McHenry County Blog

I haven’t looked at the state of McHenry County Republican Central Committee since Republican Play Day on July 17th.

Inspired by Stephen Di Bendiedtto’s Sunday article in the Northwest Herald, I decided to take another look.

In mid-July, there were fifty-five vacancies.

Some have been filled since then. The newly appointed GOP Committeemen follow:

• ALGONQUIN 24 – Bryan Javor (Appt 7/23/12) – Crystal Lake – 119 GOP primary votes
• CHEMUNG 4 – William G Matteson (Appt 7/22/12) – Harvard -54 GOP primary votes
• GRAFTON 12 – Joseph M. Oskorep (Appt 7/27/12) – Lake in the Hills – 151 GOP primary votes
• GREENWOOD 1 – Tamara DeModica (Appt 09/05/2012) – Woodstock – 198 primary votes

One Committeeman resigned, as reported on McHenry County Blog here:

• MCHENRY 3 – Mark C Widhalm (Appt 5/24/12) Resigned 9/4/12 – McHenry – 156 GOP primary votes

So in the one year in four when most people are taking an interest in politics, McHenry County Party leaders found only four new folks willing to take on the responsibility of Precinct Committeeman, but lost one volunteer.

I’ve put the townships with GOP vacancies in rank order from lowest percentage of precincts filled to highest:

• Grafton – 42% vacant
• Algonquin – 37% unfilled
• Burton – 33% empty
• Greenwood – 25% vacant
• Marengo – 25% unfilled
• Richmond – 25% empty
• Nunda – 21% with no one
• Chemung – 20% empty

Below are the precincts in which no GOP Committeeman will be trying to help Republican candidates get elected this fall:

Algonquin Township – 37% Vacant (25 out of 68)

ALGONQUIN 1
ALGONQUIN 11
ALGONQUIN 14
ALGONQUIN 20
ALGONQUIN 21
ALGONQUIN 26
ALGONQUIN 27
ALGONQUIN 29
ALGONQUIN 31
ALGONQUIN 32
ALGONQUIN 35
ALGONQUIN 38
ALGONQUIN 39
ALGONQUIN 41
ALGONQUIN 43
ALGONQUIN 54
ALGONQUIN 58
ALGONQUIN 59
ALGONQUIN 60
ALGONQUIN 61
ALGONQUIN 62
ALGONQUIN 63
ALGONQUIN 64
ALGONQUIN 66
ALGONQUIN 68

Burton Township – 33% Vacant (1 out of 3)

Burton 1

Chemung Township – 20% Vacant (1 out of 5)

CHEMUNG 5

Grafton Township – 42% Vacant (13 out of 31)

GRAFTON 3
GRAFTON 10
GRAFTON 11
GRAFTON 14
GRAFTON 15
GRAFTON 16
GRAFTON 17
GRAFTON 21
GRAFTON 23
GRAFTON 24
GRAFTON 27
GRAFTON 29
GRAFTON 31

Greenwood Township – 14% Vacant (2 out of 7)

GREENWOOD 4

McHenry Township – 6% Vacant (2 out 35)

MCHENRY 3
MCHENRY 22

Nunda Township – 14% Vacant (4 out of 29)

NUNDA 3
NUNDA 6
NUNDA 8
NUNDA 25

Richmond Township – 25% Vacant (1 our of 4)

RICHMOND 2

When one compares the Republican with Democrats, one finds that the Democrats have fewer Precinct Committeeman than the Republicans have vacancies.

I counted forty-six Democratic Party Precinct Committeemen listed on the County Clerk’s web site.

Mike Tryon is the Republican Party Chairman, while Mike Bissett head local Democrats.

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

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

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.

There were three political party booths at the McHenry County Fair:

• Republicans
• Democrats
• Libertarians

Sometimes the Republican Party booth was manned (or womaned, as is the case above).

Sometimes it wasn’t.

No indication that there is a Presidential election this year in the GOP booth.

