McHenry County Blog

As the swim team folks say, “If you’re not in the pool, you can’t win the race.”

McHenry County Democrats are far from filling every lane in the fall County Board races.

And in McHenry County Board District 3, there is now one less Democrat in the race.

Democrat Lori McConville withdrew her candidacy for the McHenry County Board in District 3.

A little over a week ago, Democrat Lori McConville wrote the McHenry County Clerk that she did not want to be on the ballot this fall.

That leaves but one Democrat, incumbent Kathy Bergan Schmidt, running against four Republicans.

Democratic Party primary results in 2012.

2012 Republican Party primary results in District 3, which runs north from Crystal Lake Avenue to southern McHenry.

Jim Kennedy wears a cap from the company where his daughter is a manager.

At least one candidate in each McHenry County Board district.

The rumor mill was right.

An article has already been run on District 1′s Nick Chirikos.

In District 2 there are two challengers, Jim Roden and Jim Kennedy.

District 3 will have incumbent Kathy Bergan Schmidt joined by Prairie Grove School Board member Lori McConville. The latter lost her previous race for County Board.

A re-run will occur in District 4. Mary Margaret Maule will be on the ballot. In 2006, Maule came within 652 votes of beating Sandy Salgado.

In the firth district, only incumbent Democrat Paula Yensen will represent the Democratic Party.

Scott Summers

The biggest effort will be made in District 6, where former McHenry County College Board President Scott Summers had deserted the Green Party to run for County Board as a Democrat. Summers ran for State Treasurer and Congress on the Green Party ticket. On the MCC Board, he and Crystal Lake’s Donna Kurtz publicly opposed the building of a minor league baseball stadium before the Crystal Lake City Council, which led their being censured by their fellow Trustees.

He will be joined by Ryan Heuser of Marengo and former Huntley Village Board member Jayant Kadakia. Kadakia ran out of the money in his re-election bid in Huntley and his recent effort to gain appointment to that Board lost on a 3-3 tie.

In the McHenry County Board District that runs from Crystal Lake Avenue north to southern McHenry, Republicans Nick Provenzano and Barb Wheeler are in the lead.

Not much of a contest here.

Democrat Lori McConville is far too far behind to gain a seat on the county board this year.

Incumbent Barb Wheeler and Nick Provenzano will be seated in December.

Unlike in the primary, Wheeler is leading Provenzano.

Lori McComville's message.

Lori McConville is the Democrat challenging incumbent Barbara Wheeler and Nick Provenzano’s comeback attempt in McHenry County Board District 3.

$1,895 is the total she reports have raised since July 1st.

Major donations, that is, ones over $150 came from the following:

• $500 – Kalthleen Bergan Schmidt, Crystal Lake, the McHenry County Board member who beat Provenzano in 2008.
• $200 – John McConville, Crystal Lake
• $471 – Lori McConville, Crystal Lake

What you see below is the Lori McConville piece that Terry Kappel was passing out on West Crystal Lake Avenue on Sunday afternoon.

It is clearly designed to be a post card as well.

Her headline is

A New Voice
for McHenry County Board

Below is

We need government that serves all of us, not just some of us. As your representative I pledge to:

• Being the citizen’s voice to the County Board.
• Preserve the rural character of our communities.
• Support transparency in local government.
• Oppose pay raises for elected officials.
• Encourage sustainable jobs to support efficient government.
• Be active, informed and involved.

Let’s play for the future by living within our means today. Let your voice be heard by voting for me.

On the back, “The choice is clear” is superimposed over “A New Voice” at the top.

Click to enlarge any image.

Below you see

The future of McHenry County depends on your vote.

Democracy works best when all voices are heard, and that’s why I have decided to run for County Board. I want to make other opinions heard, making the citizen’s voice stronger at the county level. We don’t have to settle for the same old choices with the same old results. If you agree that we need a new voice on the McHenry County Board, please vote for me. Your vote really does matter.

Next comes

EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Nunda Township Planning Commission
• Elementary Educator, District 47
• Administrative Assistant for Philadelphia’s Girard Estate, an endowment for single-parent children
• Boy and Girl Scout Leader and Committee Chair
• McHenry County Environmental Defenders

LEADERSHIP GOALS

• Holding the County accountable to the principles of the 2030 Land Use Plan.
• Promoting business development to bring high-quality, environmentally friendly jobs to McHenry County.
• Work to protect our water supply and rural environment by opposing poor zoning decisions.
• Most important of all, listening to you.

