The McHenry County Fair – Political Angles
While the teen were exploring other parts of the McHenry County Fair on Friday, I went looking for things political.
Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks’ tent was first. It was closest to the free parking.
Jack Franks staffer Parker Happ mans the Jack Franks tent, smiling as he did last year when my photo was good enough to end up on his Facebook’s front page.
Then, I saw the Sheriff’s Department’s Crime Stoppers Trailer.
This Sheriff’s Department trailer was parked behind the arena.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s booth was at the front of the first building I entered, although Sheriff Keith Nygren had not yet arrived.
The Sheriff’s Department has a double booth just as one enters one of the display buildings.
McHenry County Citizens for Choice was way around the corner.
Marian Michaels, Dee Many and Toby Levin were staffing/visiting the McHenry County Citizens for Choice booth.
The McHenry County Republican Party booth was down the aisle to the right. My second time around I found Jack Franks’ staffer conversing with the folks behind the table.
Eric Peterson, Glenda Miller and Pam Palmer talk with Jack Franks’ staffer Parker Happ.
I found the Sheriff’s Department had a second booth location to the right of the main one.
This McHenry County Sheriff’s booth was unmanned when I walked by.
In the next building, the Libertarian Party booth was the first I saw.
Jim Young, who ran for State Rep. as a Libertarian, was asking people to put pennies into the jar which best represented their beliefs about the national debt.
Into which jar would you put a penny supplied by the Libertarian Party?
Most pennies were in the “Cut Spending” jar.
Next door was the best political story.
The negative reaction of a modeling agency, which was across the aisle, and a County Fair Official’s reported reaction to a complaint was the best story I found. The complaining booth workers got another location.
The booth was called “Peter’s Net.” Those in it were clearly Catholics and they were explaining how Catholics were Pro-Life.
There were models of how large a baby was at various lengths of gestitation. This man was closely examining the part of the display at the early end of pregnancy.
Here’s a closer look at the models.
I particularly like the baby in God’s hands.
The booth renter across the aisle, described as a “modeling agency” complained about the medical models to Fair Officials. One came and, I’m told, said that the display might not be allowed next year.
The models at the other Pro-Life booth.
Since I vividly remember a similar display from 2000 at the McHenry County Right-To-Life organization, I have a hard time understanding such logic, assuming the story that reached my ears was correct.
It certainly makes no economic sense for the Fair, since another Catholic group, renting three or four spaces–as many as the Sheriff’s Department–also had in utero models.
Maybe it was the message on the button saying, “It’s a child, not a choice” that bothered the folks across the aisle or maybe the models were drawing too much attention from the young girls the complaining booth was targeting.
Just around the corner was the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee’s booth.
Terry Kappel and John Darger were staffing the Democrats booth.
They had an intimidating American history quiz that they were encouraging people to take. I was told Jack Franks wouldn’t take it.
This “Hands Off my Medicare” sign was on the side of the Democrats’ booth.
I hesitated, read the questions on the front page and figured by 7th and 8th grade American history classes would stand me in good stead. Then I started checking off the best answer. I did find until I got to the national debt question. It asked when the first debt ceiling had been passed. That was not in any of the American history classes I took. I won’t ruin the quiz. Suffice is to say that was my only wrong answer.
As I continued my political tour of the McHenry County Fair, I found a second large Pro-Life booth.
“Life is Sacred” is the largest print one sees as one approaches this booth from the south.
Young girls were looking at a display of baby booties and shoes called “Little Soles.”
“Little Soles” is the title of this Pro-Life display..
This is the other booth in which I found the in utero models seen above.
There is also a big banner proclaiming “Life Is Sacred” with a Bible quote.
The booth tee shirt.
Right across the aisle was the booth of the McHenry County Sportsman’s Association and the McHenry County Right to Carry Association.
With Illinois’ being the last state in the union where individuals are not allowed to carry firearms to protect themselves, the petition signatures gathered in past years may have been the reason that Jack Franks’ flipped from being opposed to being favor.
Barbara Wheeler, the only Republican candidate to have announced for the 64th State Representative District, talks with Anthony Lopez President of the McHenry County Sportsman’s Association at the booth his group and the McHenry County Right to Carry Association sponsored at the County Fair.
President Anthony Lopez was standing out front talking to Barb Wheeler, who was helping staff the booth. His wife Laura Rakers was behind the table with Richard Pere.
I went looking for Congressman Joe Walsh’s outpost.
Erin Westphal drew tent staffing duty for Congressman Joe Walsh. At the Wauconda Town Hall Meeting, she was one bringing the microphone to those who want to ask questions or make statements.
It was on the midway in a corner tent.
I doubled back to the building with the Sheriff’s display in hopes of finding Sheriff Keith Nygren and was rewarded by his presence.
Sheriff Keith Nygren talking to two members of his staff.
I made another circuit and found Congressman Don Manzullo’s booth. Former Wonder Lake resident Marilyn Davis was behind the table.
Kathleen Davis was staffing Congressman Don Manzullo’s booth.
As I left the building, Nunda Township Republican Chairman Brent Smith and Sheriff Nygren were having a conversation.
On the way out, I saw John O’Neill, an announced candidate for McHenry County Board staffing the Ray Chevrolet tent.
