McHenry County Blog

Michael Sneed reports that Merchandise Mart honcho Chris Kennedy is “underground” concerning his candidacy for whatever.

He is so underground that he refuses to talk to WBBM-TV political reporter Mike Flannery. Flannery expressed his distaste (or, maybe, it was jealousy) when he appeared on WTTW’s “Week in Review” recently.

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The Sun-Times is reporting that Kennedy is running for nothing.
= = = = =

Also among the missing as far as political ambitions go is McHenry County’s Democratic Party State Representative Jack Franks.

Franks floated the notion that he was considering running for governor in the Northwest Herald, but the “great mentioner” hasn’t been mentioning Franks’ name since State Comptroller Dan Hynes made it clear that he would challenge appointed Governor Pat Quinn in the Democratic Party primary election.

No word from him since he returned from a family fishing trip in northern Ontario.

Except a letter opposing McHenry County’s permitting slot machines. He sent it to McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler, a known gambling proponent.

Such a letter was obviously aimed at the conservative voters in his western and northern McHenry County district.

A sizable number picketed him and State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington Hills) about co-sponsoring House Bill 2354 in front of Franks’ office on a blistering March, 2009, Saturday. Both state representatives retreated.

My guess Franks will be unwilling to roll the dice for higher office in what is shaping up to be a Republican election year.

In spite of massive contributions from his family.

All that name identification and no where to go but the ice cream social at the Wonder Lake Water Ski Show.

Oops. That was when he was in Canada, wasn’t it?

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The Wonder Lake Water Ski Show picture is from 2008.

49th district Republican state representative challenger Jim Krenz has released a poll that shows incumbent Tim Schmitz pretty much unknown in his legislative district.

The district covers much of northern Kane County, including Sun City and a large part of Carpentersville School District 300 and stretched down to St. Charles along the western side of Kane County.

It found two-thirds of Schmitz’ constituents had no opinion of him or had never heard of him.

But neither is Krenz well known. His poll shows 75% have no opinion of him or haven’t heard of him.

So, the race could almost be considered a “blank slate” race.

I wonder if that is unusual for a suburban Chicago district.

Springfield politics does not have the importance to Chicago-area voters that it does to voters elsewhere in Illinois.

Most Downstate legislators are well-known, because they appear on TV. No such luck for most Chicago state representatives and senators.

In fact, when you see your local state legislator on Chicago TV, you know he has made the big time. That’s precisely what I thought when I first saw Crystal Lake’s two-term State Representative George Lindberg on Chicago television for the first time. Lindberg went on to be elected Illinois’ first State Comptroller.

Using that criterion, the only suburban legislator to make the “big time” today is Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks.

The poll, by the way, was taken by Carbondale’s Communication Express. Here are the questions and detailed results.

Positive opinions were found among 23% of those called for Schmitz and 15% for Krenz. Negatives were 10% and 9%, respectively, for the two.

Probably trying to find out what role former U.S. House Speaker Denny Hastert could play if he endorsed Schmitz, the poll found 60% had a favorable viewpoint of the former congressman. 20% had negative feelings and 20% no opinion or had not heard of him.

Six issues were probed in the automate telephone poll, two in more depth than the rest:

1. Discounted, in-state tuition rates for non-citizens [a law that Schmitz supported]. 84% opposed the idea; 10% favored it.
2. Term limits. 69% supported term limits. [Schmitz is in his fifth term.]

In the last of six questions, people were asked to rank the importance of four more issues. Here’s how it came out:

• 36% – Taxes
• 29% – Immigration
• 21% – Education reform
• 14% – Ethics in government

Jim Krenz press release follows:

SCHMITZ LOW
APPROVAL RATING

CARPENTERSVILLE, IL January 9, 2008 A recent poll shows 49th State House incumbent, Tim Schmitz with only a 24% positive rating, and with 67% of the voters having no opinion or saying they have never heard of him.

Jim Krenz, candidate in the Republican primary for the 49th State House, states, “These numbers accurately reflect what voters have been venting as I have been walking this district since August 2007.

“Tim Schmitz is a career politician who has obviously stopped representing the people of this district and concentrated instead on keeping his job. You would not expect these numbers from an elected official in office 9 years, and in leadership.”

In another part of the survey, taxes and immigration were the issues voters feel is most important to Kane County.

Jim Krenz responded, “When Schmitz voted for State ID cards and college tuition breaks for non-citizens, he voted against the wishes of his constituents. But if he never calls them, writes them, or visits them, it is easy to see how he had no idea what was important to them.”