On the bottom in small print is

“I hope this card will help you cast an informed vote. If you have any questions, call 815-382-2731 or email lori.j.mcc@gmail.com.”

Terry Kappel knocking on dorrs for Lori McConville in Nunda Township Precinct 13.

Leaving the First United Methodist Church on West Crystal Lake Avenue I saw Democratic Party activist Terry Kappel walking toward town.

Not knowing whether he was knocking on doors or might want a ride, I doubled back to ask.

Kappel was knocking on doors, helping out Lori McConville’s County Board campaign, among others.

Mike Debrancesco walked across West Crystal Lake Avenue to find out waht Terry Kappel was "selling."

As we were talking, Mike Defrancesco from across the street walked over to ask what Kappel was selling. When he found out it was the Democratic Party, he announced his and his wife Sharon’s allegiance and took the literature pack.

Kappel had asked me if I was going to stop over at the Colonial Cafe to see Democratic Party Lt. Governor candidate Sheila Simon.

With main atractiion Sheila Simon having left, the b ack room at Colonia Cafe was emptying out.

I had a birthday luncheon that started before the 3 o’clock start time and lasted until after Simon had already departed.

I did hear that about 22 people attended the organizing meeting that Pat Quinn Field Coordinator Gloria Wiekert Of Roscoe had put together.

Pat Quinn Field Coordinator Gloria Wickert and local Democratic Party activist Terry Kappel agreed to a picture, but not before getting a Quinn yard sign to dsiplay.

She told me Simon would be back in the area and told me she would email me when she was coming.

So far I don’t have a photo of the candidate.

The State Board of Elections has denied the appeal of Nunda Neighbors.

It approved, however, a settlement offer.

Political Action Committee Treasurer Lori McConville, a Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County Board in the Nunda-McHenry Township District 3, told the board the committee was willing to shut down and pay the rest of the money it had as a fine. Admitting the guilt, but appealing the fine, it seems.

The remaining amount is $216.

The Hearing Examiner ‘s recommendation was a fine of $1,775.

Under the motion pass by the State Board of Elections, the committee will file a Final Report and turn over the remaining funds of the committee to the State’s General Revenue Fund.

If the committee remains out of existence for a 2 year period, the remaining amount will be abated.

Tax Fighter Gerry Walsh filed the original complaint pointing out that the PAC had filed its campaign disclosure forms late for a second time. The fine for the first time around is routinely waived, pending no further filing problems.

His comment?

“I have always said that the amount of the fine is secondary.

“The primary point has always been that Nunda Neighbors for Open Space contends that a significant tax increase is a financially justifiable vote. Yet, they have been found guilty of violating state campaign finance law twice in six months. Obviously, the have a poor grasp of finances.

“Their Treasurer, Lori McConville is running for McHenry County Board. Ms. McConville’s credibility for financial competence and compliance with state law is a bit questionable.”

You have to give Nunda Township Tax Fighter Gerry Walsh an award for tenacity.

He is so upset about the possibility of tax increases that would allow Nunda Township to purchase land by raising taxes that he has fought each referendum. His side won the tax votes, but not the one that put in place a plan. Efforts to obtain an advisory referendum on that subject were beaten back by open space advocates at the last Annual Town Meeting.

But, that’s not all that the watchdog does.

He watches the State Board of Elections web site to see if the tax hike proponents’ political action committee files on time.

Walsh has now caught them filing late not once, but twice.

The latest letter from the State Board of Elections follows:

Above you see the March 4, 2010, letter from the Illinois State Board of Elections to Lori McConville, Treasurer of Nunda Neighbors. Click to enlarge either part.

If you enlarge the lower part of the letter, you will see that fines totaling $1,750 are “now due.”

Appeal materials were enclosed with the March 4th letter.

Walsh recently put his efforts in perspective and has told me I may share his thoughts with you. They are below:

It’s official.

As of April 15th, Nunda Neighbors for Open Space has been found in violation of state campaign finance law for the second time in six months per the Illinois State Board of Elections.

You would think they had learned from the first violation last fall, but apparently, they didn’t.

“Question one, who are Nunda Neighbors for Open Space?

“Answer, they are the political action committee that promoted the potential $61,000,000 Open Space tax increase in Nunda Township. They also campaigned for the $15,000,000 to $20,000,000 bond issue in 2004, 2007, and 2009. If fully implemented, the Open Space tax increase would approximately quadruple the Nunda Township portion of our tax bill.

District 3 McHenry County Board candidate Lori McConville listens to Democratic Party Sheriff's candidate Mike Mahon speech.

