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.

Here’s how to find the fall campaign headquarters:

McHenry County Republican Party Chairman made robo-calls (I got two, one right after another) to invite people to Crystal Lake’s d’Andrea’s for a free Mitt Romney yard sign and to watch the final night of the Republican National Committee.

The floating crowd totaled 150, according to McHenry County Romney Chairman John McCrory’s count.

Here we were in a banquet hall and people were applauding.

There were only a couple of signs left when I went home.

Mark Widhalm, a Delegate candidate for Ron Paul’s Presidential campaign, ran for Republican Precinct Committeeman in McHenry 3 as a write-in.

He didn’t win, but was appointed to the spot.

Now he has resigned.

His resignation letter appears below:

Mike Tryon
County Chairman
McHenry County Republican Central Committee
PO Box 723
McHenry, IL 60051

Mr. Tryon and members of the Central Committee,

Mark Widhalm

The actions of the Republican Party at the local, state and national level leave me quite dismayed.

I have witnessed the party partake in the character assassinations of good, honest people.

It seems that unethical, last minute rule changes in order to keep the party power structure in place have become the norm.

I have watched as the party bosses ignore and refuse to seat delegations because they don’t tow the party line.

The Republican Party leadership has become an immoral, unethical group of thugs who seek to crush any dissent within the party and I now realize that attempting to use an irreparable system to fix an irreparable system is entirely futile.

The harder folks try to bring a shred of sanity to the party, the greater the corruption from the party leadership as they struggle to retain power.

I can no longer associate myself with the constant immoral actions of the Republican Party and therefore, I am resigning from my position as McHenry Township Precinct 3 Committeeman, effective immediately.

Please remove me from any party listserv and future mailings.

Sincerely,

Mark C Widhalm

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.

Thursday I pointed out that Algonquin and Nunda Townships have seventeen precincts that are in play in the State Rep. race between Republican Dave McSweeney and Independent Dee Beaubien.

Beaubien has had two Mike Madigan’s Democratic Party field guys in the field working for Beaubien for two pay periods that have been reported to the State Board of Elections.

In the same area, State Senator is being challenged by another woman from Personal PAC, the pro-abortion Political Action Committee.

My take on the inability or refusal to appoint Republican Committeemen for the empty precincts was as follows:

Wouldn’t you think the McHenry County Republican Party would have as its highest priority finding people willing to work for McSweeney and Duffy?

Do they really want another probable vote for Madigan for Speaker to come out of a McHenry County district?

I’d add today,” when Party leaders have guaranteed that Jack Franks will be around to cast his eight vote for Madigan.”

So, if you were one of Madigan’s minions, where would you put your efforts in Algonquin Township.

This is not a tough question.

And, I’ve already given you the answer:

It’s in the precincts unprotected by even a “sure, I’ll be a GOP Precinct Committeeman, but don’t expect me to do anything” place holder.

And, I’ve learned that’s exactly the game plan.

The Dems are throwing people into the empty precincts to distribute Beaubien’s literature.

Good strategy.

And, what’s the Republican Party response?

No appointments in the McSweeny-Duffy part of Algonquin Township since May 26th.

Only one, Bryan Javor, appointed in any other empty Algonquin Township precincts and that was on July 23rd.

You can see the vacancies in the McSweeney-Duffy part of the township below. Regardless of where you live, if you would like to help keep Dee Beaubien from becoming THE deciding vote to re-elect Mike Madigan for all but one time since George Ryan was House Speaker, let me know. My email address is on the left hand side of the blog.

No wonder candidates don’t depend on the McHenry County Republican Party to get elected.

Algonquin Township Precinct Committeemen
1 – None
pt of 2 – Kenneth (Ken) D. Koehler
3 – Michael E. Barnas
4 – Andrew Gasser
5 – Charles A. Lutzow, Jr
6 – Anne Majewski (Appt 3/29/12)
8 – Neils Kruse
9 – Dan Shea
pt of 10 – Aaron T. Shepley
12 – Raymond G. Chisholm

14 – None
pt of 15 – Thomas Kantner (Appt 3/29/12)
16 – Lou Anne Majewski
17 – David W. Miller
18 – Mary Cardelli
20 – None
21 – None

[/caption]
22 – Lowell A. Cutsforth
23 – Anna May Miller (Appt 3/29/12)
29 – None
30 – Riley Quinlan
31 – None
32 – None
33 – Sean Murphy
34 – Joseph Powalowski (Appt 3/29/12)
pt of 35 – None
39 – None
40 – Mallory A. Rosencrans
41 – None
pt of 43 – None
44 – Patrick Colcernian
45 – Sharon Ann Meroni
46 – Kathleen R. DeRaedt
47 – Rebecca M. Lee
48 – Timothy J Corr (Appt 3/29/12)
49 – Demetrios Pete Tsilimigras
50 – Linda (Lyn) Orphal
55 – Derek Lee (Appt 3/29/12)
56 – Eugene F. Sittinger
59 – None
60 – None
pt of 61 – None
64 – None
65 – Eleni K. Markos Tsilimigras (appt 5/26/12)
67 – Robert Miller (Appt 3/29/12)

Listed below are the precincts in the hotly contested 52nd House race.

