McHenry County Blog

Things are not always what they seem.

Because of the Special Meeting that a majority of the McHenry County Republican Central Committee I couldn’t make the Milk Day Parade.

Readers of McHenry County Blog know how I like to read the political tea leaves from parades.

So, when I received the following two photos of Pam Althoff and Jack Franks, I asked myself, “What does this mean?”

Were they in the same parade entry, as they were in Johnsburg last year?

Republican State Senator Pam Althoff hitched a ride back to the car she would ride in in the post-dignitary part of the parade.

Hitching a ride was be3tter than walking from the end of the parade route back to the beginning.

When contacted, Althoff told me that she was just catching a ride back to the beginning of the parade after the dignitaries part of the parade.

The two had separate cars in the parade.

If you attend a parade and see politicians whether in political mode or “I’m just here as a public official” mode, please take photos and send them to McHenry County Blog.

Republican candidate for state representative John O’Neill offers the following commentary on the Milk Day Parade, plus the photos you see.

He is the first Republican to challenge incumbent Democrat Jack Franks in six years.  O’Neill reports no negative comments.

Candidates with enough volunteers to carry banners do so.

The Harvard Milk Days parade is a great parade; the people of Harvard really know how to celebrate!

GOP candidate for state representatve John O'Neill greets a Harvard family.

The first event of the John O’Neill for State Representative Walking Club was a success!

The John O'Neill campaign crew at Harvard's Milk Day Parade.

23 friends came out to participate from 6 month-old Jeremiah to 81 year-old “Red.”

These kids seem to have been riding in a wagon in the parade.

The group was made-up of families of all shapes and sizes.

From a couple of individuals who came without their spouses, who aren’t interested in political matters anyway, to the families with 5 or 6 children. The group began the parade with a short prayer, thanking God for the opportunity to participate in a truly grassroots, all-American campaign before heading-out to meet the thousands of families who lined the streets of Harvard for the mile-and-a-half parade.

The umbrellas are evidence of what John O'Neill calls "a brief downpour."

Despite a brief downpour, the parade was a success.

This must have been before the rain since people are sitting on the grass.

Not a single negative comment was heard from the parade-goers and many, when they realized that John was the first Republican in 6 years to run against the incumbent, were ecstatic; high-fiving, vigorously shaking hands, and even cheering and clapping at a couple of points.

John O'Neill passed out campagin pamphlets.

We are looking forward to welcoming more members of the “Walking Club” at the 4th of July parades in both Spring Grove and Wonder Lake.

More campaigning by John O'Neill.

For more information and to contact John and the campaign staff, please visit www.electjohnoneill.com.