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Archive for the ‘McHenry County Republican Central Committee’

Last McHenry County Romney Signs Coming in Today – Almost 5,000 Will Have Been Distributed Once These Gone

October 30, 2012 By: Cal Skinner Category: Crystal Lake, McHenry County, McHenry County Republican Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Headquarters, McHenry County Republican Party, McHenry County Republicans, Mitt Romney, Sign, Yard Sign

Republican Campaign Headquarters in Crystal Lake will get the last 300 Romney signs scheduled for deliver Tuesday afternoon between 4 and 5.

If you don’t make it to Crystal Lake Republican Headquarters to get one of the 300 Romney signs being delivered late Tuesday afternoon, perhaps this homeowner on Dole Avenue near Crystal Lake’s Main Beach would be willing to let you have one of his/hers.

The national Romney campaign is not supplying them.

The McHenry County Republican Party is buying them and, needless to say, contributions to help pay for them are welcomed.

Five hundred yard signs were delivered last Thursday afternoon.

They were gone by the end of the day Saturday.

Before today, 4,500 Romney signs had been distributed. When the new 300 are gone, 4,800 will be on the street in McHenry County.

GOP Headquarters in Crystal Lake is a few stores to the left of Joseph’s Market in the Crystal Lake Plaza.

McHenry County GOP Set London Pub (across from 1776) in Crystal Lake for Debate Watching Party

October 22, 2012 By: Cal Skinner Category: Debate, London Pub, McHenry County Republican Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Party, McHenry County Republicans

I was one of the ones who asked where Republicans would be gathering tonight to watch the last Presidential Debate.

The answer arrive at 2:30:

“A number of people have asked whether we are going to have another party for tonight’s debate.

“We’ve fielded the question so many times that we thought we should arrange something.

“While not an official GOP event, we’ve reserved a place for people to get together. ”

Tonight at the London Pub, they will set aside the back room for people that want to watch the debate.

“The London Pub will offer half price appetizers and a cash bar.

“They’re located at 394 West Virginia St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014.”

Vice Presidential Debate Watching Party at CL GOP Headquarters Tuesday Night

October 11, 2012 By: Cal Skinner Category: Crystal Lake, Debate, Headquarters, McHenry County Republican Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Headquarters, McHenry County Republican Party, McHenry County Republicans, Paul Ryan, Republican, Vice President

Right down from Joseph’s Market in the Crystal Lake Plaza, you’ll see a building without a sign on top, but with lots of politic signs in the windows. That’s the fall campaign headquarters for the McHenry County Republican Party.

The McHenry County Republican Party invites folks to view the Paul Ryan-Joe Biden television debate at the fall campaign headquarters in the Crystal Lake Plaza.

“You are invited to our second in a series of debate watching parties this Thursday, October 11th, from 7:00 – 10:00 PM at the Republican Campaign Headquarters,” an email advises.

“For those of you that joined us to watch the ‘smack down”‘at The Cottage, you know what a fun and enthusiastic crowd we had.

“The Campaign Headquarters is a much larger venue and should be able to accommodate a much larger crowd with seating and room to maneuver.”

“he party will be held Thursday, October 11 from  7:00 – 10:00 PM.

“The address is 22 Crystal Lake Plaza, but it can best be found by finding Joseph’s Market.  It is a couple of stores west.

“Food and beverages will be provided; donations accepted.

“We will have seating for 150+, so come on out and join other Romney-Ryan supporters for what promises to be an entertaining evening,” an announcement said.

The debate starts at 8:00 and will be shown on a large screen.

“Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the next debate party which will be held on Tuesday, October 16th at the Corkscrew Bistro in McHenry,” an email advised.

The Port Edward GOP Fund Raiser

October 10, 2012 By: Cal Skinner Category: Allen Skillicorn, Anton Cundiff, Bill Prim, Carolyn Schofield, David McSweeney, Diane Evertsen, Ersel Schuster, Jim Harrison, Leslie Schermerhorn, Lowell Cutsforth, Matt McNamara, McHenry County Republican Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Party, McHenry County Reublican Central Committee, McHenry County Sheriff, McHenry County Sheriff's Department, Mike Tryon, Randy Hultgren

Just not having enough processing time for the articles I want to write.

Today, let’s play catchup with the Monday McHenry County Republican Central Committee fund raiser at Port Edward in Algonquin.

I didn’t wonder around too much, but I did get a couple of photos of Republican activists.

Arriving early was McHenry County Sheriff’s candidate Jim Harrison and his wife Carolyn. They were sitting with Algonquin Township Trustee Lowell Cutsforth and Tony Cundiff.