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Jim Krenz is on the top left. State Rep. Tim Schmitz is on the upper left. The black and white head shot is of former State Comptroller, now Federal Judge George Lindberg, when he was state representative. Thanks to Leona Nelson for the photo. The large picture was taken at the Northwest Herald’s 2006 8th congressional district debate between Melissa Bean and Dave McSweeney. It shows State Rep. Jack Franks pitching a story about his bill to license contractors to panelist Mike Flannery, WBBM-TV’s political reporter, who was on the panel asking questions.

49th district Republican state representative challenger Jim Krenz has released a poll that shows incumbent Tim Schmitz pretty much unknown in his legislative district.

The district covers much of northern Kane County, including Sun City and a large part of Carpentersville School District 300 and stretched down to St. Charles along the western side of Kane County.

It found two-thirds of Schmitz’ constituents had no opinion of him or had never heard of him.

But neither is Krenz well known. His poll shows 75% have no opinion of him or haven’t heard of him.

So, the race could almost be considered a “blank slate” race.

I wonder if that is unusual for a suburban Chicago district.

Springfield politics does not have the importance to Chicago-area voters that it does to voters elsewhere in Illinois.

Most Downstate legislators are well-known, because they appear on TV. No such luck for most Chicago state representatives and senators.

In fact, when you see your local state legislator on Chicago TV, you know he has made the big time. That’s precisely what I thought when I first saw Crystal Lake’s two-term State Representative George Lindberg on Chicago television for the first time. Lindberg went on to be elected Illinois’ first State Comptroller.

Using that criterion, the only suburban legislator to make the “big time” today is Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks.

The poll, by the way, was taken by Carbondale’s Communication Express. Here are the questions and detailed results.

Positive opinions were found among 23% of those called for Schmitz and 15% for Krenz. Negatives were 10% and 9%, respectively, for the two.

Probably trying to find out what role former U.S. House Speaker Denny Hastert could play if he endorsed Schmitz, the poll found 60% had a favorable viewpoint of the former congressman. 20% had negative feelings and 20% no opinion or had not heard of him.

Six issues were probed in the automate telephone poll, two in more depth than the rest:

1. Discounted, in-state tuition rates for non-citizens [a law that Schmitz supported]. 84% opposed the idea; 10% favored it.
2. Term limits. 69% supported term limits. [Schmitz is in his fifth term.]

In the last of six questions, people were asked to rank the importance of four more issues. Here’s how it came out:

• 36% – Taxes
• 29% – Immigration
• 21% – Education reform
• 14% – Ethics in government

Jim Krenz press release follows:

SCHMITZ LOW
APPROVAL RATING

CARPENTERSVILLE, IL January 9, 2008 A recent poll shows 49th State House incumbent, Tim Schmitz with only a 24% positive rating, and with 67% of the voters having no opinion or saying they have never heard of him.

Jim Krenz, candidate in the Republican primary for the 49th State House, states, “These numbers accurately reflect what voters have been venting as I have been walking this district since August 2007.

“Tim Schmitz is a career politician who has obviously stopped representing the people of this district and concentrated instead on keeping his job. You would not expect these numbers from an elected official in office 9 years, and in leadership.”

In another part of the survey, taxes and immigration were the issues voters feel is most important to Kane County.

Jim Krenz responded, “When Schmitz voted for State ID cards and college tuition breaks for non-citizens, he voted against the wishes of his constituents. But if he never calls them, writes them, or visits them, it is easy to see how he had no idea what was important to them.”

= = = = =
Jim Krenz is on the top left. State Rep. Tim Schmitz is on the upper left. The black and white head shot is of former State Comptroller, now Federal Judge George Lindberg, when he was state representative. Thanks to Leona Nelson for the photo. The large picture was taken at the Northwest Herald’s 2006 8th congressional district debate between Melissa Bean and Dave McSweeney. It shows State Rep. Jack Franks pitching a story about his bill to license contractors to panelist Mike Flannery, WBBM-TV’s political reporter, who was on the panel asking questions.

This press release from the Illinois Republican Party is too funny not to share:

Governor for
a day –
Brought to you by the Illinois Republican Party

Winner gets relaxing day in Chicago courtesy of ILGOP

CHICAGO – In light of the recent expose on the carefree lifestyle led by Governor Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois Republican Party is conducting a special drawing across the state to make one lucky Illinoisan Governor for a Day.

“While we can’t give you a $155,000 taxpayer funded paycheck to do nothing, we will attempt to come close by giving you what we believe one day in the life of Rod Blagojevich might be like,” said ILGOP Spokesperson Lance Trover.