Libertarians had a booth again, too, even though the party has no candidates on the ballot this year.

The final party was the Democratic Party of McHenry County.

Sometimes it was unmanned, too.

In my comparison of the resources of the Republican and Democratic Parties in McHenry County, I just revealed what is in the official party treasuries.

The Democrats look as if they have more. They reported having $7,620.53 at the end of March. I pointed out, that figure had already been augmented by their annual Jefferson Day Dinner.

The Republicans reported having $7,188.71 in the bank.

But, since at least McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew was Republican Party Chairman there has been a hidey hole for big contributors.

Current Chairman Mike Tryon calls his the McHenry County Chairman’s Circle (MCCC). It’s officers are

• Mike Tryon – Chairman
• Ken Koehler – Treasurer

Previously, Blake Hobson served as Vice Chairman.

The fund received $2,925 in contributions below the identification level and $8,625 above the $150 level.

$11,550 in all during the first three months of the year.

Below are the contributors made public:

• $1,200 – Robert & Paula Gray, Prairie Grove
• $1,200 – John & Heather Horeled, Crystal Lake
• $500 – Arlington Park Race Course, Arlington Heights
• $500- Citizens for Pamela Althoff, Crystal Lake
• $500 – Citizens for Beaubien, Barrington
• $500 – Mathewson Right of Way Company, Chicago
• $500 – Gary Overbay, Gary, Crystal Lake
• $500 – Republican Womens Club of McHenry County, McHenry
• $500 – Robert Stephenson, Barrington Hills
• $450 – Ernest & Cheryl Riggen, Morrison
• $450 – Committee to Elect Michael Tryon, Crystal Lake
• $400 – James F. Bishop PC, Crystal Lake
• $300 – AT&T Illinois Employee PAC, Chicago
• $300 – Susan Barkley, Crystal Lake
• $300 – Exemplar Financial Network, LLC, Crystal Lake
• $300 – George R. Greenlee, Crystal Lake
• $300 – Chas. Herdrich & Son, McHenry
• $300 – Innovative Component Sales, Inc., Huntley
• $300 – Heidi Kang, Algonquin, IL 60102
• $300 – Leslie Schermerhorn, Chicago

So what does Tryon spend this money on?

$1,054.59 on small stuff.

Here’s where the other $6,200 went:

• $5,582.25 – 1776 Restaurant, Crystal Lake, [Joe] Walsh Event
• $348.49 – AT&T, Aurora, Phone Charges
• $269.75 – Mailways Enterprises, Inc., Crystal Lake

The McHenry County Democratic Party reported having $7,620.53 on hand at the end of March.

That number reported spending $1,047 for the invitation, but a number of contributions for last Saturday’s event don’t seem to have been booked by March 31st…unless they are among $1,300 unitemized contributions.

There were two $500 union contributions from

• Carpenters Local 2087 PAC
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 117 PAC

Local Republicans have $7,200 in the bank after depositing Lincoln Day Dinner receipts.

The McHenry County Democratic Party Central Committee held its meeting Wednesday night and re-elected all but one of its officers.

Michael Bissett of Lake in the Hills will continue to be the Party Chair.

Huntley’s Sam Melei will again be Vice Chair.

Tom Cynor of Woodstock will be serving another term as Treasurer.

The only change was in the office of Secretary. Judy Vandenboom of Cary will replace Brian Meyers of Woodstock.

Serving as General Counsel will be Phil Robertson, who serves as a Regional Office Director at Illinois Attorney General’s Office

Here’s an article on the web site of the McHenry County Democratic Party.

Re-printed with permission, it tells of Chairman Mike Bissett’s fast to benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank from last Wednesday until his party’s annual Jefferson Day Dinner on Saturday, April 14th.

Hunger is not a game

“Do you know what real hunger is? Have you ever wondered if you’ll eat today, or tomorrow, or even next week?

