McHenry County Blog

In one of the first county board fund raisers of the year, McHenry County College Board member Donna Kurtz gathered supporters at The Cottage at the corner of Crystal Lake Avenue and Brink Street Thursday night.

Kurtz is running to replace either incumbent County Board Chairman Ken Koehler or member Lyn Orphal in the early February Republican primary election.

Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen introduced the candidate.

“I am very, very, very enthusiastic supporter of Donna Kurtz,” he said. “We need someone with her honesty and integrity in county board government.”

Kurtz said she was inspired by her mother former State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz’ concern for environmental protection and former State Rep. Cal Skinner’s fiscal conservativeness. Rep. Kurtz defeated Rep. Skinner in the 2000 GOP primary election.

“As many of you know, the world goes full circle.”

Kurtz said she running for the board of directors of a $260 million organization, McHenry County government.

Reflecting on her service on the McHenry County College Board, Kurtz said it had taught her this lesson:

“You gotta do your own research. Everyone’s got their own agenda.”

She didn’t say she was reflecting on her support of building a minor league baseball stadium on college property and, then, changing her mind with the announcement being at the Crystal Lake City Council meeting the night re-zoning was being discussed, but that might be a good guess.

“My courage was driven by my thought I couldn’t stand not to do the right thing,” she stated.

Besides Thorsen, City Council members Carolyn Schofield and Brett Hopkins were in attendance, as were park board members Mike Walkup and Richard Sexton.

McHenry County Recorder of Deeds Phyllis Walters, who actually lives in District 2 in the tiny bit of Algonquin in the district was also in attendance, as was Nunda Township Supervisor John Heisler.

Members of A-LAW, the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water were in attendance. The group recently proposed strict potential conflict disclosure rules for county elected and appointed officials.  The Alden Road Alliance was also represented. District 3 county board candidate Craig Steagall, who actively opposes the location of the proposed Ridgefield Metra station on Country Club Road, also was present.

Touchdown Sponsor

• Tamara Kurtz

Field Goal Sponsors

• Erv & Louise Lecoque
• Dr. Robert & Carol Minkus

Safety Sponsors

• Jeannine Thoms
• Connie Zukowski
• Scott Summers
• Jewel Hahn
• Jill Hartman

Extra Point Sponsors

• Keith & Marge Nygren
• Phyllis Walters
• Bill & Alice Howenstine
• James & Diane Gesler
• Lou Ann & Jerome Majewski
• Jean Plews
• Patricia Floeter
• Brett & Tina Hopkins

Prior to the 1972 elections, the United States Supreme Court ruled that legislative bodies like the McHenry County Board and city councils had to be apportioned on a one-man, one-vote basis.

The county board divided the county into three districts, Dad’s consisting of Algonquin and Grafton Townships.

Dad didn’t like the way the districts had been apportioned and challenged it acting as his owner lawyer in Federal Court.

Because the district lines Dad came up resulted in more closely matched populations and were at least as compact as the county’s the judge told McHenry County State’s Attorney to discuss a settlement with Dad.

State’s Attorney Bill Cowlin did not do so before the next scheduled court date.

When both showed up before the judge, Dad told the judge that Cowlin hadn’t gotten in touch with him.

The Federal judge then ordered him to do so before returning for the next hearing.

Dad didn’t get exactly what he asked for, but the county board members came up with a much more acceptable map. Algonquin and Grafton Townships were put in District 1, one-third of the county’s population.

Dad and his allies put together a slate, which they called “Responsible Republicans.” They made the ballot order so they could tell people to vote from “Bick to Burns.” (John Bick, an older conservative and 10-acre tree farmer from Barrington Hills; Brad Burns, my to-be brother-in-law, from Crystal Lake’s Coventry.)

The regular Republicans won all eight seats up in 1972, but my father got more votes than any other county board member running in Districts Two and Three.

The next time Dad ran, he and his ally Lou Anne Majewski won. Lou Anne got more votes, helping validate my theory that women have an automatic advantage when they run for office.

I remember on serious disagreement we had. When an addition was being built on the new courthouse, he voted to let the Public Building Commission issue bonds without a referendum.

I reminded him that he had campaigned against similar action when the new courthouse had been constructed.