That’s where Independent Dee Beaubien, with Democrat Mike Madigan’s help, is challenging Republican primary election winner David McSweeney.

You will note that many precincts are empty.

In addition to McSweeney, State Senator Dan Duffy is running a contested race in the same part of McHenry County.

Campaign finance logic dictates that joint attack mailings will be made against Dave McSweeney and Dan Duffy  by the pro-abortion Personal PAC.  After all, they are both pro-life and agree on many other issues.

Besides Madigan’s providing two staffers (see here and here) and Personal PAC’s having targeted the district, Planned Parenthood is also getting deeply involved.

Wouldn’t you think the McHenry County Republican Party would have as its highest priority finding people willing to work for McSweeney and Duffy?

Do they really want another probable vote for Madigan for Speaker to come out of a McHenry County district?

Having demonstrated that a majority of the Committeemen wanted to make sure Democrat Jack Franks could cast his eighth vote for Mike Madigan for House Speaker by their refusal to allow Tonya Franklin the opportunity to challenge him, you can understand why some might make that conclusion.

Do “Actions speak louder than words?”

By looking at the unmanned precincts, one can easily conclude that the Nunda and Algonquin Township Republican Parties have some other agenda that is more important than electing Republicans who will fight Mike Madigan in Springfield.

Under the procedure ostensibly being following County Republican Party Chairman Mike Tryon, a precinct committeeman in Algonquin Township himself, only when a Township GOP Chairman recommends a person will Tryon use the appointment power given to him by State Statute.

So who are the two Township Chairmen?

• Nunda Township Republican Central Committee Chairman (also Vice Chairman of the County GOP organization) Mark Daniel and
• Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee Chairman Rebecca Lee (Township Road Commissioner Bob and County Board member Anna Miller’s daughter)

Wouldn’t you think their highest priority would be to find people willing to help McSweeney and Duffy win the empty precincts?

There are two empty precincts in Nunda Township’s portion of the 52 State Rep. District and fifteen in Algonquin Township.

52nd REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT

(47 entire) (10 splits)

Nunda Precincts and Committeemen

1 – Donald C Kopsell (Appt 6/25/12)
pt of 2 – Robert L. Borchert
4 – None
7 – Kelvin Lee Jennings
9 – Bernard V. Narusis
pt of 12 – Mary McClellan
pt of 14 – Patrick Collins
pt of 22 – Joni M Smith (Appt 5/24/12)
23 – Scott E. J. Brown
25 – None
26 – Kathleen R. Reiland (Appt 5/24/12)
28 – Mary Donner (Appt 6/25/12)

Algonquin Township Precinct Committeemen
1 – None
pt of 2 – Kenneth (Ken) D. Koehler
3 – Michael E. Barnas
4 – Andrew Gasser
5 – Charles A. Lutzow, Jr
6 – Anne Majewski (Appt 3/29/12)
8 – Neils Kruse
9 – Dan Shea
pt of 10 – Aaron T. Shepley

12 – Raymond G. Chisholm
14 – None
pt of 15 – Thomas Kantner (Appt 3/29/12)
16 – Lou Anne Majewski
17 – David W. Miller
18 – Mary Cardelli
20 – None

21 – None
22 – Lowell A. Cutsforth
23 – Anna May Miller (Appt 3/29/12)
29 – None
30 – Riley Quinlan
31 – None
32 – None
33 – Sean Murphy
34 – Joseph Powalowski (Appt 3/29/12)
pt of 35 – None
39 – None
40 – Mallory A. Rosencrans
41 – None
pt of 43 – None
44 – Patrick Colcernian
45 – Sharon Ann Meroni
46 – Kathleen R. DeRaedt
47 – Rebecca M. Lee
48 – Timothy J Corr (Appt 3/29/12)
49 – Demetrios Pete Tsilimigras
50 – Linda (Lyn) Orphal
55 – Derek Lee (Appt 3/29/12)
56 – Eugene F. Sittinger
59 – None
60 – None
pt of 61 – None
64 – None
65 – Eleni K. Markos Tsilimigras (appt 5/26/12)
67 – Robert Miller (Appt 3/29/12)

= = = = =
My email is on the left, just in case anyone gets inspired to want to help McSweeney and Duffy.

ark your calendars for October 3rd, 16th and 22nd for our debate parties. More details will follow.”The local Republican Party finally has some Mitt Romney for President signs…or at least it will by August 30th.

