue Rezen $2,000
• Maggie Crotty $1,500
• John Cullerton $1,500
• Linda Holmes $1,250
• Iris Martinez $1,250
• Emil Jones, III $1,000
• William Delgado $1,000
• David Koehler $750
• Martin Sandoval $500

Did ComEd and Ameren pass out the money to ensure an ethical government? Do they honestly believe senators who pocketed the money were so honest and able that if they weren’t reelected it would be a disaster for the people of Illinois?

Did they give money in the hope that the senators would consider only the merits of SB1652 — free of all other considerations?

Did they give the money to induce them to vote against the bill?

Under the cartoon, the Sun-Times ran voting records and electric industry contributions for both Senators and House members. Click to enlarge.

Did they give the money to influence them to vote in favor of the bill, and subsequently to vote to override the governor’s veto? Or did they simply give the money because these were the best senators money could buy?

And how generous does the contribution have to be to buy a legislator’s vote?

Every senator, of course, would deny he was influenced by campaign donations. But what is the appearance? Does it look like an attempted bribe? Does it smell like a one?

If any judge in Illinois took even a $1,000 campaign contribution from any litigant before his court, he would properly be removed from the bench and indicted for corruption. Why should the rule be different for senators or representatives?

Back in the 1990s I wrote lyrics for a song for a Gridiron show, to the tune of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes.” It was in an era of Illinois judges being arrested for corruption; the days of “Operation Greylord.” My lyrics:

“When a judges take’s bribes that’s shocking.

Such graft sets the courthouse rocking,

to jail he goes, as “Greylord” shows.

“But when the cash is thrown at Congress

All rules are trashed and largess is apropos.

As everyone knows.

“Though “bribes” are still crimes these days

there are “gentler” ways

To describe outlays

that the lobbyist pays

Inside the beltways

To influence the ways

That his client’s bill should go.

“When “bribes” become “campaign donations”

These artful equivocations augment cash flows.

Everything goes!”

Until the voters clean up this cesspool in Springfield, they deserve whatever the Legislature chooses to do to them. Does anyone out there care?

John Donald O’Shea of Moline is a retired circuit court judge.

Christine Radogno speaking on the Senate floor.

Radogno, Dillard and Brady.

Those are the three names to remember if you get get a computer=generated speeding ticket as a result of legislation that just passed the Illinois State Senate and is headed for a House vote.

The legislation, Senate Bill 965, passed 32-24.

It takes 30 votes to pass a bill.

Three Republican State Senators voted for the bill.

Do the math.

If Radogno, Dillard and Brady had voted “No,” the bill would have failed.

Christine Radogno.

She’s the top Republican Party leader in the State Senate.

What was she thinking?

Kirk Dillard in Crystal Lake.

If we believe Jim Tobin, the bill’s primary purpose is to raise revenue.  It’s not for the kids.

Tobin has credibility on his charge that Mayor Rahm Emmanuel will use the money to pay pensions for city employees because he was the first to point out that the Democrats’ 67% income tax hike would go to pay state pensions (one of which I receive for having served as State Representative for 16 years, McHenry County Treasurer for 4 and as a state bureaucrat for 4).

In any event, GOP Leader Radogno was following the lead of Chicago Democrats, not her suburban constituents who will complain loudly when they start getting this $100 tickets.

Kirk Dillard.

The man who almost won the Republican nomination for Governor in 2010.

He’s a suburbanite.

As with the residents of Radogno’s district, Dillard’s constituents will be hurt by this bill.

Bill Brady in Crystal Lake.

Word is that he wants to run for Governor again.

Maybe he would have won last time, if he had not been one of the DuPage County Republican State Senators (along with Dan Cronin and John Millner)  who forced a 200% RTA Sales Tax hike on the Republican collar counties.

What was he thinking?

Bill Brady.

He’s from Downstate, so a very, very few of his constituents will ever get one of these $100 speeding tickets.

But, doesn’t he want to run for Governor again, too.

When opposition research is being done, might not someone find an article like this pointing out that he voted to shaft suburban drivers who venture into Chicago?

Is is possible that they just wanted to please Rahm Emmanuel?

If so, why?

When we left my Family PAC cruise experience yesterday, I hadn’t even gotten on the boat.

I saw Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman talking to someone on the pier.

Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman

Sandy Rios isn’t a politician, but since she is well-known and has attended so many Family PAC cruises, I include her photo, too.

Sandy Rios

Pro-Life Action League Founder Joe Scheidler and Sandy Rios had a heart-to-heart talk.

Sandy Rios talks with Joe Scheidler.

Finally, I made it on board.

Maria Rodriguez and Bill Brady hold a spirited conversation on board while 32nd Ward Republican Committeeman observes.

