Charles Weech
Michael Chmiel
Three McHenry County Circuit Court Judges are on the ballot for retention.
They run unopposed on what is called a “retention” ballot.
If they receive 60% of the vote, they get another six years.
If they don’t, they are off the bench.
They are
Ken Koehler and Dan Rutherford chat briefly after Rutherford's speech at Lakeside Center.
The guest speaker for McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler’s Koehlerfest was State Treasurer Dan Rutherford.
Meeting at Lakeside Center’s dining room, Koehler introduced him as “a good friend of McHenry County.”
Some of the crowd at the 2012 Koehlerfest. At the table in the foreground is Chuck Lutzow and Judge Michael Chmiel.
The gathering of Koehler supporters was also “Chainsaw Jack” Franks’ prospective opponent Tonya Franklin’s “coming out party.”
Introduced to Koehler as the woman who was going to keep Jack Franks off his back, Franklin received nothing but encouragement.
He said he would be at the Special Meeting of the County Central Committee at 9 AM at D’Andrea’s in Crystal Lake on this Saturday morning.
Koehler noted that he is the only Republican elected official to take Franks on.
Tonya Franklin did some retail campaigning.
As Tonya worked the room, those trying to suppress turnout sufficiently so there will not be a quorum on Saturday morning were seen talking to Precinct Committeemen with whom she had talked.
Tom McDermott
While they were doing their thing, I was trying to find people to fill empty precincts.
One Koehler contributor seemed quite interested so I passed his name onto Tom McDermott, who heads the Algonquin Township Committee looking for people willing to work in the fall election.
I ran into former McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Jack Schaffer, who was State Senator in the 1970′s (and beyond), and introduced him to Tonya.
“Go get them,” he said encouragingly.
Other candidates were in attendance.
Working the room most systematically was GOP State Rep. candidate David McSweeney.
State Rep. candidate David McSweeney worked all the tables in the room.
He is still unopposed, although Dee Beaubien is circulating petitions to gain ballot access as an Independent.
To be a candidate, Beaubien has to file petition signatures in Springfield the same as Tonya Franklin.
Leslie Schermerhorn was accompanied by family members to Koehlerfest.
The woman slated to run for McHenry County Superintendent of Schools by the Central Committee, Leslie Schermerhorn, was in attendance with a number of family members.
McHenry County State’s attorney was in attendance. He greeted Tonya Franklin warmly.
Yvonne Barnes
Carolyn Schofield
I also saw County Board candidates Yvonne Barnes, from Cary and running in District 1, and District 2 candidate Carolyn Schofield, currently serving on the Crystal Lake City Council.
District 5 candidate John Jung, who lives in Bull Valley and is the Republican Precinct Committeeman in the only Jack Franks precinct containing part of Crystal Lake, was at the event with his wife and newly-appointed Dorr Township Precinct Committeeman Josie.
= = = = =
If I missed a candidate, please let me know in a comment so I can complete the story.
Mass was celebrated at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Crystal Lake. A setting sun reflects the saint's image.
Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church began the day for those attending the first McHenry County Catholic Prayer Breakfast.
Jeff Ladd, Jr., offered one of the prayers.
Boulder Ridge Country Club was the next destination.
Down Randall Road to Miller Road the cars drove.
The place was packed.
Over 500 people by one estimate.
Randy Hultgren posed with GOP Committeemen Bob Borchart and Joyce Story. Hultgren knocked on doors in Story's McHenry precinct last weekend. Please identify the woman on the left.
After the welcome by event chairman Fred Wickham and a prayer by Msgr. Daniel Hermes, breakfast was served.
A prayer for our country’s leaders, out nation and families was offered by Jeff Ladd, Jr.
There were politicians courting votes.
Both Congressman Randy Hultgren and Joe Walsh were in attendance.
Joe Walsh, accompanied by campaign aide Andy Nelms before the program began.
The two are Pro-Life.
The sanctity of human life was one of the topics of the main speaker, Raymond Cardinal Burke.
Another was birth control.
The Cardinal spoke at length.