Jim Harrison and his wife Carolyn were sitting at the table next to mine with Algonquin Township Trustee Lowell Cutsforth and retired Sheriff’s Department employee Tony Cundiff.

Then along came another Sheriff’s candidate, Bill Prim, with his campaign manager Matt McNamara.

Bill Prim and Matt McNamara were caught in my next shot greeting the Jim Harrison table.

And, since the third aspirant to succeed Sheriff, Andy Zinke, was in attendance, too, this, let me show you the shot I got of him and Prim against the back wall of Port Edward.

Standing along the back wall of Port Edward are Andy Zinke, Gary Lang, Matt McNamara and Bill Prim.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi made the rounds greeting people.

State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi greets Karla Dobbick. In the foreground is Demetrios Tsilimigras, head of the Misdemeanor Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office.

All sorts of County Board candidates were in attendance. I am sure I can’t list them all, if you know someone not mentioned, put it in a comment and I’ll add him or her.  I saw Nick Provenzano.

From left to right are Diane Evertsen, Ersel Schuster, East Dundee Village Trustee Alan Skillicorn and Carolyn Schofield. The empty seat was occupied by Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore, who was off getting food at Port Edward’s buffet.

McHenry County Republican Chairman Mike Tryon sits with Crystal Lake Precinct Committeeman Joe Stecker in this panoramic view of Port Edward and the Fox River. (If you see anyone else you recognize, share their names in the comment section.  Click to enlarge.)

The speaker for the evening was the Republican State Representative candidate for eastern Algonquin. [Algonquin was split into two districts by the Illinois Democrats. Mike Tryon will represent the western part.]

As usually, David McSweeney worked the tables well.  McHenry’s Phil Bartman is on the left

The Congressman who represents Algonquin Township, Peter Roskam, was not in attendance, but Randy Hultgren, the Republican Congressman who is running in the rest of McHenry County was.

Congressman Randy Hultgren and Regional Superintendent of Education Leslie Schermerhorn talk with State Rep. Mike Tryon.


One final long shot that I took before I left early. You may be able to pick out some of those in attendance.

The event started at 5 and was crowded, every table filled in the buffet room. This is what it looked like at 7 when I left.


The event ended at 8:30.

Let me add that there were plenty of Grafton Township candidates. Besides Supervisor Linda Moore, mentioned above in a cut line, there was Supervisor candidate Marty Waitzman. The only candidate not in attendance was Pam Fender. Road Commissioner candidate Tom Poznanski and Assessor candidate Al Zielinski helped the GOP raise money for the fall campaign.

Republicans Looking for $150 and more to Take House from Madigan

October 05, 2012 By: Cal Skinner Category: House Republican Organization, McHenry County Chairman's Circle, McHenry County Republican Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Party, McHenry County Republicans, Mike Tryon, Tom Cross

Low rollers are invited to Algonquin’s Port Edward Monday night for a $55 fund raiserfor the McHenry County Republican Party.

The invitation to the House Republican Organization and McHenry County Chairman’s Circle Whiskey Tasting and Dinner.

High rollers are invited to October 24th dinner at Crystal Lake’s 1776.

Click to read the details of the HRO-Mike Tryon’s Chairman’s Circle fund raiser.

Both the local Republican Party Chairman’s Circle Political Action Committee and the House Republican Organization will benefit from $150 a person event.

It’s being called a “Whiskey Tasting and Dinner.”

The money raised will go to help oust Mike Madigan from his Speaker-for-Life post and toward the Victory 2012 campaign effort.

Surf and turf, the invitation says.

Republican Committeemen Picking Up Literature

September 29, 2012 By: Cal Skinner Category: Headquarters, McHenry County, McHenry County Repubican Headquarters, McHenry County Republican Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Party, McHenry County Republicans

The McHenry County Republican Central Committee has established campaign headquarters a couple of stores down from Joseph’s Market in the Crystal Lake Plaza.

There is not sign above the door of McHenry County Republican Headquarters, but the windows are plastered with Republican signs.

It has a lot of space.

There is no shortage of space in the store occupied by McHenry County Republicans.

There were candidates present. I saw Mike Rein, Tina Hill and John Jung, who are running for the McHenry County Board from District 5, plus District 2′s Donna Kurtz.  Unopposed County Auditor candidate also was present.

District 5 candidates for the McHenry County Board chow down at a table where Precinct Committeemen could pick up their literature.

Joe Rosner, who is running a write-in campaign against Democrat Jack Franks was talking to committeemen.

Chemung 4 Precinct Committeeman Bill Matteson chats with Joe Rosner, Write-In candidate for State Rep. against Democrat Jack Franks. Matteson is descended from an Illinois governor who served in the 1850′s.

Jim Harrison, a candidate for Sheriff in 2014 was meeting party workers.

