McHenry County Blog

Keith Nygren and his wife Marge rode the parade route in this baby blue Cadillac convertible.

First among the politicians at the Johnsburg parade was McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.

I only saw one motorcycle in Sheriff Keith Nygren's entourage.

Unlike other parades, there were not four motorcycles accompanying him.  Usually there are two from the Sheriff’s Department and two from the McHenry County Conservation District.

Marge Nygren throws a fistful of candy to the crowd.

As in Lake in the Hills, there didn’t see any rules against throwing candy.

The snowmobile trailer of the Sheriff's Department.

The only vehicles from the Sheriff’s Department I saw besides the motorcycle were the snowmobile trailer and van pulling it.

I wonder if the fewer employees on overtime was a result of county board members having asked for an overtime report for all departments when County Administrator was telling them that the county had budget problems.

Johnsburg village officials came after the Sheriff.

Village President Ed Hettermann was thowing candy, too.

First was President Ed Hettermann.

Village Trustees Bruce Bennett and Mary Lou Hutchinson.

Village Trustees Bruce Bennett and Mary Lou Hutchinson were in the next convertible.

The car for Trustees Harold May, Rick Quinn and John Huemann was next.

The sign says Trustees Rick Quinn, John Huemann and Harold May. Would someone please identify the two in the car?

Rounding out the village board members was a car carrying Karl Nitz and Ron Zanko.

Johnsburg Village Trustees Karl Nitz and Ron Zanko brought up the rear.

As an intermission among the politicians, the Johnsburg Marching Skyhawks appeared.

The Johnsburg Marching Skyhawks came into view.

Tubas and drums from the Johnsburg Marching Skyhawks.

The next politician was 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

These folks were coming so fast I didn’t have time to change from my long to my short lens, but I did get a shot of Melissa Bean reaching out to shake hands.

"Hi, I'm Melissa."

Right behind was State Rep. Jack Franks’ contingent.

The Jack Franks volunteers were passing out frozen sweet sticks.

There appeared to be two dogs for Franks.

Dogs for Franks.

State Rep. Jack Franks presses the flesh with a phalanx of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi supporter in the background.

I paying so much attention to Franks that I almost missed the Mark Kirk for U.S. Senate group.

Mark Kirk had a group of supporters in the parade.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and his supporters were next.

Lou Bianchi waved to the crowd and blew a whistle.

Although not up for election this year, Bianchi had the largest contingent of marchers.

Lou Bianchi was wearing a red shirt, his supporters blue.

With Sunday newspapers headlining people reacting to whether he should step down after his indictment for campaigning using county resources, he received applause from some folks I was standing near.

There were forty to fifty supporters rallying around the State's Attorney in Johnsburg.

I didn’t hear anyone shouting, “Resign!”

Brent Smith was leader of those walking to support Sheriff Keith Nygren's re-election effort.

Those supporting Sheriff Keith Nygren came next.  You see leader Brent Smith, who was putting campaign stickers on bystanders.  Behind him you see Associate Judge Gordon Graham and McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz in a convertible.

Assciiate Judge Gordon Graham, who is running for Circuit Judge, rides in a convertible with County Clerk Katherine Schultz.

McHenry County Board member Sue Draffkorn was in the next convertible, waving to the crowd.

Sue Draffkorn was waving to the crowd.

Next was McHenry County Board member John Hammerand in a little red convertible.

John Hammerand

Democratic Party challenger Jeff Thirtyacre was driving a pick-up truck and waving to the crowd.

Jeff Thirtyacre.

Right behind his red truck was the truck carrying the Republican County Board members Thirtyacre hopes to unseat.

Even though Johnsburg showed some signs of having Green Bay Packer supporters, Pete Merkel and Sandra Salgado's entry sported a Chicago Bears flag.

Pete Merkel and Sandy Salgado rode in the rear.