Here’s the email from which I got the information:

“You’re invited to join us on Thursday, August 30th as we kick-off the 2012 campaign season with an event at D’Andrea Banquets which is located at 4419 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake. The event will be from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM. Televisions will be set up so that we can watch the acceptance speech of our nominee, Mitt Romney, together.

“All in attendance will be given a Mitt Romney yard sign.

“There will be snacks served and a cash bar.

“Please mark your calendars and plan to join us to mark the beginning of this critical campaign season.

“And also mark your calendars for October 3rd, 16th and 22nd for our debate parties. More details will follow.”

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.

He wasn’t at the front of the parade but the owner of Port Edward, Ed Woloweic, was the Grand Marshall.

The parade took about an hour, truncated because of construction south on Route 31.

Most of the politic entries which I try to document were fairly near the front of the parade.

But, before they arrived, a volunteer for Congressman Peter Roskam, who will, pending a political upset of tremendous proportions, represent Algonquin Township in Congress next session, was sighted passing out small bags. With candy on their minds, a lot of folks took them.

Of course, there were the members of the Algonquin Village Board.

But before the politicians came Police Chief Russ Laine.

And an entry dedicated to the Chicago Cubs.

Founder Favorite Rusty Cherbak was surrounded by a Chicago Cubs wish fulfillment contingent.

There was even a goat.  A billy goat, of course.

Then came the village politicians.

Village President John Schmidt waved.

Village Trustee Bob Smith was accompanied by Buzz Lightyear.

Village Trustee Debbie Sosine was in waving mode.

Trustee Jerrold Glogowski was one of three trustees walking the route handing out candy.

The other two were Jim Steigert and John Spella.  Handing out candy is the Algonquin Parade is easy on Route 31 because the spectators are all on the south side of the street.

The village clerk came dresses as the clown Lazy Bonz.

The first partisan politician was District 1 Republican McHenry County Board member Bob Bless.

District 1 Republican McHenry County Board members Marc Munaretto and Anna Miller were driving in a Mercedes convertible by Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller.

I asked Munaretto, who is not running for re-election to the County Board, whether he was running for re-election for Algonquin Township Clerk.

“You’ll have to wait and see,” he replied.

That was the same answer he gave last year before for filing deadline for County Board.

There are no Democrats in District 1, but there is one in District 5–Paula Yensen.

Next came Jean and McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi.

 McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer followed Bianchi.

Both Bianchi and McHenry County Auditor Palmer are unopposed this fall.

Kane County politicians followed the McHenry County ones.

There were two County Board members, Hollie Lindgren and Maggie Auger.

There are always pictures that could have been.  The one below was going to be of the current and future Kane County Auditors, incumbent Bill Keck and candidate Terry Hunt.

Fortunately, I got a shot of Keck and Hunt before the parade.

“Take my picture. Take my picture,” the two members of the Eagles, a youth football team shouted as they mugged for my camera.

How could I resist?

Interrupting the parade was the girder from the World Trade Center brought by the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District.

On the sides of the fire engines you can see the above sticker.

I was seated on the porch of a closed building when I way something political after a truck for the Red Run.  (The 5K is August 11th starting at Presidential Park in Algonquin.)

It was the McHenry County Republican Party entry…right at the end of the parade.

There was a banner for GOP State Rep candidate David McSweeney up front.

Right behind were people carrying Congressman Peter Roskam signs.

Then, Dave McSweeney passed me quickly.  I got his attention and he turned around so I could get the photo above.

Next came the McHenry County Republican float.

I just kept snapping my shutter, getting County Board member Nick Provenzano and County Chairman & State Rep. Mike Tryon.

Next came supporters of State Senator Dan Duffy, whose district mirrors that of David McSweeney on the eastern edges of McHenry and Kane Counties.

Next I found McHenry County Board member Robert Nowak.

And with the passing of the next entry, cheerleaders from CEE Snowball Blast Grand Champion, the Algonquin Founders Day Parade was over.

Afterward, however, the young man who had been assiduously gathering candy during the parade put on a Young Republican sticker and agreed to let me take his photograph.

= = = = =
A special note for you Sheriff’s Department watchers. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Department had no entry in the parade. Neither Sheriff Keith Nygren nor his Undersheriff Andrew Zinke was anywhere to be seen.