It’s a good thing gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady stayed for the cruise, because a lot of people wanted to talk with him.

State Senators Bill Brady and Randy Hultgren talk before the boat left the dock. Compare the tans. Who do you think has knocked on more doors?

Paul Caprio talked to State Senator Kirk Dillard prior to Dillard’s introduction of the man who barely beat him for the Republican Party nomination for governor.

Family PAC Executive Director Paul Caprio and State Senator Kirk Dillard conversed as, in the background, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint talked to State Rep. candidate Tom Morrison.

After the introduction, Brady addressed the crowd.

2010 Republican Party nominee for govenor Bill Brady gave an upbeat message to those on the Family PAC cruise.

Who else did I see?

Dan Sugrue, candidate for state representative in a Lake County district with an appointed incumbent.

Dan Sugrue, candidate for state rep., poses with former State Rep. Penny Pullen.

More tomorrow.

Yesterday, I started telling you about my annual Family PAC cruise. I ended that installment before we boarded the boat.

14th District Congressional candidate Randy Hultgren and his wife Christy.

Before walking up the gangplank, I got a couple more politicians’ photos. Next was Randy Hultgren.

Betsey and Rich Morthland, Rock Island County Board member and state representative candidate in the 71st District.

I met Rich Morthland and his wife Betsey on the dock.

He’s the only Republican on the Rock Island County Board, but he flexed his political muscles and managed to get “dramatically” higher salaries for his countywide candidates completely rolled back. I think this was during the time that Governor Pat Quinn was raising his employees in the 20% range. He must have gotten great local press.

Baby Jerry is the star in this photo of State Senator Bill Brady talking to John O'Neill. His wife Basia is holding the child.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady arrived.

Algonquin's Gene Brown was one of many who talked to the top GOP candidate on the cruise, Bill Brady. Mark Kirk did not attend.

You can guess that Brady was a big attraction.  He stayed for the whole cruise.

Trying to find the politicians, I stood next to the gang plank.  There I found Richard Grabowski, who is running for state representative in the Oak Lawn area.

Hard to escape the cameraman standing next to the gangway, right state rep. candidate Richard Grabowski?

Next came Issac Hayes, the man bold enough to run against Jesse Jackson, Jr., for Congress. Hayes called Jackson “Senate candidate number 5″ when he spoke.

Issac Hayes, running against Jesse Jackson, Junior.

Even those no longer holding or seeking office could not escape the camera clicker.  Next was Family PAC Executive Director Paul Caprio’s long-time friend and former Illinois Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander.

Bob Kjellander

Former Huntley School Board member Shawn Green was next up the boat ramp.

Shawn Green

I caught Kirk and Stephanie Dillard before they made it to the walkway up to the boat that would take us out for a Lake Michigan cruise.

Right after they arrived, I got this shot of State Senator Kirk Dillard and his wife Stephanie.

More tomorrow.

The man more responsible than anyone else for the Regional Transportation Authority’s tripling of the RTA Sales Tax in McHenry and other collar counties has decided he doesn’t want to be RTA Chairman anyway.

He told the Chicago Sun-Times that he had to serve out his term as DuPage County Board Chairman.

This same DuPage County Board Chairman is the one who convinced enough DuPage County state senators to vote for the huge RTA Sales Tax hike to pass the bill.

He did it because the use of the proceeds of a quarter of a percentage point of the tax bu collar county boards was broadened from transportation to transportation and law enforcement. At the time, DuPage County had a referendum on the ballot to raise the local sales tax to pay for the Sheriff’s and State’s Attorney’s Office (read Joe Birkett, just in case you have forgotten).

Fat chance the voters would have approved that proposal at the ballot box.

GOP candidate for Governor Bill Brady converses with his former gubernatorial opponent Kirk Dillard on the Family PAC cruise last night. Dillard introduced Brady to the crowd.

The vote cast by State Senator Kirk Dillard, among others, may well have cost him the nomination for governor, which was won by State Senator Bill Brady.  Brady got 155,527 votes to Dillard’s 155,334, a victory margin of 193 votes.  Schillerstrom receiver 7,420.

So, what would have happened if tax hiker Bob Schillerstrom, who also ran for governor, but as the most liberal Republican candidate, bombed, pulling out before the election, but not soon enough to get his name off the ballot (another reason one could attribute to Dillard’s slim loss)?

Any suburbanite who voted for him would have been open to rather severe criticism.

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CTA third rail warning.

Related articles:

A Third Rail on Transit – Part 1

A Third Rail on Transit – Part 2

Suburban Legislators with a Cost-Benefit Analysis Impairment

RTA Sales Tax Increase 200%