McHenry County Sheriff’s candidate Jim Harrison and his wife Carolyn talk with Crystal Lake Precinct Committeeman Tom McDermott.

I did notice the presence of a sign saying that another candidate for Sheriff, Andy Zinke, had paid for the light supper.

A small sign was on the front table with Andy Zinke’s name on it.


No literature for any state legislative candidate in my area. Both State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. candidate Barb Wheeler are unopposed.

Didn’t see any literature for any of the unopposed Republican candidates for countywide office either. (There were about 100 pieces of State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s literature, but since I have 225 houses, I didn’t take them.)

Republican Headquaters Open in Crystal Lake

September 26, 2012 By: Cal Skinner Category: McHenry County Republican Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Headquarters, McHenry County Republicans

A press release from the McHenry County Republican Central Committee:

Republican Party Headquarters Opened

CRYSTAL LAKE…..The Republican Party of McHenry County is pleased to announce the opening of a new GOP Campaign Headquarters in Crystal Lake.

Through the November 6th General Election, volunteers will staff an office located at 22 Crystal Lake Plaza, on Route 14, just a few doors down from Joseph’s grocery store. The office will be open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

“This Crystal Lake Plaza location provides us with great visibility and a lot of room for our volunteers to work on many key projects,” said Party Chairman Mike Tryon. “People are welcome to stop in and pick up Romney yard signs, Romney/Ryan bumper stickers, GOP T-shirts, and yard signs for most of the Republican candidates in McHenry County. We can also assist people with finding their polling places and with learning about how the new maps affect who their candidates will be.”

According to Tryon, the GOP will host a debate-watching party at the campaign headquarters on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7:00 PM, when Vice Presidential candidates Paul Ryan and Joe Biden square off in what should be a fascinating debate. Food and drinks will be provided.

The office is always looking for enthusiastic Republican volunteers. Those interested volunteering should contact the campaign office at (815) 444-1910.

48 of 212 McHenry County Precincts Have No GOP Committeeman, 46 Democratic Party Committeemen

September 24, 2012 By: Cal Skinner Category: McHenry County Democratic Central Committee, McHenry County Democrats, McHenry County Republican Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Party, McHenry County Republicans, Mike Bissett, Mike Tryon, Precinct Committeeman

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)

If nobody sent you to volunteer, but you would still like to help Republican candidates who need volunteers, email me. We’ll plug you into a campaign. The email button is on the left side of the page.

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.

McHenry County Republicans Relocate Office to Near Joseph’s Market

September 20, 2012 By: Cal Skinner Category: Campaign Headquarters, GOP, McHenry County, McHenry County Republican Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Headquarters, McHenry County Republican Party

Here’s how to find the fall campaign headquarters:

How to find the fall 2012 McHenry County Republican Party Headquarters.

Republicans Gathering in Crystal Lake at d’Andras Thursday to Hear Romney’s Speech

August 27, 2012 By: Cal Skinner Category: McHenry County Republican Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Party

A press release from the McHenry County Republican Party:

CRYSTAL LAKE…..Mitt Romney supporters are invited to gather in Crystal Lake on Thursday, August 30 to watch the television broadcast of presidential candidate’s acceptance speech for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.

Supporters will gather from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm at D’Andreas in Crystal Lake, where televisions will be set up for a live viewing of the culmination of the convention, when Mitt Romney takes the podium as the official GOP nominee.

D’Andreas Banquets is located at the intersections of Routes 14 and 31, at 4419 Northwest Highway.

“Thursday’s event will mark the official kick-off of our fall campaign,” said McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Mike Tryon.

“This is the most important election season in our history and Republican energy is already reaching a fever pitch.

“I look forward to seeing a room full of enthusiastic Republicans and other Romney supporters, who are ready to work very hard over the next 2 ½ months to see a Republican sweep in November from President of the United States all the way to members of the McHenry County Board.”

According to Tryon, the first 100 people to arrive will receive a free Romney yard sign. All guests will be able to enjoy free snacks and a cash bar.

“McHenry County’s Mitt Romney coordinator John McCrory has been working closely with the Illinois Romney Coordinator, Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford, to ensure that our county has the supplies and materials it needs to produce a solid McHenry County Romney victory on November 6th,” said Tryon.

The McHenry County GOP is also planning debate watching parties for the key debate nights of October 3rd, 16th and 22nd. Information about those events will be shared as it becomes available.

The local GOP will be opening a Route 14 campaign office within the next two weeks at unit #22 in the Crystal Lake Plaza Shopping Center.

Unit #22 is just a few doors down from the Joseph’s grocery store.

All candidates will be promoted out of that office, and literature and yard signs for all of them will be available.