The Cardinal’s biography identifies him as “one of the foremost authorities on Roman Catholic cannon law.
“Raymond Cardinal Burke leads with an unwavering passion for the integrity of Catholic doctrine embodied in the words of Jesus Christ,” it continues.
The Cardinal was born in 1948 in Richland Center, Wisconsin.
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke
Ordained by Pope Paul VI in 1975 in Rome, one of his first assignments was teaching religion at Aquinas High School in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
After studying canon law at Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he became the first American to hold the position of Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Catholic Church’s supreme court.
He now serves Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, to which post he was appointed in 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI.
Brian Burch
McHenry County’s local prelate, Rockford-based Bishop Thomas Doran, helped celebrate the Mass and gave a talk at the breakfast.
Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote.org, also spoke to the group. It’s a lay movement of committed Catholics who “are passionate about living our the truths proclaimed by Christ and His Church in the modern world.”
Issues promoted include
Anne Majewski
But, back to political figures in McHenry County.
Candidate for Coroner Anne Majewski was in an exuberant mode.
I saw a photo of Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley.
From the program, I see that County Board member Nick Provenzano played a role.
So did County Board candidate Mary Alger.
County Board member Barbara Wheeler, who is running for State Representative, was caught posing with Patriots United Brian Kelly and Judge Michael Chmiel.
Joe Wheeler, his wife, State Rep. candidate Barb Wheeler and Circuit Judge Mike Chmiel attended the breakfast.
You see Jean Bianchi with Rosemary and Bob Blazier in the photo below, so I assume State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi was also present.
Standing to the left of a woman I don't know is Jean Bianchi ,the wife of McHenry County's State's Attorney. Sitting are former Crystal Lake District 47 Grade School Superintendent Bob Blazier and his wife Rosemary.
Below is a list of the members of the Board of Directors of the prayer breakfast.
The people responsible for putting on the event.
About a fourth of the crowd at the rural Nunda Township estate that hosted Barbara Wheeler's fund raiser.
An impressive crowd turned out for McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler’s fund raiser for her State Rep. campaign.
It's been a long time since I dipped into Lake County politics. Wheeler has no choice since just over 50% of the new 64th District is across the county line. Bryan Winter, who is running for Lake County State's Attorney, was accompanied by his wife Judge Diane Winter. Former McHenry County State's Attorney candidate Dan Regna can be seen in the foreground. He was not the only one from Lake County present.
From those attending, I concluded that she will be the favorite of most of the McHenry County part of the 64th District that she seeks to represent.
Donna Kurtz chatted with Duane Sokolosky, an Algonquin Township GOP Precinct Committeeman.
There were candidates galore, including several thinking seriously about running for County Board, incumbents running for re-election, plus those interested in Grafton Township governmental slots. Of significance is that none of Grafton Township is within the 64th District.
McHenry County Board member Tina Hill visited with Crystal Lake Grade School Board member Nancy Gonsiorek.
The idea of fund raisers is to raise money, of course.
Newly-appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney and his wife Elizabeth conversed with Right to Life leaders Bonnie Quirke (Lake County) and Irene Napier (McHenry County). Like Wheeler's, Gaffney's district straddles the Lake-McHenry County line.
There was no set price, so there is no way anyone outside of Wheeler’s campaign knows how much was contributed, but there are several observations that can be made.
Barb Wheeler greets McHenry County Circuit Judge Mike Chmiel.
A successful fund raiser has to keep down expenses. The private home eliminated the need to rent a hall.
In this view of people attending Barb Wheeler's fund raiser I see former Crystal Lake City Council candidate Mike Shorten on the far left.
Beer, wine, soft drinks and water were provided, as were Italian beef sandwiches. There were some other light snacks.
How late did the party, which started at 6, last? This was my last shot. You seen Nunda Township Republican Party Chairman Brent Smith and Joe Gottemoller well after sunset.
The execution of the event pretty much guaranteed the net would be as large as possible.
Although it doesn’t make much of a story, those who stay home and send money can increase the total contributed at events like this.