The winner of Governor for a Day will begin the day at the hour of their choice.

From then, they will be ushered to a salon for a haircut and massage.

Following their time at the salon they will be treated to a first-class lunch which will be followed by a tour of the City of Chicago including visits to the Sears Tower and other Chicago landmarks.

Ensuring they are treated just like our current governor, the winners will end their day by attending a Chicago Blackhawk’s game.

“While it is clear this sort of lifestyle is normal for Rod Blagojevich on any given day, it’s far from normal for the average Illinoisan,” added Trover. “Hopefully this day will give one hardworking Illinoisan the opportunity to live like the Governor they help fund with their hard earned tax dollars.”

To ensure all Illinoisans have a shot at being Governor for a Day, anyone can email their name and contact information to GovernorforaDay@ilgop.org and they will be assigned a specific number for Wednesday’s drawing. One entry per person.

The special drawing will kick off at noon on Friday, November 30, in front of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago and the Illinois Capitol in Springfield. ILGOP staff will be present handing out free drawing tickets at both locations.

The winning number will be announced on WeAreIllinois.org at noon on Wednesday, December 5, 2007.

Best of luck to all entrants. And just remember: being Governor of Illinois is not hard work, as long as you don’t show up.

It seems the contest winner is not required to go to the State Capitol in Springfield.

The first part of the Governor’s defense appears on the TV screen.

It’s the first time I have even heard Channel Two’s veteran political reporter Mike Flannery referred to as “sleazy.” Somehow, I think that might motivate him to concentrate more on Governor Rod Blagojevich’s foibles.

This press release from the Illinois Republican Party is too funny not to share:

Governor for
a day –
Brought to you by the Illinois Republican Party

Winner gets relaxing day in Chicago courtesy of ILGOP

CHICAGO – In light of the recent expose on the carefree lifestyle led by Governor Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois Republican Party is conducting a special drawing across the state to make one lucky Illinoisan Governor for a Day.

“While we can’t give you a $155,000 taxpayer funded paycheck to do nothing, we will attempt to come close by giving you what we believe one day in the life of Rod Blagojevich might be like,” said ILGOP Spokesperson Lance Trover.

The winner of Governor for a Day will begin the day at the hour of their choice.

From then, they will be ushered to a salon for a haircut and massage.

Following their time at the salon they will be treated to a first-class lunch which will be followed by a tour of the City of Chicago including visits to the Sears Tower and other Chicago landmarks.

Ensuring they are treated just like our current governor, the winners will end their day by attending a Chicago Blackhawk’s game.

“While it is clear this sort of lifestyle is normal for Rod Blagojevich on any given day, it’s far from normal for the average Illinoisan,” added Trover. “Hopefully this day will give one hardworking Illinoisan the opportunity to live like the Governor they help fund with their hard earned tax dollars.”

To ensure all Illinoisans have a shot at being Governor for a Day, anyone can email their name and contact information to GovernorforaDay@ilgop.org and they will be assigned a specific number for Wednesday’s drawing. One entry per person.

The special drawing will kick off at noon on Friday, November 30, in front of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago and the Illinois Capitol in Springfield. ILGOP staff will be present handing out free drawing tickets at both locations.

The winning number will be announced on WeAreIllinois.org at noon on Wednesday, December 5, 2007.

Best of luck to all entrants. And just remember: being Governor of Illinois is not hard work, as long as you don’t show up.

It seems the contest winner is not required to go to the State Capitol in Springfield.

The first part of the Governor’s defense appears on the TV screen.

It’s the first time I have even heard Channel Two’s veteran political reporter Mike Flannery referred to as “sleazy.” Somehow, I think that might motivate him to concentrate more on Governor Rod Blagojevich’s foibles.

Glory be!

Look at the gift our Illinois General Assembly has blessed me with.

A cut of $85.91 in my October electric bill. (Click on bill to enlarge.)

We only have to pay 5.34 this month.

The rest has mysteriously disappeared thanks to that super-electric rate regulator, the Illinois General Assembly.

It’s really a throwback to the days before the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Electric magnate Sam Insull used to have to buy the favors of the Illinois General Assembly. He got tired of doing that, according to his secretary, and got them to create the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Fewer people to buy is what I was told.

Now, Insull’s successors run Commonwealth Edison.

The free market advocates of the late 1990’s, not to mention then-ComEd Exec Sam Skinner (no relation), pressed for an auction system.

It would lower ComEd’s rates from being the highest in the Midwest to, maybe average.

Somehow, I don’t think it worked out that way.