Sitting "backwards in the back" (with apologies to singer Alan Root, who wrote a kids song by that name) were McHenry County Board members Pete Merkel and Sandra Salgado.

Right behind was the contingent supporting Democratic Party challenger to Sheriff Keith Nygren, Mike Mahon.

The Mike Mahon float was right behind the Republican County Board members.

It sported a big sign on the side saying, “Mike Mahon for Full-Time Sheriff.”

Mike Mahon walked the parade route.

Mike Mahon shook hand along the parade route.

Behind Mahon was Independent candidate for Circuit Court Judge in McHenry County, Sally Wiggins.

Sally Wiggins at the Johnsburg parade. She graduated from Johnsburg High School.

Was she wearing high heels?  I can’t tell you because I didn’t get a photo from far enough back.

Sally Wiggins supporters.

Her supporters were carrying her yard sign touting her independence and maiden name, Oeffling.

The Joe Walsh for Congress marchers were next.

Joe Walsh

The always enthusiastic Walsh even greeted the parade judges.

A regular part of a Joe Walsh appearance is his "Lete's take our county back" horse trailer, which he invites people to sign.

After the Joe Walsh entry, came a banner for Republican candidate for Governor, Bill Brady.

Holding one end of the Bill Brady for Governor banner was McHenry County Board candidate Nick Provenzano.

The next group was Jack Franks’ challenger, McHenry Grade School and Library District member John O’Neill.

Republican candidate for State Representative against Jack Franks John O'Neill told people, "I hope I can earn your support."

For each parade entry the announcers seemed to read whatever the entrant had written it wanted said about it.  O’Neill’s pointed out that he was the first Republican candidate in six years.

John O'Neill worked the same people Jack Franks did previously. This couple said O'Neill had their support. Notice the "Don't Tread on Me" flag on O'Neill's truck. It has become a symbol of TEA Party candidates.

That was the end of the politicians.  Next came Cub Scouts.

Cub Scout Pack 916's float in the Johnsburg parade.

First was Johnsburg’s Pack 916.

Next was Cub Scout Pack 455.

Johnsburg parade float of Cub Scout Pack 455.

Behind Pack 455 marched Boy Scout Troop 455.

Flags flying, Johnsburg's Boy Scout Troop 455 marched behind its Cub Scout Pack.

After the parade, I saw Sheriff Nygren mingling with Saufen und Spiel attendees on the way back to where I parked my car.

Keith Nygren mingled with the crowd after the parade was completed.

I started noticing it when I looked at Friday’s mail.

Republican candidates are sending mailings to puff themselves up.

Or just to let us know they exist.

Candidates can’t count on precinct committeemen anymore. Besides GOP political organizations in the suburbs being shadows of what they used to be, what candidate in their right might would count on committeemen going door-to-door on February 2nd.

How much will have the snow have melted by then, even if we have a warm spell?

Setting the primary on Feb. 2nd was just another step in Mike Madigan’s centralization of power in the hands of those at the top.

This is the room at Liberty Outdoor where candidates laid out literature and signs for precinct committee to take last Friday night and Saturday morning. You can see Appellate Court Justice and candidate therefor Mary Schostok conversing on the right. Central Committee Executive Director Geri Davis is facing the camera next to the Dillard sign. Behind here is Ray Marachiori, Lt. Gov. Jason Plummer's campaign manager and my former staffer when I was chairman of the House Privatization Committee. He is talking to Lt. Gov. candidate and Sprinfield businessman Don Tracy, who is a candidate for Lt. Gov. Half of Tracy's head did not make it in the photo. Sheriff Keith Nygren talks with county board candidat John Jung in the center background. The top of his wife Marge's head can be see to Jung's left. Over Jung's shoulder appears a bit of Donna Kurtz.

I picked up my literature Friday night and took the photo you see above about 7:30. By the time closing time had rolled around on Saturday, about forth of some 200 precinct committeemen (if all the precincts were manned) had shown up to get literature. Most will mail what they picked up.