Judge Michael Chmiel
In a 49-page decision by the Illinois Courts Commission, McHenry County Circuit Court Judge Michael Chmiel received a reprimand.
After laying out the facts of Count 1 of the case involving the emergency bond hearing for David Miller, brother of Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller, the Commission concluded,
“Convening a special bond hearing at the request of a friend for the friend’s brother could create an appearance with the general public that a social relationship or private interest prompted the hearing. Finally, respondent himself conceded that his conduct, in retrospect, created the appearance of impropriety.
“Therefor, we conclude the Board has met its burden of proof with respect to establishing the appearance of impropriety by responde3nt in holding a bond hearing on June 16, 2007.
“As to whether respondent committed an actual impropriety by conducting the special hearing, we conclude the Board has not established the charge by clear and convincing evidence. The issue here is not what the public perceived but whether the Board has established by clear and convincing evidence that respondent’s relationship with Robert Miller influenced the judge’s conduct that day.”
The decision points out that Tom Carroll of the State’s Attorney’s Office knew of the way the request for a bond hearing had been initiated and had no objection to participating.
“In light of the above, we conclude the Board has not established that an act of impropriety occurred in setting the $10,000 bond for David Miller.”
Count 2 had to do with Judge Chmiel engaging in ex parte communications in which Chmiel said that he just discussed “only the logistics of scheduling the special bond hearing and did not discuss the merits nor substance of the felony charge against David Miller.”
The conclusion:
“:…we hold that the Board has failed to present clear and convincing evidence to sustain a claim against respondent…The record contains no evidence that the ex parte communications with Robert Miller and respondent had any impact on respondent’s ruling concerning the setting of bond for David Miller, or affected the overall outcome of the case.”
Count 3 involved the charge that Judge Chmiel violated judicial ethics by “making false statements to and misleading the Board.”
The charge involved whether Chmiel
“Did the Board prove by clear and convincing evidence that respondent lied at the October 12th appearance when he stated that (a) Rebecca Lee had called him and (b) had asked him to hold a special bond hearing?” the decision asks.
“Considering all the evidence available to us, we conclude that it did not.”
“Did the Board prove by clear and convincing evidence that respondent lied at the October 12th appearance when he stated that (a) described the nature of his relationship with Robert Miller after he assumed the bench and (b) described the quality of their relationship after the Millers failed to support Marie Chmiel’s bid to become county auditor?”
“Considering all the evidence available to us, we conclude that it did not.”
“Did the Board prove by clear and convincing evidence that respondent lied at the October 12th appearance when he testified in October 2007 that the relationship between Robert Miller and David Miller had been one of estrangement for many years?”
“Considering all the evidence available to us, we conclude that it did not.”
“Did the Board prove by clear and convincing evidence that respondent lied or attempted to mislead through his omission to tell the Board about his phone conversation with Robert Miller about 12:30 on June 16, 2007?”
“Considering all the evidence available to us, we conclude that it did not.”
The conclusion of the decision:
“For the foregoing reasons, it is the judgment of the Commission that the conduct of respondent in holding a bond hearing on June 16, 2007 created the appearance of impropriety and warrants the imposition of reprimand. NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby ordered that respondent is reprimanded.”
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gallo.
Starting today and continuing tomorrow, August 24th and 25th, McHenry County Judge Michael Chmiel will appear before the Illinois Courts Commission to answer charges that he provided favoritism for campaign supporter Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller’s brother.
Actions against Illinois judges like this doesn’t happen very often.
Acting as the prosecuting attorney will be former Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gallo.
The photo you see of Gallo was taken from a television interview after the jury made its decisions on former Governor Rod Blagojevich.
The Daily Herald’s Jameel Naqvi is reporting that McHenry County Judge Mide Chmiel was injured in a car accident near Marengo on Sunday.
He was flown to Rockford’s St. Anthony Medical Center, where he remains. Members of his family, who were with him, have been released from the hospital.
For details, check out the article.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a data base with those who get state paychecks.
The 2008 information is arrayed from highest to lowest. It comes straight from the State Comptroller’s Office.
