New Republican Precinct Committeemen in Nunda Township

When the GOP Precinct Committeemen in Nunda Township spoke at their annual picnic, two looked for volunteers to take over their jobs. Both Mary Donner and Joe Gottemoller explained that they did not live in the precinct in which they … Continue reading

708 Mental Health Board Chairman Lee Ellis Does Not Get County Board Committee’s Recommendation for Re-Appointment

Lee Ellis, the Chairman of the McHenry County Mental Health Board, was not recommended for re-appointment by the newly-reconstituted Public Health and Human Services Committee. Hearings have been held yesterday and today with applicants presenting their credentials and answering questions … Continue reading

Sheriff’s Candidates Campaign at Nunda Township GOP Picnic

In a Veterans Acres picnic, the Nunda Township Republican Central Committee hosted area residents and politicians Saturday afternoon. I got the privilege of introducing the two newest candidates for McHenry County Sheriff, Jim Harrison and Bill Prim. Although sitting about … Continue reading

McHenry County Board Members May Have Signaled Intention to “Tax to the Max” Again

Getting as much money out of taxpayers is pretty much the goal of every tax district official, from school board member to township trustee. To do that, boards need to ask for more than the increase in the Cost of … Continue reading

Bob Anderson Wins One – County Board Puts Anti-Double-Dipping Referendum on Ballot

Wonder Lake activist-barber Bob Anderson got a referendum on the November without having to go door-to-door. The question was on an issue upon which Governor Pat Quinn built his political career. Until he had to depend upon double-dippers to advance … Continue reading

County Board Decides Not to Muddy Jack Franks’ County Czar Waters

There was a long debate over whether the County Board should put a referendum on the fall ballot asking voters is they wanted to elect the County Board Chairman in an at-large election. Before that several citizens provided input. District … Continue reading

Mary McClellan Plans August 4th Fund Raiser for County Board Race at Bob Wegener Farm, Complete with Hay Rides

Non-incumbent Mary McClellan won one of the four Republican nominations for the McHenry County Board in District 3. She edged out Mary Donner, perhaps because Donner voted to raise the McHenry County government portion of the tax bill as high … Continue reading

Survival Pushes Family Services Agency into Merger with LaSalle County-based North Central Behavioral Health System

The Family Service & Community Mental Health Center for McHenry County has been in trouble for “over five years,” according to its new Executive Director Lori Nelson. That came out in response to a question from County Board member Randy … Continue reading

County Board Set to Tack Another $475,000 on Budget

On March 27, McHenry County’s Finance and Audit Committee discussed emergency appropriations: a pair of contracts for the Planning and Development Department – one for a computer program for their Permitting System and another for their Digital Plan Review in … Continue reading

Long-Named Guys Leading in County Board District 3, Walkup Next, Two Mary’s Vie for 4th

Joe Gottemoller’s last name is so long that his sign emphasizes his first name. Nick Provenano’s last name is pretty long, too. Generally, short-named people have an advantage, if only because their name is easier to fit on a sign. … Continue reading

Emphais on McHenry County Board’s Decision to Tax to the Max Continues to Dominate Northwest Herald Coverage for District 3 Candidates

You may remember that Kevin Craver’s Northwest Herald article about District 2 McHenry County Board candidates focused on the vote to increase the property tax levy by the maximum of 1.5% Cost-of-Living increase allowed by the Real Estate Tax Cap. … Continue reading

Northwest Herald Recommends Dumping Two Who Took Part in Secret Reapportionment Meetings

Endorsements take a lot of work.  That’s probably the real reason that the Chicago Sun-Times decided not to do them this year. Today, the Northwest Herald rolled out its favorites for McHenry County Board Districts 2 and 3. There are … Continue reading

Property Tax Hike Becoming County Board Top Issue – Part 2

After an overly long set-up yesterday, today we move into what office seekers who attended the McHenry County Young Republicans’ Candidates’ Forum said about the County Board’s having decided to maximize the amount of money it will take out of … Continue reading

Eight File in McHenery County Board District 3 GOP Primary – Mike Walkup Snags Bottom of Ticket

Crystal Lake Park Board member Michael Walkup obviously was going to file someone’s petition(s). He arrived about 4 when I did, but was very secretive about what was inside the unmarked plain paper envelope. Jim Kennedy was there to file … Continue reading

First Day Sees 25 Candidates File for 24 County Board Spots – Democrats Waiting

With the exception of any Democrats, most of those wanting to serve on the McHenry County Board filed petitions in the County Clerk’s Office today. An asterisk in front of a name means they filed at 8 AM when the … Continue reading

Who Voted to Raise Your County Taxes?

The McHenry County Board failed to break with the “increase the tax take as much as possible” crowd, but they came close. Barb Wheeler made the motion to remove the CPI and Nick Provenzano seconded it.   Wheeler is a candidate … Continue reading

Republican Politics at Port Edward

Port Edward has pleasant memories for me all the way back to visiting the Algonquin Jaycees back in the late 1960’s. Then it was only a small corner bar at Harrison and Route 62. Algonquin Founders Days luncheons, fund raisers, … Continue reading