McHenry County Blog

Earlier I figured out the percentage turnout of Republican voters for Algonquin Township and Grafton Township. All parts of the three townships had contested primaries for Republican county board seats.

Nunda Township precinct map. Click to enlarge.

Nunda Township also had a hotly contested Republican county board primary. Five candidates ran with the results you see below:

In the analysis below you see the Nunda Township precinct number, the percentage of GOP turnout and the name of the elected precinct committeeman, if anyone ran for the office.

• Nunda 1 – 13.5%
• Nunda 2 – 12.2%
• Nunda 3 – 9.7%
• Nunda 4 – 10.2%
• Nunda 5 – 15.4% (Howard Parth)
• Nunda 6 – 13.0%
• Nunda 7 – 9.7% (Kevin Lee Jennings)
• Nunda 8 – 11.6% (Kathy Corwin)
• Nunda 9 – 11.8% (Bernard Narusis)
• Nunda 10 – 17.0%
• Nunda 11 – 22.5% (Mark Daniel)
• Nunda 12 – 13.9%
• Nunda 13 – 14.4% (James Becker)
• Nunda 14 – 11.4% (Patrick Collins)
• Nunda 15 – 16.4% (Mike Shorten)
• Nunda 16 – 19.5% (James Schlader)
• Nunda 17 – 16.7% (Nick Provensano)
• Nunda 18 – 22.6% (Dave Gervais)
• Nunda 19 – 13.7% (In the only contest, Jon Heideman beat Doug Mann.)
• Nunda 20 – 18.2%
• Nunda 21 – 16.7% (Brent Smith)
• Nunda 22 – 16.3%
• Nunda 23 – 9.3%
• Nunda 24 – 13.1%
• Nunda 25 – 10.9%
• Nunda 26 – 7.1%
• Nunda 27 – 7.0%
• Nunda 28 – 9.3%
• Nunda 29 – 22.7% (Barbara Wheeler)

So, who did the best job of getting GOP voters to the polls?

The only three precincts with turnouts over 20% are those of county board member and candidate Barb Wheeler, Dave Gervais and Mark Daniel.

If you live in one of the precincts without an elected precinct committeeman and would like to serve in that position, shoot me an email.

July 4th Crystal Lake TEA Party demonstration.

It’s time for those people who attended TEA Party demonstrations to increase the intensity of their activity.  Serving as a precinct committeeman is one way to do that.

The post of party precinct committeeman is usually not contested.

One doesn’t get compensated. If one writes a precinct letter, one has to dip into one’s own pocket to pay for it.

Look at the bottom of the sample ballots for the Republican and Democratic Parties and you’ll see precincts all over the place with no candidates.

I see no contests in the Democratic Party.

There were a couple in the Republican Party, however.

The Northwest Herald made a big deal about a three-way race between McHenry County Board member Ersel Schuster, attorney Mark Gummerson and Robert Schlenkert, a prime supporter of McHenry County Sheriff’s candidate Zane Seipler.

The results for that Seneca Township Precinct 1, in which Gummerson emerged victorious, follow

• Mark Gummerson – 112
• Ersel Schuster – 77
• Robert Schlenkert – 29

Jon Heideman and family

Schuster also lost the election for Seneca Township Supervisor last spring.

Nunda Township Precinct 19 had a two-way contest between active Young Republican Jon Heideman and William Mann.

Heideman won the face-off 88-76.

In Algonquin 35, former Crystal Lake City Council candidate Kay Stanish, having been appointed to the office, was challenged by David King.

Stanish turned back the challenge 54-44. Now she is an elected committeeman.

There was another race I Nunda 15, but when former Crystal Lake City Councilman Mike Shorten filed for the office, Joe Gottemoller, the other candidate withdrew in Shorten’s favor.

Two Crystal Lake Holiday Inn banquet halls were almost filled by people interested in the health care debate.

There were certainly more than 400 people in attendance and it may have come close to 500. Citizens who probably had never attended a policy meeting were mixed with those who had run for office like former Crystal Lake City Council candidate Mike Shorten, whom you see on the end of the row. Shorten was taking notes.

They were drawn by a Patriots United Town Hall meeting at which 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo, Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley (wearing his Centegra Health System executive hat and filling in for invited speaker Centegra President Mike Eesley) and Rockford employee benefits consultant Ryan Brauns were featured speakers.

Above you see the congressman speaking. The stack of paper in front of him is the 1,018 page health care reform bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. Brauns is on the left of the photo and Shepley is on the left.

Father Robert Sherry of McHenry’s Church of Holy Apostles prayed for a “civil tongue in civil discourse.”

His prayer was answered. Whether the $5 price of admission to help pay for the room was the reason or not, I don’t know, but there were no outbursts from members of the audience during the presentation of the health plan of Washington House Democrats, which could not have been described as a friendly one.