ComEd got permission to sell of the very-costly-to-build and really-inefficiently-run (at least in 1980, when I last got monthly reports on the subject) nuclear power plants.

So, the nuclear power generation benefit Illinois rate payers paid dearly for over the decades was bartered away for, what, a ten-year rate freeze.

I certainly didn’t figure out that part of the complicated bill out. Frankly, I doubt that many members of the General Assembly knew the implications of the proposal.

In any event, when the ICC held the free market auctions, the bids came in quite high.

The competition promised by the de-regulation advocates did not materialize.

Instead much higher bills–up 24%–in ComEd began arriving in customers mail boxes. In the non-Com Ed, mainly Ameren territory, the electric bills were much, much, much higher.

Folks in northern Illinois who are regularly taken to the cleaners by the tollway, the RTA and, in the collar counties, but not in Cook County, by much higher property taxes pretty much shrugged and paid the 24% higher bills.

In Central and Southern Illinois, however, the folks went ballistic.

It became the “you son of a b—-h, if you don’t lower these rates, we’ll kick you out of office” issue of the year.

The result was that northern Illinois folks got screwed to the wall again. Upside down. With money falling out of their pockets.

With 70% of the residential customer base, ComEd and its parent company ponied up 80% of the approximately half billion dollar of refunds, but its customers only got half back.

Too many northern Illinois legislators allowed a disproportionate share of the money pried out of our electric company’s pockets to be shunted to Central and Southern Illinois ratepayers.

Here’s what CBS Channel Two Mike Flannery’s reported:

“Some representatives complained that the northern Illinois ComEd service area was getting an unfair small share, with ComEd and its corporate parent, Exelon, contributing 80 percent and downstate Ameren only 20 percent of the funds.

“But the actual rate relief cash was being split 50-50, a net transfer of nearly $300 million from the Chicago area’s 3.8 million ComEd customers to Ameren’s 1.2 million customers downstate (emphasis added).

“’I think if you represent a ComEd rate-payer, you have to ask yourself why is the rate-payer in ComEd having to subsidize the rest of the state,’ said Rep. Michael Tryon (R-Crystal Lake).“

$85.91 was cut from my family’s bill, which apparently was higher than average. (I’ll have to do more to follow Jimmy Carter’s White House example by flicking off more lights.)

Ameren customers were guaranteed a $100 rebate.

What did that Reform Party presidential candidate Ross Perot say about hearing a “great sucking sound?”

At least in Illinois we know where it is going?

But, hey, it couldn’t have been much better for incumbent state representatives and senators…unless the “General Assembly Rate Relief Credit” (look at the bill; that’s what it says) had arrived on January’s electric bill—right before the February 5th primary election.

But more research tells me I’ll get about $10 a month on each of the rest of this year’s bills.

Presumably the General Assembly will get political credit each time.

And the last bill will come the month before the primary.

How convenient for incumbents.

In other news, ComEd shares went up over 2% the day rate relief bill passed, stockholders were so relieved that a rate freeze was dead.

All images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Glory be!

Look at the gift our Illinois General Assembly has blessed me with.

A cut of $85.91 in my October electric bill. (Click on bill to enlarge.)

We only have to pay 5.34 this month.

The rest has mysteriously disappeared thanks to that super-electric rate regulator, the Illinois General Assembly.

It’s really a throwback to the days before the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Electric magnate Sam Insull used to have to buy the favors of the Illinois General Assembly. He got tired of doing that, according to his secretary, and got them to create the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Fewer people to buy is what I was told.

Now, Insull’s successors run Commonwealth Edison.

The free market advocates of the late 1990’s, not to mention then-ComEd Exec Sam Skinner (no relation), pressed for an auction system.

It would lower ComEd’s rates from being the highest in the Midwest to, maybe average.

Somehow, I don’t think it worked out that way.

ComEd got permission to sell of the very-costly-to-build and really-inefficiently-run (at least in 1980, when I last got monthly reports on the subject) nuclear power plants.

So, the nuclear power generation benefit Illinois rate payers paid dearly for over the decades was bartered away for, what, a ten-year rate freeze.

I certainly didn’t figure out that part of the complicated bill out. Frankly, I doubt that many members of the General Assembly knew the implications of the proposal.

In any event, when the ICC held the free market auctions, the bids came in quite high.

The competition promised by the de-regulation advocates did not materialize.

Instead much higher bills–up 24%–in ComEd began arriving in customers mail boxes. In the non-Com Ed, mainly Ameren territory, the electric bills were much, much, much higher.

Folks in northern Illinois who are regularly taken to the cleaners by the tollway, the RTA and, in the collar counties, but not in Cook County, by much higher property taxes pretty much shrugged and paid the 24% higher bills.