I remember when this information was only supplied to the county chairmen of each party. It was distributed in paper form once a month. It was right there in the state statutes.
The better to find contributors and works, it’s my guess.
Let’s take a look at the top earners. The top twenty are below.
You’ll recognize a lot of judges in the list below. All of them will get a cost of living raise on July 1st.
You can bet there will be thanks and rejoicing at the Miller household in Cary this Christmas.
That’s because 22nd Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Michael Feetterer dumped the Cary Police charge of obstruction of justice charge. It resulted from David Miller’s dumping a load of gravel Saturday, June 16, 2007, rather than going to a weigh station, as instructed.
Judge Feetterer ruled that the prosecution did not provide that charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
The decision freed Miller from the possibility of serving up to three years in state prison.
Feetterer did not, however, let Miller completely off the hook. He found him guilty of a business offense and fined him $2,000, the maximum amount possible. Miller also has to pay court costs in addition to the $2,000.
According to Josh Stockinger’s Daily Herald story,
“Last week, he testified that he thought the weight check was a ‘waste of time’ and an example of police targeting truckers for revenue. ‘I didn’t think I was doing anything illegal,’ he said.”
The story was featured in the Northwest Herald a month after the arrest.
The paper reported Miller’s brother, Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller, called his friend Judge Mike Chmiel after his brother’s Saturday arrest, which was after the regular Saturday bond hearings. He sought another bond hearing, so his brother would not have to spend the weekend in jail.
Chmiel held such a bond hearing.
The Judicial Inquiry Board got involved, filing a complaint against Chmiel and sent an investigator to interview witnesses in McHenry County.
No action has resulted from what presumably is the resulting report. The next move is by the Illinois Courts Commission, to which any report from the Judicial Inquiry Board would be submitted.
David Miller’s niece (Bob Miller’s daughter) Rebecca Lee was the defense attorney in the case.
Some comments below the Daily Herald article and Northwest Herald story are pretty biting.
= = = = =
The McHenry County Courthouse is the building you see.
McHenry County Board member Anna Miller and her husband, Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller, are seen behind two unidentified women entering the Illinois Republican Party Convention in Decatur. Judge Michael Chmiel can be seen below.
You can bet there will be thanks and rejoicing at the Miller household in Cary this Christmas.
That’s because 22nd Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Michael Feetterer dumped the Cary Police charge of obstruction of justice charge. It resulted from David Miller’s dumping a load of gravel Saturday, June 16, 2007, rather than going to a weigh station, as instructed.
Judge Feetterer ruled that the prosecution did not provide that charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
The decision freed Miller from the possibility of serving up to three years in state prison.
Feetterer did not, however, let Miller completely off the hook. He found him guilty of a business offense and fined him $2,000, the maximum amount possible. Miller also has to pay court costs in addition to the $2,000.
According to Josh Stockinger’s Daily Herald story,
“Last week, he testified that he thought the weight check was a ‘waste of time’ and an example of police targeting truckers for revenue. ‘I didn’t think I was doing anything illegal,’ he said.”
The story was featured in the Northwest Herald a month after the arrest.
The paper reported Miller’s brother, Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller, called his friend Judge Mike Chmiel after his brother’s Saturday arrest, which was after the regular Saturday bond hearings. He sought another bond hearing, so his brother would not have to spend the weekend in jail.
Chmiel held such a bond hearing.
The Judicial Inquiry Board got involved, filing a complaint against Chmiel and sent an investigator to interview witnesses in McHenry County.
No action has resulted from what presumably is the resulting report. The next move is by the Illinois Courts Commission, to which any report from the Judicial Inquiry Board would be submitted.
David Miller’s niece (Bob Miller’s daughter) Rebecca Lee was the defense attorney in the case.
Some comments below the Daily Herald article and Northwest Herald story are pretty biting.
= = = = =
The McHenry County Courthouse is the building you see.
McHenry County Board member Anna Miller and her husband, Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller, are seen behind two unidentified women entering the Illinois Republican Party Convention in Decatur. Judge Michael Chmiel can be seen below.
Latest Posts