“Nearly 50 million Americans wake up every day wondering if they will have enough to eat. One out of every 8 people in Illinois need help from a food pantry just to get by.

“Those statistics are shocking. Those facts are shameful. This is America, the richest country on Earth. Why is there so much hunger? What can WE do to fix this?

“We can do two things.

“First, we can work to elect leaders who care about the poor and the hungry, and who recognize our collective responsibility to ensure a life of dignity for every American. That’s what makes us Democrats.

“Second, we can help the hungry by supporting local food pantries and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. If you really believe in social and economic justice, there is no better way to prove it than by helping to make life a little better for your neighbors in need. That’s what makes us human.

“I’ve decided to help raise awareness of this issue by fasting for 10 days. I haven’t had anything to eat since the morning of Wednesday April 4, and I won’t eat again until the evening of Saturday, April 14. I’ll be posting a daily video blog during my fast, and I will use that as an opportunity to tell you more about the problem of hunger in America.

“April 14 is also the evening of the Democratic Party’s Thomas Jefferson Dinner. Our keynote speaker will be Pete Schaefer, the president and CEO of the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

“I hope you will join us. Supporting our party’s mission is one of the most important things you can do. Thank you.”

The McHenry County Democratic Party Central Committee is holding a dinner April 14th.

The Jefferson Day Dinner is a counterpoint to the annual Lincoln Day Dinner Republicans run.

Reservations are due by April 7th.

The price is $75, $600 for a table of eight or $750 for a table of ten.

McHenry County Board member Paula Yensen has her number on the invitation as the contact person:  815-404-3918.

Pete Schaefer, CEO of the Northern Illinois Food Bank will be the keynote speaker.  Food donations are solicited.

The McHenry County Building Trades Council will be given the Robert McGarry Award for Community Service.

Earlier this month, the percentages of precincts for which people filed for Republican Precinct Committeeman was published.

Republicans, you may remember filled 49% of McHenry County’s 212 precincts, while Democrats had candidates in 19%.

Today we look at how the Democrats did, township by township.

Dunham – 100% (1 of 1)
Hebron – 50% (1 of 2)
Seneca – 50% (1 of 2)
Burton – 33% (1 of 3)
Coral – 33% (1 of 3)
Grafton – 32% (10 of 31)
Nunda – 31% (9 of 29)
Dorr – 29% (4 of 14)
Greenwood – 14% (1 of 7)
McHenry – 14% (5 of 35)
Algonquin – 9% (6 of 68)
Alden – 0% (0 of 1)
Chemung – 0% (0 of 5)
Hartland – 0% (0 of 2)
Marengo – 0% (0 of 4)
Richmond – 0% (0 of 4)
Riley – 0% (0 of 1)

As with Republicans, it’s easier for a small township to have a large percentage. Indeed, none of the top five townships have more than three precincts.

Of the six townships that have absolutely no candidates for Precinct Committeeman in the Democratic Party, none has more than five precincts.

Of the largest townships, there is a close contest among Grafton, Nunda and Dorr. All three have just under one-third of their precincts with candidates on the ballot.

McHenry in times past was a Democratic Party stronghold. Only 14% of its 35 precincts are filled.

The county’s largest township, Algonquin has 68 precincts, but only 6 candidates. Not even previous candidates for township or county board are running for Precinct Committeeman.

A while back McHenry County Blog took a look at how the Republican Party was faring, based on the number of people who filed GOP Precinct Committeeman petitions.

Let’s take a walk down that same path with McHenry County Democrats.

To put McHenry County political landscape into perspective, there are 212 election precincts.

People filed to run for Democratic Party Precinct Committeeman in only 40 of them.

Less than 19% of the precincts in a county carried by Barack Obama have people with enough energy to get ten of their neighbors’ signatures.

That’s compared to the 49% of precincts where there are GOP candidates, which was pathetic in itself.

Unlike in the Republican Primary, there are no contests for Precinct Committeeman in the Democratic Party.

