McHenry County Blog

Republican David McSweeney did not let “Independent” Dee Beaubien’s mailings financed by the Illinois Democratic Party go unanswered.

While she sent two, however, McSweeney sent one.

You can see his re-introduction piece below:

You can find Beaubien’s first mailing here. Her second mailing is here.

This past week, State Rep. candidate David McSweeney was promoting his candidacy in mailboxes throughout the 52nd District.  He is running against St. Rep. Kent Gaffney and Danielle Rowe.

I have to admit not getting the imagery on the address side of the big post card until I looked at it a third time.

At first I thought it was a night sky.

But, it turns it was water, dark blue water.

And the stars I thought I saw were bubbles.

I guess there was a clue in the headline, “Illinois; Homeowners are Sinking Fast.  Why are Property Taxes on the Rise.”

With that message, it’s a shame that the election is not after property tax bills are mailed, because they certainly will go up, because pretty much every McHenry County tax district has decided to “tax to the max.”

In any event, here’s the address side.

As the snow storm was starting I got a call that a mailing had arrived from State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay.

Since my southern precinct line is the bottom boundary of the legislative district in which State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. candidate Barb Wheeler are running unopposed, my mailbox is empty.

No contest exists in my party of Crystal Lake, except the District 2 County Board race and the Presidential primary election (beauty contest and the real thing, the election for delegates).

No political mail.

(And, if any came Friday, my motorized postman didn’t get out to stuff it into my mailbox, which had been thrust into the snow by the heavy wet snow being thrown from Lake Avenue in Lakewood.

(Just finished lugging concrete blocks through the snow from the far end of our back yard in order to make it stand up again.)

In any event, I urged my source to bring it over before the storm began and it is because of that kindness that you see the post card below:

Running against McConnaughay for the State Senate seat is Cliff Surges.

Here’s what is hitting mailboxes from Danielle Rowe in the 52nd District the end of the fourth week of February. She is running against Dave McSweeney and appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney.

Click to enlarge either image.

Here’s the latest mailing from State Rep. Kent Gaffney in his campaign to retain the seat to which he was appointed when State Rep. Mark Beaubien died.  Gaffney is being challenged by Dave McSweeney and Danielle Rowe.

In this mailing, Gaffney says that he is a “budget expert,” not a politician.

If you want to read the details in Gaffney’s mailing, just click on the image you wish to enlarge.

Candidate for State Senator in southern Crystal Lake and points south to the St. Charles area Karen McConnaughay has sent out her first mailer.  About the same time the first mailing from opponent Cliff Surges was put in the post office.

The theme of photos with explanatory notes is continued on the inside of the mailing.

52nd District State Representative candidate Dave McSweeney attacks those who refused to support legislation that would prevent tax districts from hike taxes in years when assessed values are falling.

Here is what the mail piece looks like on its address side:

You can read the details below:

State Rep. candidate David McSweeney seems to be pumping out about one mailing a week.

Today, I received the graphics of his fifth direct mail piece.

It’s pretty easy to see where the bulk of his campaign expenditures are going.

It asks people to volunteer for his campaign. You can see it below. If you desired to make the print large, just click on the image you can’t read.

Let’s take a look at McSweeney’s volunteer sign-up card. It’s undoubtedly been designed by a professional and might help those running campaigns on their own.

I would add one other possibility: “Voting for Dave.”

Those who make that selection can be then contacted on election day and reminded of their commitment.

State Rep. candidate David McSweeney has sent his fourth direct mail piece to prospective constituents in the 52nd District.

While he undoubtedly has residual name identification resulting from his run for Congress in the 8th District against Melissa Bean, people have short memories about politicians.

This piece has a soft side and a hard side.

The soft side features the women in his family, his wife and his daughters.  It’s where the address is.

The hard side takes on legislative salaries and fringe benefits.

McSweeney says he wants to

• get rid of legislative pensions
• cut legislative salaries 10%
• ban taxpayer financed mailings
• cut the administrative part of the legislative budget 10%
• prohibit the use of legislative staff for campaign work
• end special legislative scholarships

It’s hard to believe that he would find much opposition to such proposals, considering the mood of the public.

McSweeney is running against appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney and Danielle Rowe.

Has anyone received a mailing for either of them?

Real estate tax burdens were the topic of State Rep. candidate Dave McSweeney’s third direct mail piece.

The text reads,

It’s a sign of the times…
Property taxes skyrocketing, even as home values go down.
Illinois workers searching for jobs in a poor economy.

Families struggling to make ends meet, hit with a 67% tax hike.

In fact, Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties are all ranked in the top 100 across the nation for
the highest property taxes.

David McSweeney will fight to secure real property tax relief for Illinois’ homeowners.
McSweeney supports plans to freeze property taxes when home values go down and put voters in charge.

As our State Representative, McSweeney will lead the fight to protect homeowners by supporting
HB3793, prohibiting taxing bodies from increasing property tax levies, when property
assessments decrease.