McHenry County Blog

State Rep. Jack Franks may be the leading Democrat in McHenry County, but his support among other Democratic Party activists isn’t sufficient to get other leading Democrats to support his referendum to switch from a weak Executive to a strong Executive form of county government.

I’m not terribly surprised, given I never saw him at the meetings of the Democratic Party Central Committee I attended.  (That was two years ago.  Maybe he goes now.)

In the County Board debate on whether to put a competing referendum on the ballot that would allow voters to elect the County Board Chairman, as is the case in nearby Kane, DuPage and Winnebago Counties, three prominent Democrats spoke out in opposition to the Franks’ position.

In the Public Comment period on August 17th, District 1 County Board candidate Nick Chirikos.said, “I question Mr. Franks’ timing.

“I think the voters of McHenry County deserve a better opportunity.”

He went on to say that there was a “possibility even misrepresentation in the manner in which the petitions were collected.”

When asked later if he opposed the referendum’s passage, he said, “I am opposed to it.”

Later in the meeting, District 3 Democrat Kathy Bergan Schmidt, a former head of the Party Central Committee, lashed into Franks’ proposal:

“I, for one, will be out there urging people to vote against this Trojan Horse referendum that was certified yesterday.”

Paula Yensen, wife of the current Party Chairman Mike Bissett, agreed with Schmidt when her time to talk came.

“I’m in concurrence with Kathy Bergan Schmidt’s opposition [to the County Executive form of government].

“It gives unlimited power to that position.

“A countywide race for that position would be very expensive,” she said, pointing out that it cost $100,000 in Kane County.

“I do not support Mr. Franks’ referendum.”

Wonder Lake activist-barber Bob Anderson got a referendum on the November without having to go door-to-door.

The question was on an issue upon which Governor Pat Quinn built his political career.

Until he had to depend upon double-dippers to advance his public career, every year Coalition for Political Honesty’s Quinn published a list of those with two public jobs.

Anderson’s question is more narrow.

The question that approved by the County Board on an 11-9 vote reads like this:

Should Illinois Law permit an individual to hold two or more public elected offices simultaneously?

It doesn’t address, for instance, County Board members who have a pay check coming from another unit of government which is appointed, rather than elected.

In his comments to the County Board, Anderson cited seven public officials, most present or former state legislators.

The debate was interesting.

One, State Senator Bill Peterson, used to represent part of McHenry County.  He earned $83,804 as a State Senator and $90,000 as Vernon Township Supervisor.

Currently, I am only aware of Algonquin’s Marc Munaretto’s being personally affected.  Besides being on the County Board, he is Algonquin Township Clerk.  Because of McHenry County’s population he is prohibited by law from holding both posts after the next election.  Munaretto did not run for re-election to the County Board and has not announced his intentions with regard to a Township Clerk candidacy.

Jim Heisler introduced the question, outlining the options–putting the question on the ballot, putting it on the County’s legislative wish list (my term) next year, plus a third option I didn’t catch.

“I will be voting for it,” Sandy Salgado said.  “I’m in favor of asking voters whenever we can.”

Reflecting on the votes of those whose re-election chances might be affected if an opponent charged they had not been willing to trust the people, I think her comment might have had more effect than might have been apparent at the beginning of the debate.

Virginia Peschke agreed with Salgado.

She related how she had been a Bull Valley Village Trustee when first elected and, although she didn’t see then and hasn’t seen a conflict since, state law prohibited her from holding both elected offices simultaneously.

“In general, I think it’s a good idea.  There’s much too much opportunity for conflict.”

Democrat Kathy Bergan Schmidt disagreed.

“I will be voting against this.  The Legislative Committee (on which she serves) gave it a good thorough discussion.  We decided to include it as part of next year’s legislative program.”

Her basic pitch seemed to be that the Board should not contradict the Committee’s recommendation.

Nick Provenzano spoke in opposition, too.

He argued that Anderson should have gathered enough signatures, the same way Jack Franks did for his County Executive referendum, that County Board-initiated referendums should deal with questions on which Board members seek advice.

Donna Kurtz said that the democratic process benefits from involvement of more people.  Anderson’s reading of the double-dipping salaries “must have made your stomach crawl.”

Having people hold two offices at the same time “shut(s) down the opportunity for involvement of other people in the process to prevent the concentration of power.”

Diane Evertsen pointed out that people don’t step up to the plate as far as running for office goes…”except in District 6.”

Mary Donner rose to the defense of former Senator Peterson.

“To think that someone would run for State Senator and Township Supervisor to line their pockets, I find offensive.”

[Hold that thought because Kurtz found Donner's characterization of her remarks offensive and said so later.]