“Question two, why should Nunda Township residents care about the state board ruling?”Answer, because Lori McConville, the treasurer/chair for Nunda Neighbors, is running for the McHenry County Board in District 3.

“The semi-annual campaign filing is not that difficult to fill out. Two violations in six months indicate that Ms. McConville is financially challenged, dismissive of state law, and didn’t learn from her first mistake.

“These are hardly the talents one is looking for in a candidate for county board.”

June 15th the appeal will be considered by the State Board of Elections.

Before he spoke, Mike Mahon made the rounds to greet people sitting at tables throughout the room at the McHenry VFW Post.

Speaking to supporters at the McHenry VFW Thursday night, Democratic Party candidate for Sheriff Mike Mahon said he wasn’t going to complain about Republican incumbent Keith Nygren, but then talked about the incumbent’s three homes, his being a “cell phone sheriff” and his earning a $150,000 salary while getting a pension from the City of Crystal Lake.

Mike Mahon in an introspective moment while addressing the crowd at his fund raiser at the VFW Thursday night.

“The Sheriff’s Department works for a few in McHenry County…(not the many), the Lake in the Hills Democrat said.

These were part of those gathered at the fund raiser who listened to Mike Mahon speak.

“When I get elected, there are going to be changes,” he continued.

Mike Mahon as seen from behind the front rows of people listening.

“Promotions will be based on your merit,” he said.

“I will not take any political contributions any employees or anyone doing business with the Sheriff’s Department or the county,” Mahon pledged.

Mike Mahon asked candidates and officials to come forward and speak to attendees. Seen in this photo, from left to right at Kathy Bergan Schmidt, Lori McConville, Jim Kennedy, Mahon, Sally Wiggins, Paula Yensen and Bob Kaempfe. All are Democrats but Wiggins, who is seeking signatures to run as an Independent for Circuit Court Judge.

McHenry County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Bissett.

“We’re going to cross party lines to get elected.”

After introducing the candidates present, Mahon introduced the new Democratic Party Chairman Mike Bissett.

“I’m to blame for him running if anybody is,” the Lake in the Hills man explained.

“He is about bringing back integrity to the office of Sheriff in McHenry County.”

What follows is a report from Nunda Township Tax Fighter Gerry Walsh. A day after his efforts to put an advisory referendum on the fall ballot asking whether voters wanted to repeal the Nunda Township Open Space Plan fell short at the Annual Town Meeting, he was in Chicago taking a complaint against Nunda Neighbors for untimely filing of it campaign disclosure form. Notes on the meeting follow:

I don’t think the hearing lasted more than five minutes.

Unlike the hearing last fall, Lori McConville was present.

If she were not running for the McHenry County Board in November, I suspect this wouldn’t be newsworthy to McHenry County residents – and she would have blown off the meeting again.

The ISBE attorney started by giving a summary from the Hearing Officer’s report of March 11.  The report reads in part:

“The respondent [McConville] admitted they filed the December 2009 Semi-Annual report late and an amendment was required to clear up deficiencies in the original report.  Therefore, I recommend that the complaint be found to have been filed upon justifiable grounds….Furthermore, I recommend that no further action be taken in this matter, except for the assessment of a penalty by the Board for the delinquent filing of the December 2009 Semi-Annual Report.”

At the hearing, Gerry Walsh said that he agreed with the Hearing Officer’s report.

He also pointed out that this was the second time in six months that a Walsh vs. Nunda Neighbors complaint was filed.  Both times, the Hearing Officer reported the complaint was filed on justifiable grounds.

Lori McConville, the Treasurer and Chair for Nunda Neighbors, then stated that she also agreed with the report.

The Board voted unanimously to accept the report, which suggests that another fine will be assessed to Nunda Neighbors.

Lori McConville indicated that she may appeal the fine.  She gave no indication that she would contest the decision, which she had admitted to.

The timing of this hearing before the State Board of Elections is amusing because it occurred the day after the Annual Nunda Township meeting.

As McHenry County Blog previously reported, after Lori McConville’s speech at that meeting supporting the Nunda Open Space Plan and its support by Nunda Neighbors for Open Space, Gerry Walsh responded that Nunda Neighbors was not a credible organization, since they violated state campaign law in the fall without contesting it, and are possibly going to be found in violation again the next day [which they were].

Gerry Walsh has quipped,  “Lori McConville has shown that she is financially inept, dismissive of state campaign laws, as evidenced by the ISBE rulings, and hasn’t learned from her mistake of six months ago.  She is not a stellar candidate for office, much less for the county board.”