A sign at the entrance stated that no posters would be allowed. Both proponents and opponents of President Barack Obama’s health care plan complied with the rule.

Afterward, however, two supporters of reform did show me the placards they had brought to the meeting.

A homemade sign said,

A professionally printed sign from “Progressive Democrats of America” read,

There were some protesters outside. Here you see an early shot. Notice the two policemen in the background.

When I first turned into the parking lot from Three Oaks Road about 6:10, my first indication of a police presence was the squad car you see above.

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that police were everywhere. One organizer told me he had been told there were 14.

You will perhaps remember how Illinois Minutemen were forced to cancel a meeting at the Holiday Inn featuring Ohio Sheriff Daniel Beck. I’m writing a separate article on that.

I kidded Crystal Lake Police Chief Dave Linder that it helped to have the mayor as a speaker. He, of course, made no reply.

Note that Shepley’s copy of the House health care reform bill is half the size of Manzullo’s. Shepley said he used both sides of the paper.

Here’s Part 2.

Twelve people applied to replace Lisa Knoeppel on the Crystal Lake Elementary School Board.

Thursday night, after an Executive (that is, secret) session, the consensus was that Robert Fetzner would do the best job.

The board voted to select him. He will be sworn in at Monday night’s meeting.

The last name is a familiar one in the grade school district. His father Bill was principal at South Elementary School before he was elevated to a district administrative post.

Fetzner emerged from a pool of twelve applicants for the vacancy:

Mary Humphrey of Prides Run in Lake in the Hills and the following residents from Crystal Lake:

• Ralph DeGregor of Brairwood
• Lloyd Everard of Shadowood
• Jeff Larkins of Ackman Road
• Bob Linning of Village
• Eileen Palsgrove of Center
• Sue Sheehan of Silver Aspen
• Mike Shorten of Mira
• Michael Stick of Driftwood
• Terry Tubb of Glendale
• Larry Zurek of Wedgewood

The photo is from the South School award ceremony on Tuesday.

Community internet organizer Elsie Bouc cast a disapproving eye on the technique to get civil union bill to a point where it could be passed in one day, instead of the minimum of five envisioned by the 1970 constitutional mothers and fathers.

Crystal Laker Mike Shorten noted the same thing happened in the video slot machine bill in a comment under this article:

Uppity Citizen and Community Internet Organizer Angered by Homosexual Legislator’s Sneaky Shortcut

“This same process was used last week to slam through HB 255.

“After getting through the full version which, amended the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act, Senate President John Cullerton added Amendment 1 after the second reading in the House, which stripped out everything out of the house bill and replaced it with legalizing video gaming and increasing sales taxes on soda, hygiene products and alcohol by 525%.

“Two days later the house concurs, no reading in the house.

“Thanks to Rep. Tryon and Sen. Althoff for helping push this through.”

Sounds to me that Shorten is expressing displeasure to the passage of the video slot machine bill, but I know he has hit the nail right on the head.

Bills that are likely to generate public opposition often are whisked through the legislative process in less than the minimum of five separate days that the Illinois State Constitution envisions.

As I was walking around my precinct (Algonquin 7) today, I noticed a couple of Crystal Lake City Council challenger Mike Shorten’s handouts.

They were in plastic bags and I took one that had not been picked up by the homeowner since he or one of his volunteers left it.

I publish it today because I like to encourage candidates to campaign in this precinct. The more people encouraging people to vote, the higher the turnout percentage.

Before I was defeated in 2000 for precinct committeeman and state representative—both by a concerted effort by the pro-abortion Personal PAC—regularly over 50% of the precinct voted. That was after 36 years of my father’s and my writing letters and contacting voters urging them to vote.

My replacement did zilch and turnout declined. No big surprise there.

In any event, here is Shorten’s literature (click to enlarge):

The Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce has put statements from all the Crystal Lake City Council candidates here:

• David Bradford

• Ralph Dawson

• Sal Di Benedetto

• David Goss

• Mike Shorten

• Carolyn Schofield

• Kay Stanish

• Jeff Thorsen

They might help make up your mind.

McHenry County Blog received the following from Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen, who is running for reelection. He, like others, have had trouble posting comments for well over a year…ever since Google “improved” the Blogger host that I use.

Below I have turned his comment into an article. Other council candidates who wish to comment are welcome to do so. Just email what you want people to read to the email address way, way down on the right hand side of the page.

I can’t post a public comment on your site for some reason. 

Anyway,  the real news about the (Crystal Lake city) budget occurred last year when the Home Rule Sales Tax was passed. 

Mr. (Mike) Shorten’s concerns would be valid if by approving this budget we were committed to the 31 million he is referring to. 

I can tell you that what is in the budget is not yet approved. 