I know that local Democrats like to call their Precinct Committeemen “Precinct Representatives,” but the title is “Committeeman.”

As I have suggested more than once, if local Democrats want to change the title of the office, folks in their party control the legislature and the Governor’s Office.

Hey, there’s even a Democrat in the Illinois House from McHenry County.

Just ask Jack Franks.

That should not be a hard bill to pass.

Alden Township

(Alden)

ALDEN – No Candidate Filed

Algonquin Township

(Algonquin, southern Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Cary, Fox River Grove, Barrington Hills)

ALGONQUIN 1 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 2 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 3 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 4 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 5 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 6 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 7 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 8 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 9 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 10 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 11 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 12 – No Candidate Filed

ALGONQUIN 13 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 14 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 15 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 16 – Patricia A. Abboud (Barrington Hills)
ALGONQUIN 17 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 18 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 19 – Loreen (Lori) Keller (Crystal Lake)
ALGONQUIN 20 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 21 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 22 – No Candidate Filed

ALGONQUIN 23 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 24 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 25 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 26 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 27 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 28 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 29 – Katherine M Tremont (Cary)
ALGONQUIN 30 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 31 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 32 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 33 – Debbie Chirikos (Algonquin)
ALGONQUIN 34 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 35 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 36 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 37 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 38 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 39 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 40 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 41 – Robert R. Waddell (Algonquin)
ALGONQUIN 42 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 43 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 44 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 45 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 46 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 47 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 48 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 49 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 50 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 51 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 52 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 53 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 54 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 55 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 56 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 57 – No Candidate Filed

ALGONQUIN 58 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 59 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 60 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 61 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 62 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 63 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 64 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 65 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 66 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 67 – No Candidate Filed
ALGONQUIN 68 – No Candidate Filed

Burton Township

(Spring Grove, Fox Lake)

BURTON 1 – Jeff S. Thirtyacre (SpringGrove)
BURTON 2 – No Candidate Filed
BURTON 3 – No Candidate Filed

Chemung Township

(Harvard, Lawrence)

CHEMUNG 1 – No Candidate Filed
CHEMUNG 2 – No Candidate Filed
CHEMUNG 3 – No Candidate Filed
CHEMUNG 4 – No Candidate Filed
CHEMUNG 5 – No Candidate Filed

Coral Township

(Union)

CORAL 1 – Ryan Anderson (Union)
CORAL 2 – No Candidate Filed
CORAL 3 – No Candidate Filed

Dorr Township

(Woodstock, Bull Valley)

DORR 1 – No Candidate Filed
DORR 2 – No Candidate Filed
DORR 3 – Robert E. Gibson (Woodstock)
DORR 4 – Ann Legg (Woodstock)
DORR 5 – No Candidate Filed
DORR 6 – No Candidate Filed
DORR 7 – Thomas J. Cynor (Woodstock)
DORR 8 – No Candidate Filed
DORR 9 – No Candidate Filed
DORR 10 – No Candidate Filed
DORR 11 – No Candidate Filed
DORR 12 – No Candidate Filed
DORR 13 – No Candidate Filed
DORR 14 – Thomas G. Erlenborn (Bull Valley)

Dunham Township

(Southern Harvard)

DUNHAM – Scott Summers (Harvard)

Grafton Township

(Huntley, Lakewood, western Crystal Lake, western Lake in the Hills, western Algonquin)

GRAFTON 1 – Diane E. Oltman Ayers (Huntley)
GRAFTON 2 – Sara Ryerson (Lakewood)
GRAFTON 3 – Elizabeth A Puchmelter (Crystal Lake)
GRAFTON 4 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 5 – Mary Mackowiak (Crystal Lake)
GRAFTON 6 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 7 – Jill McCutcheon (Crystal Lake)
GRAFTON 8 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 9 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 10 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 11 – No Candidate Filed