More tomorrow. You can read earlier articles by looking at early days of McHenry County Blog or linking below:

Biography of Calvin L Skinner – Part 1 – Second Son, School Years

Biography of Calvin L. Skinner – Part 2 – College, Marriage, First Jobs

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 3 – First House, Elected President of the Easton, Maryland, Town Council

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 4 – Storm Sewer Grates, Miles River Yacht Club, Slot Machines, Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 5 – Switching Parties, Moving to Salt Lake City, Middletown and Crystal Lake

Biography of Cal L Skinner – Part 6 – The Early Crystal Lake Days, Dipping Feet Slowly into Political Arena

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 7 – Running for County Auditor, Precinct Committeeman, Calling the Meeting that Led to McHenry County College

Biography of Cal Skinner – Part 8 – The Star Reporter, Daughter Ellen Bored in High School, Prohibited from Attending MCC Classes

Biography of Cal L Skinner – Part 9 – Responsible Republicans’ Slate, County Board Reapportionment

Biography of Cal Skinner, Sr. – Part 10 – Unsuccessful County Clerk Try, County Airport Fight, Wife’s Death

It was a foregone conclusion that State Rep. Mike Tryon would replace McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew as chairman of the McHenry County Republican Central Committee.

And he did.

By acclamation.

McHenry Township’s Kathy Kuchta was, too. As was Chemung’s Glenda Miller.

But in the only contested race, 16-year conservative Crystal Lake precinct committeeman Fred Wickham won out over newcomer Brent Smith by a 2-1 margin.

The weighted vote of the committeeman came out 10,801 for Wickham to 5,087 for Smith.

“We are a new central committee and are in control of our own destiny,” Tryon stated in his acceptance speech.

“They’ll be Republicans in leadership come November,” he stressed.

He also recognized long-time committeeman Joyce Story for offering to donate her liver for a transplant.

He thanked his supportive business partner Preston Rae, who also serves as Alden Township Supervisor and its precinct committeeman and his wife.

He then asked for the meeting to be closed.

It was a full house. Only 43 elected committee were absent.

Two other officers were elected without opposition:

Kathleen Kuchta to replace Rich Mack as Vice Chairman. Mack nominated her.

Glenda Miller as Secretary. Miller is Bill LeFew’s Chief Deputy Treasurer.

Entering the VFW in Woodstock committeemen were greeted by Young Republicans passing out an appeal to support Smith for central committee treasurer.

The balloting for the treasurer spot was by paper ballot, instead of an oral roll call.

Committeemen had to write their precinct number, their name and the name of their candidate on little slips of paper.

Each candidate gave short talks.

Smith went first, admitting he was a little tongue tied.

He wasn’t alone.

Wickham said giving speeches “still scares me.”

Smith recounted the volunteer work he had done for all sorts of local candidates as far back as Dick Klemm.

Wickham told of having been a treasurer for a political action committee and his desire to “work with Mike to heal the Republican Party.

“We need to bring people together.”

He said that the “financial records should be open. You should be able to get that information anytime you want it.”

He promised that expenses and revenue would be reported for each event.

Both candidates had watchers, so the candidates could get some idea if those who had pledged their support had kept their commitments.

The two doing the tallies were using electronic calculators with no paper trail.

Counting the votes took longer than it would have had the two people doing it had tapes to compare.

After the meeting, Smith congratulated Wickham.

Otherwise the meeting ran smoothly with the exception that moderator Bernie Narusis put me in a “penalty box,” as Nick Provenzano observed.

He named me parliamentarian and made me sit on the stage.

I told Bernie, who ran for state’s attorney in 1964 while my father was running for county auditor, I wanted to take pictures.

Bernie said I would have a good view from the stage.

He was correct.

Outgoing GOP Chairman Bill LeFew made what turned out to be virtually a cameo appearance.

“It’s been a pleasure, I’ve enjoyed,” he said and apparently left the meeting. He certainly was not in the room when Wickham told of it having been a pleasure to work with him.

After the meeting, it was learned that new by-laws were adopted.

Power, which had been concentrated, was dispersed.

There will henceforth be regular meetings.

= = = = =
Newly elected McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman State Rep. Mike Tryon can be seen in the sights of a newspaper camera woman standing next to his newly elected Vice Chairwoman Kathy Kuchta. Next is a head shot of the new treasurer, Fred Wickham.

An audience picture shows how full the room was. Newly elected secretary, Glenda Miller and vice chairwoman, Kathy Kuchta are seen in head shots. Below you can see Young Republicans handing out a leaflet supporting Brent Smith for committee treasurer. Underneath you can see Brett Smith on the left with Wickham next to him. The vote counting committee and watchers for Smith and Wickham are in the next shot.

You can see Smith congratulating Wickham below. That’s me holding up Robert’s Rules of Order. Moderator Bernie Narusis congratulates Mike Tryon down on the left. Finally, a head shot of outgoing GOP Committee Chairman Bill LeFew.

Since there is some more space, I’ll add a picture of Steve Verr of McCullom Lake getting his ballot. That’s outgoing Vice Chairman Rich Mack next to Verr. Mack chaired the bylaw revision committee. Lou Anne Majewski can be seen at the bottom delivering her nominating speech for Fred Wickham.