Once it is approved, the items are budgeted pending approval of each individual item as they come before the council in there own due time. T

The budget process is a 0 sum game. 

The expectation of revenue (real) has to bury itself in the phantom expenditures allocated in the budget. 

Remember I did not approve the 2008- 2009 budget.  I voted no.

I did not approve the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax. I voted no. (Two articles are relevant: Mayor Aaron Shepley’s reasons for voting “Yes;” city council member’s reasons for voting “Yes.”)

I have not had the opportunity to vote on this budget. 

I can tell you that there was a budget workshop open to, and published to, the public and many attended. Carolyn Schofield was there.  You may want to ask her if she felt there were some kind of shenanigans going on there. 

Take any budget and compare it to its corresponding year’s audit….what do you find? 

We are usually pretty close on the estimate of revenue and have not done many of the projects whose cost helps us achieve a balanced budget as predicted at the beginning of the fiscal year.  

This has traditionally left us in the black and the excess revenue flows directly to the general fund. 

The trick then is that the same project is returned to a future budget and expected to be funded through that budget….i.e. not allocation carry over.

The rest of the ranting I hear regarding this issue seems to spew from Chicken Little. 

If we are going to the public on these issues we owe them the facts and not any fiction! 

Bottom line is that the Capital expenditures budget appears to be relying on the TIF’s for their respective bonding repayment sources. NOT the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax.

Believe me when I tell you I am not defending the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax, here.   I do not see a corresponding allocation in the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax fund.  What I do see are the expenditures that may occur this year that will be repaid to the general fund by the bonding of the TIF’s when and if they can produce enough increment to bond. 

The fact that the budget has a special section regarding the H(ome)R(ule) sales tax is both helpful and somewhat misleading.   It is helpful to know the extraordinary expenditures for the coming fiscal year are covered by the H(ome) R(ule) tax. 

But the reality is the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax fund is an unrestricted component of the general fund. 

The money spent or expected to be spent on any TIF will be repaid if and when we go to bond on each project.  

Because of the current economy, now is a great time to bond because money is cheap.  We have to be able to take advantage of that should the conditions dictate. 

I do not see it as a mandate to spend 31 million.  

I believe Mr. Shorten’s position on this is similar to crying “Fire” in a crowded theater.  I would love the opportunity to debate him publicly on this matter, or to talk to him privately if he so chooses.  

You know what I am telling you is honest, Cal.  You have been in these trenches.

Jeff Thorsen

= = = = =
Crystal Lake City Council challenger Mike Shorten is seen in the top photo. In the middle is a picture of Councilman Jeff Thorsen the night he voted against increasing the Crystal Lake city sales tax 75%. (You can read his comments that night here.) At the bottom is a photo of Jeff Thorsen (on the right), Kay Stanish (in the middle) and Mike Shorten (on the left) taken prior to the McHenry County League of Women Voters Candidates’ Night last Thursday. (The linked article is the most complete you will find.)

McHenry County Blog received the following from Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen, who is running for reelection. He, like others, have had trouble posting comments for well over a year…ever since Google “improved” the Blogger host that I use.

Below I have turned his comment into an article. Other council candidates who wish to comment are welcome to do so. Just email what you want people to read to the email address way, way down on the right hand side of the page.

I can’t post a public comment on your site for some reason.

Anyway, the real news about the (Crystal Lake city) budget occurred last year when the Home Rule Sales Tax was passed.

Mr (Mike) Shorten’s concerns would be valid if by approving this budget we were committed to the 31 million he is referring to.

I can tell you that what is in the budget is not yet approved.

Once it is approved, the items are budgeted pending approval of each individual item as they come before the council in there own due time. T

The budget process is a 0 sum game.

The expectation of revenue (real) has to bury itself in the phantom expenditures allocated in the budget.

Remember I did not approve the 2008- 2009 budget. I voted no.

I did not approve the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax. I voted no. (Two articles are relevant:

• Mayor Aaron Shepley’s reasons for voting “Yes;”
• City Council member’s reasons for voting “Yes.”)

I have not had the opportunity to vote on this budget.

I can tell you that there was a budget workshop open to, and published to, the public and many attended. Carolyn Schofield was there. You may want to ask her if she felt there were some kind of shenanigans going on there.

Take any budget and compare it to its corresponding year’s audit….what do you find?

We are usually pretty close on the estimate of revenue and have not done many of the projects whose cost helps us achieve a balanced budget as predicted at the beginning of the fiscal year.

This has traditionally left us in the black and the excess revenue flows directly to the general fund.

(How much revenue does a tax district need in reserve? An answer in this article.)

The trick then is that the same project is returned to a future budget and expected to be funded through that budget….i.e. not allocation carry over.

The rest of the ranting I hear regarding this issue seems to spew from Chicken Little.