GRAFTON 12 – Michael Bissett (Lake in the Hills)
GRAFTON 13 – James P. Kennedy (Lake in the Hills)
GRAFTON 14 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 15 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 16 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 17 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 18 – Denise Barreto (Lake in the Hills)
GRAFTON 19 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 20 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 21 – No Candidate FiledGRAFTON 22 – Samuel S. Melei (Huntley)

GRAFTON 23 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 24 – Michael A. Henry (Huntley)
GRAFTON 25 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 26 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 27 – No Candidate Filed.
GRAFTON 28 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 29 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 30 – No Candidate Filed
GRAFTON 31 – No Candidate Filed

Greenwood Township

(Northern Woodstock, western Wonder Lake & Greenwood)

GREENWOOD 1 – No Candidate Filed
GREENWOOD 2 – No Candidate Filed
GREENWOOD 3 – No Candidate Filed
GREENWOOD 4 – No Candidate Filed
GREENWOOD 5 – No Candidate Filed
GREENWOOD 6 – Brian D. Meyers (Woodstock)
GREENWOOD 7 – No Candidate Filed

Hartland Township

HARTLAND 1 – No Candidate Filed
HARTLAND 2 – No Candidate Filed

Hebron Township

(Hebron)

HEBRON 1 – Andrew J Georgi, Jr. (Hebron)

HEBRON 2 – No Candidate Filed

Marengo Township

(Marengo)

MARENGO 1 – No Candidate Filed
MARENGO 2 – No Candidate Filed
MARENGO 3 – No Candidate Filed
MARENGO 4 – No Candidate Filed

McHenry Township

(McHenry, eastern Wonder Lake, Johnsburg, McCullom Lake, Lakemoor, Holiday Hills, Ringwood)

MCHENRY 1 – Martha B “Marti” Swanson (Ringwood)
MCHENRY 2 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 3 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 4 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 5 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 6 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 7 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 8 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 9 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 10 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 11 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 12 – Irene Wolff Raven (McHenry)
MCHENRY 13 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 14 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 15 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 16 – Michael Mayo (Johnsburg)
MCHENRY 17 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 18 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 19 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 20 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 21 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 22 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 23 – No Candidate Filed

MCHENRY 24 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 25 – Brian Peters (Lakemoor)
MCHENRY 26 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 27 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 28 – Herbert Hassinger (McHenry)
MCHENRY 29 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 30 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 31 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 32 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 33 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 34 – No Candidate Filed
MCHENRY 35 – No Candidate Filed

Nunda Township

(Northern Crystal Lake, Southern McHenry, Prairie Grove, Island Lake, Oakwood Hills, Holiday Hills)

NUNDA 1 – Kathleen Bergan Schmidt (Crystal Lake)
NUNDA 2 – Pauline Walker (Crystal Lake)
NUNDA 3 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 4 – No Candidate Filed

NUNDA 5 – Patrick Murfin (Crystal Lake)
NUNDA 6 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 7 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 8 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 9 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 10 – Kevin L. Klopfenstein (Crystal Lake)
NUNDA 11 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 12 – Alexander Bielsky (Holiday Hills)
NUNDA 13 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 14 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 15 – Mitchell J. Wisumierski (Crystal Lake)
NUNDA 16 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 17 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 18 – Nancy Schietzelt (Crystal Lake)
NUNDA 19 – Nan Kueller (Crystal Lake)
NUNDA 20 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 21 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 22 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 23 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 24 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 25 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 26 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 27 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 28 – No Candidate Filed
NUNDA 29 – Robert Routzahn (Crystal Lake)

Richmond Township

(Richmond, Spring Grove)

RICHMOND 1 – No Candidate Filed
RICHMOND 2 – No Candidate Filed
RICHMOND 3 – No Candidate Filed
RICHMOND 4 – No Candidate Filed

Riley Township

(Southern Marengo)

RILEY -No Candidate Filed

Seneca Township

(Western Woodstock)

SENECA 1 – No Candidate Filed
SENECA 2 – John Bartman (Marengo)