In Central and Southern Illinois, however, the folks went ballistic.

It became the “you son of a b—-h, if you don’t lower these rates, we’ll kick you out of office” issue of the year.

The result was that northern Illinois folks got screwed to the wall again. Upside down. With money falling out of their pockets.

With 70% of the residential customer base, ComEd and its parent company ponied up 80% of the approximately half billion dollar of refunds, but its customers only got half back.

Too many northern Illinois legislators allowed a disproportionate share of the money pried out of our electric company’s pockets to be shunted to Central and Southern Illinois ratepayers.

Here’s what CBS Channel Two Mike Flannery’s reported:

“Some representatives complained that the northern Illinois ComEd service area was getting an unfair small share, with ComEd and its corporate parent, Exelon, contributing 80 percent and downstate Ameren only 20 percent of the funds.

“But the actual rate relief cash was being split 50-50, a net transfer of nearly $300 million from the Chicago area’s 3.8 million ComEd customers to Ameren’s 1.2 million customers downstate (emphasis added).

“’I think if you represent a ComEd rate-payer, you have to ask yourself why is the rate-payer in ComEd having to subsidize the rest of the state,’ said Rep. Michael Tryon (R-Crystal Lake).“

$85.91 was cut from my family’s bill, which apparently was higher than average. (I’ll have to do more to follow Jimmy Carter’s White House example by flicking off more lights.)

Ameren customers were guaranteed a $100 rebate.

What did that Reform Party presidential candidate Ross Perot say about hearing a “great sucking sound?”

At least in Illinois we know where it is going?

But, hey, it couldn’t have been much better for incumbent state representatives and senators…unless the “General Assembly Rate Relief Credit” (look at the bill; that’s what it says) had arrived on January’s electric bill—right before the February 5th primary election.

But more research tells me I’ll get about $10 a month on each of the rest of this year’s bills.

Presumably the General Assembly will get political credit each time.

And the last bill will come the month before the primary.

How convenient for incumbents.

In other news, ComEd shares went up over 2% the day rate relief bill passed, stockholders were so relieved that a rate freeze was dead.

All images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

I was struck by a headline in Dave Diersen’s GOPUSA ILLINOIS last week:

(Every day, Diersen searches out news that might be of interest to Illinois Republicans and sends out summaries and email links. Sign up here.)

Three more casinos in the Chicago area, more than doubling casino gambling in Illinois in the Chicago metropolitan area, according to Mike Flannery’s story next to this print story.

From the text:

“Madigan told reporters he is skeptical of the new plan, saying it would make Chicago a major gambling area, second only to Las Vegas.

“’As long as the means don’t include taxes on people, I’d be happy to consider other alternatives,’ Blagojevich said.”

So, perhaps, we have House Speaker Mike Madigan worried about the long-term social and economic implications of moving Illinois closer to the Las Vegas model.

And, we have Governor Rod Blagojevich breaking his campaign promise not to expand gambling.

At least we know who the adult is and who’s the child.

Where would the money go?

CBS says, “The plan includes $300 million more for education, millions for school construction projects and a $200 million bailout for the Chicago area’s struggling mass transit systems.”
Second Only to Las Vegas

And, we have Governor Rod Blagojevich breaking his campaign promise not to expand gambling.

At least we know who the adult is and who’s the child.

I was struck by a headline in Dave Diersen’s GOPUSA ILLINOIS last week:

(Every day, Diersen searches out news that might be of interest to Illinois Republicans and sends out summaries and email links. Sign up here.)

Three more casinos in the Chicago area, more than doubling casino gambling in Illinois in the Chicago metropolitan area, according to Mike Flannery’s story next to this print story.

From the text:

“Madigan told reporters he is skeptical of the new plan, saying it would make Chicago a major gambling area, second only to Las Vegas.

“’As long as the means don’t include taxes on people, I’d be happy to consider other alternatives,’ Blagojevich said.”

So, perhaps, we have House Speaker Mike Madigan worried about the long-term social and economic implications of moving Illinois closer to the Las Vegas model.

And, we have Governor Rod Blagojevich breaking his campaign promise not to expand gambling.

At least we know who the adult is and who’s the child.

Where would the money go?

CBS says, “The plan includes $300 million more for education, millions for school construction projects and a $200 million bailout for the Chicago area’s struggling mass transit systems.”
Second Only to Las Vegas

And, we have Governor Rod Blagojevich breaking his campaign promise not to expand gambling.

At least we know who the adult is and who’s the child.