Friday I got an over-sized post card from Congressman Mark Kirk, the favorite to be the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama and occupied by Roland Burris.

The seat ought to be a pick-up, except for Kirk’s liberal congressional voting record, which has enraged many conservative Republicans.

Like Kirk Dillard, he plays the Jim Edgar card. There’s a photo of Edgar and Kirk and the message side of the postcard leads with this quote from Edgar:

“Mark has a superb record of integrity and ethics,
and he has a great record on the issues as well.”

Kirk plays to his strong points, promising

“Lower Taxes…Less Government…Tough on Corruption”

He actually has a record in those areas which would please a lot of Republicans.

I looked for any information on social issues, but no mention is made of any of his positions.

Kirk also stresses his military record, as you can see if you click on the image of the address side of the piece and enlarge it.

While two twelve-year-olds were enjoying Skinner (no relation) Carnival’s $15 for all the rides you take in four hours’ deal, I wondered around the opening day of the McHenry County Fair looking for political and religious booths.

If only our Illinois General Assembly and Congress equipped taxpayers with safety restraints such as these two carnival rides have. Somehow, I have the feeling we taxpayers will be flung to the winds before next year’s elections.

I think I found all the political booths, but I know I didn’t get pictures of all the religious ones. For instance, after I had sent my camera to the car with too-soon tired-out kids, I saw the Fellowship of Christian Farmers tent. That was the first I had heard of them.

Nevertheless, in order of my sightings, here are the political booths I spotted:

The McHenry County Citizens for Choice had a booth next to one for Democratic Party Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

Next was the McHenry County Republican Party’s booth. A broadly smiling Marge Nygren greeted me.

At 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo’s booth, I found former Libertarian Party candidate for State Representative Jim Young talking to Frank Sexton.

And, I found this chart showing the Republican explanation of President Barack Obama’s and the congressional Democrats’ health care plan.

The next political booth I saw was for Secretary of State Jesse White. It was unmanned at just after 12, so many the state employee was at lunch. Or, maybe the very presence of the booth means there is still room for budget cutting.

McHenry County Libertarians were next on my tour. Ben Hancock (on the left) and Jim Young were manning the booth.

A second booth about abortion was around the corner. There (seen left to right) Megan Kraft of Woodstock, Betty Marie Leslie, also of Woodstock, and McHenry’s Connie Freund (second from the right) were handing out balloons for 1st Way Pregnancy Support Services.

At the Democratic Party booth were Mary Erlenborn of Bull Valley and Cary’s Dan Giallombardo. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, now running for the Democratic Party nomination for U.S. Senate, is scheduled to come Saturday. Someone (not while I was at the booth) told me that State Rep. Jack Franks was again in Canada. Undoubtedly, the dicussion will be about what office Franks should seek now that the media have made the Democratic primary into a two-way race between appointed-Governor Pat Quinn and State Comptroller Dan Hynes.

Another booth dedicated to the pro-life movement was sponsored by McHenry County Deanery Respect Life. You see Jan Doyle and Rosemary Kondritz, both from Johnsburg.

Next I visited the turkeys.
Didn’t even have to go to Springfield or Washington
to see one of them flaring.

The 4-H food tent had wonderful cheeseburgers for $3.50.

Making a second pass in an exhibit building, I saw Algonquin Township Trustee Lowell Cutsforth and Debbie Justus had joined Marge Nygren.

Since I took photos of the congressional and secretary of State’s booths, I guess I should have taken some of Sheriff Keith Nygren’s governmental booths, but I forgot.

I did pick up a rumor about a potential Democratic Party opponent for Nygren. If it pans out, that would make three people running for the office. Gus Philpott has already announced he is going to run on the Green Party ticket. There was no Green Party booth.

All of the booths mentioned, by the way, could undoubtedly use your assistance, if you are so inclined.