There were non-committeemen county officials present. I wanted to take a photo of Phyllis Walters, but she didn’t want me to. McHenry County State’s Attorney had no objection as he talked to Algonquin precinct committeeman Patrick Colcernian before the meeting.

Central committee endorsements will take a super-majority vote.

It was a foregone conclusion that State Rep. Mike Tryon would replace McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew as chairman of the McHenry County Republican Central Committee.

And he did.

By acclamation.

McHenry Township’s Kathy Kuchta was, too. As was Chemung’s Glenda Miller.

But in the only contested race, 16-year conservative Crystal Lake precinct committeeman Fred Wickham won out over newcomer Brent Smith by a 2-1 margin.

The weighted vote of the committeeman came out 10,801 for Wickham to 5,087 for Smith.

“We are a new central committee and are in control of our own destiny,” Tryon stated in his acceptance speech.

“They’ll be Republicans in leadership come November,” he stressed.

He also recognized long-time committeeman Joyce Story for offering to donate her liver for a transplant.

He thanked his supportive business partner Preston Rae, who also serves as Alden Township Supervisor and its precinct committeeman and his wife.

He then asked for the meeting to be closed.

It was a full house. Only 43 elected committee were absent.

Two other officers were elected without opposition:

Kathleen Kuchta to replace Rich Mack as Vice Chairman. Mack nominated her.

Glenda Miller as Secretary. Miller is Bill LeFew’s Chief Deputy Treasurer.

Entering the VFW in Woodstock committeemen were greeted by Young Republicans passing out an appeal to support Smith for central committee treasurer.

The balloting for the treasurer spot was by paper ballot, instead of an oral roll call.

Committeemen had to write their precinct number, their name and the name of their candidate on little slips of paper.

Each candidate gave short talks.

Smith went first, admitting he was a little tongue tied.

He wasn’t alone.

Wickham said giving speeches “still scares me.”

Smith recounted the volunteer work he had done for all sorts of local candidates as far back as Dick Klemm.

Wickham told of having been a treasurer for a political action committee and his desire to “work with Mike to heal the Republican Party.

“We need to bring people together.”

He said that the “financial records should be open. You should be able to get that information anytime you want it.”

He promised that expenses and revenue would be reported for each event.

Both candidates had watchers, so the candidates could get some idea if those who had pledged their support had kept their commitments.

The two doing the tallies were using electronic calculators with no paper trail.

Counting the votes took longer than it would have had the two people doing it had tapes to compare.

After the meeting, Smith congratulated Wickham.

Otherwise the meeting ran smoothly with the exception that moderator Bernie Narusis put me in a “penalty box,” as Nick Provenzano observed.

He named me parliamentarian and made me sit on the stage.

I told Bernie, who ran for state’s attorney in 1964 while my father was running for county auditor, I wanted to take pictures.

Bernie said I would have a good view from the stage.

He was correct.

Outgoing GOP Chairman Bill LeFew made what turned out to be virtually a cameo appearance.

“It’s been a pleasure, I’ve enjoyed,” he said and apparently left the meeting. He certainly was not in the room when Wickham told of it having been a pleasure to work with him.

After the meeting, it was learned that new by-laws were adopted.

Power, which had been concentrated, was dispersed.

There will henceforth be regular meetings.

= = = = =
Newly elected McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman State Rep. Mike Tryon can be seen in the sights of a newspaper camera woman standing next to his newly elected Vice Chairwoman Kathy Kuchta. Next is a head shot of the new treasurer, Fred Wickham.

An audience picture shows how full the room was. Newly elected secretary, Glenda Miller and vice chairwoman, Kathy Kuchta are seen in head shots. Below you can see Young Republicans handing out a leaflet supporting Brent Smith for committee treasurer. Underneath you can see Brett Smith on the left with Wickham next to him. The vote counting committee and watchers for Smith and Wickham are in the next shot.

You can see Smith congratulating Wickham below. That’s me holding up Robert’s Rules of Order. Moderator Bernie Narusis congratulates Mike Tryon down on the left. Finally, a head shot of outgoing GOP Committee Chairman Bill LeFew.

Since there is some more space, I’ll add a picture of Steve Verr of McCullom Lake getting his ballot. That’s outgoing Vice Chairman Rich Mack next to Verr. Mack chaired the bylaw revision committee. Lou Anne Majewski can be seen at the bottom delivering her nominating speech for Fred Wickham.

There were non-committeemen county officials present. I wanted to take a photo of Phyllis Walters, but she didn’t want me to. McHenry County State’s Attorney had no objection as he talked to Algonquin precinct committeeman Patrick Colcernian before the meeting.

Central committee endorsements will take a super-majority vote.