If we are going to the public on these issues we owe them the facts and not any fiction!

Bottom line is that the Capital expenditures budget appears to be relying on the TIF’s for their respective bonding repayment sources. NOT the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax.

Believe me when I tell you I am not defending the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax, here. I do not see a corresponding allocation in the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax fund. What I do see are the expenditures that may occur this year that will be repaid to the general fund by the bonding of the TIF’s when and if they can produce enough increment to bond.

The fact that the budget has a special section regarding the H(ome)R(ule) sales tax is both helpful and somewhat misleading. It is helpful to know the extraordinary expenditures for the coming fiscal year are covered by the H(ome) R(ule) tax.

But the reality is the H(ome) R(ule) sales tax fund is an unrestricted component of the general fund.

The money spent or expected to be spent on any TIF will be repaid if and when we go to bond on each project.

Because of the current economy, now is a great time to bond because money is cheap. We have to be able to take advantage of that should the conditions dictate.

I do not see it as a mandate to spend 31 million.

I believe Mr. Shorten’s position on this is similar to crying “Fire” in a crowded theater. I would love the opportunity to debate him publicly on this matter, or to talk to him privately if he so chooses.

You know what I am telling you is honest, Cal. You have been in these trenches.

Jeff Thorsen

I got a fact-filled email from Crystal Lake City Council candidate Mike Shorten yesterday.

He talks about the “doubling the city’s debt load” in the proposed budget.

And, he is the first candidate I have heard mention this:

“If I am elected, I will support regression or removal of the Home Rule Sales Tax, provided that we continue on an adequate pace to continue to cover the costs of our core obligations.”

Since I have not seen Shorten’s information elsewhere, I share it with you below:

“I wanted to add to my point last night (at the McHenry County League of Women Voters city council candidates’ night) about the about the capital construction projects and the bonds that are included in Crystal Lakes 2009-2010 budget.

“In fact the budget proposes issuing $31 million in bonds to be repaid from the proceeds of the .75% Home Rule Sales Tax that was approved last year. The $31 million in bonds is proposed to fund the following four projects:

• Vulcan Lakes- $16 million
• Virginia Street Corridor- $4 million
• Union Pacific Railroad relocation- $ 8 million
• Senior Center- $3 million

“You will note that of the 4 projects listed above, 3 reside within TIF districts.

“The question begs, why aren’t the bonds being issued against future TIF income?

“I pulled out my copies of all three TIF Plans that I pulled off of the city’s website and re-read each of them and there two concepts spelled out in all of the documents that are striking to me; TIF funds are suppose to pay for the projects, but ultimately “Funds necessary to pay for redevelopment project costs may be derived from a number of authorized sources” including municipal sales taxes.

“Additionally the TIF programs spell out that the “Redevelopment Land Use Plan shall serve as a guideline for the Project Area” and “should not be rigidly interpreted”.

“I will grant that the amounts budgeted above are only a portion of the revenues that the TIF districts are projected to generate during their lifetimes, and that ultimately there will be additional opportunities for the city to bond against the TIF to pay for other redevelopment costs, however at the surface it appears to me that the TIF is an easy way for a municipality or other government body to say that they have a plan, a way to pay for it and are moving forward.

“I think that doubling the city’s debt load in one year against the Home Rule Tax, when 90% of that debt could be borrowed against future TIF revenue is irresponsible.

“While I agree that the Home Rule Tax passed and implemented last year by itself has minimal effect on the average shoppers pocketbook, what is rarely acknowledged (at any level of government) is that one entity’s tax may be insubstantial, the combined effect of all of our taxing bodies increasing their impact upon our pocketbooks is becoming crushing.

“I believe it is intellectually dishonest for city leadership to say that theses TIF projects are paid for without additional taxes, when in fact they are not.

“I could stand behind the Home Rule Tax if it was necessary to fund the core obligations of the city, but it is not.

“If I am elected, I will support regression or removal of the Home Rule Sales Tax, provided that we continue on an adequate pace to continue to cover the costs of our core obligations.

“In addition as a funding source for the TIF area bonds for years to come, the city has also proposed that the Home Rule Sales Tax Fund will pay for the following in 2009-2010:

• Economic development- $275,000
• Flooding Control- $352,000
• Road Resurfacing- $53,000
• Vulcan Lakes Construction- $1.2 million
• Vulcan Lakes Operations- $158,000
• Senior Center- $240,000
• Virginia St. Corridor- $269,000

“It’s worth noting that the public hearing on the budget won’t take place until the next council meeting, April 7th.

“Which is election day.

“After the polls have closed.”

= = = = =
Crystal Lake City Council candidate Mike Shorten can be seen at the microphone and standing with fellow candidate Kay Stanish before Thursday night’s Candidates’ Forum.