The second Democrat on the County Board, Paula Yensen, whose husband Mike Bissett is Chairman of the McHenry County Democratic Party, disagreed with Schmidt.

She related how she had resigned as a Trustee in the Village of Lake in the Hills when she was elected to the County Board.

Ersel Schuster, who was Seneca Township Supervisor while serving on the County Board, also opposed the ballot question.

“Transparency is out there.  In so many cases, the individual served the people well.”

[It should be noted that until a U.S. Supreme Court case in the early 1970's Township Supervisors were automatically on the County Board--all 17 of them.  In addition, the larger townships, Algonquin, McHenry, Nunda and Dorr elected misnamed "Assistant Supervisors," whose sole duties were to serve on the County Board.]

“Much of what I see I just can’t stand,” Randy Donley said.

“So many things are wrong…just not illegal.”

Salgado rebutted Munaretto argument that resolutions put on the ballot should reflect issues for which the County Board sought guidance.

“I also represent the people. Let them choose, not us.”

“What impact will it have on McHenry County. It’s purely advisory. It expresses a public opinion,” Munaretto opined.

“I was not aware that Senator Peterson had another job,” Peshke added.

“I just think a man can’t serve two masters.”

Then it was Kurtz’ turn again.

“I don’t think there’s anything more distasteful than taking comments {out of context] and then turning them around and personalizing them.”

She said she did not use the term “lining pockets.”

Provenzano pointed out that being on a Township Board and the County Board is already prohibited by law.

Regarding prohibiting people from holding two elected offices, “It should be up to the voters. Senator Peterson got voted in over and over.”

Next, Donner apologized to Kurtz. “That’s what I heard.”

Absent from the 11-9 vote to put Anderson’s question on the ballot were Bob Bless, Pete Merkel, Bob Nowak and Barb Wheeler.

There was a long debate over whether the County Board should put a referendum on the fall ballot asking voters is they wanted to elect the County Board Chairman in an at-large election.

Before that several citizens provided input.

District 5 Republican candidate Michale Rein was asking, “Where’s the money going to be coming from?” as I arrived a bit late.

“Outside interests” was his answer to the rhetorical question.

“We’re going to end up with a career political [running McHenry County],” he added.

Earlier I posted the comments that Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore offered.

By putting such a powerful official over McHenry County government, she sees the possibility of conflict similar to that in Grafton Township.

And that’s what Jack Franks’ County Executive form of government seems to be all about.

The alternative of having a competing referendum asking,

“Shall the Chairman of the McHenry County Board be elected at-large by the voters?”

on the ballot was rejected by a 16-3 vote. Only Randy Donley, Virginia Peschke and Paula Yensen voted to place it on the ballot.

The majority seemed to think that they stood a better chance to defeat the Franks’ proposal to shift from a Parliamentary form of government to a very strong Executive form of government if a somewhat similar sounding question were not on the ballot to muddy the waters.

And the majority clearly did not want to lose the power they now have.

Even Bob Anderson, in the room to promote his own anti-double-dipping advisory referendum, took a shot at Franks:

“If Jack Franks were doing his job, he would be addressing like this.”

Democrat Kathy Bergan Schmidt opposed Franks’ proposal,  calling it “a Trojan Horse.”

“We can deal with this question on our own.”

A former candidate for County Board Chairman, Virginia Peschke said, “I don’t support Mr. Franks form of government,” while expressing her support for electing the Chairman in an at-large election.

It was suggested that if both referendum passed, the County Executive one would have precedence.

Later, Assistant State’s Attorney Donna Kelly stated that the Statute “does not address the situation when you have dueling referendums.”

Marc Munaretto wanted to know if the Franks’ question could be withdrawn if the at-large election of the County Board question were put on the ballot.

“This is not Jack Franks’ petition.  He has not control over it after he handed it in…Why are we taking any time discussing it?”Kathy Bergan Schmidt asked.

[There is some disagreement with regard to Schmidt's opinion.]

“I do not support the County Executive form of government,” the man who twice ran unsuccessfully against Ken Koehler for County Board Chairman, said.

Sandy Salgado told of taking to some folks in her precinct.

“I have a feeling it’s going to pass.”

Later Virginia Peschke agree.

“We’re going to have a hard time defeating it. ”

She told of talking over a twelve-month period with Winnebago’s at-large County Board Chairman Chris Cohen.

“I didn’t find many objections.  I think many of these things are bogeymen.”

“I’m in concurrence with Kathy Bergan Schmidt’s opposition to the County Executive form of government…It gives unlimited power to that position…I do not support Mr. Franks’ referendum.”

Yensen indicated what was needed was term limits for the McHenry County Board Chairman, as did the head of the Management Services Committee, Ersel Schuster.

She also pointed out that a “countywide race for that position would be very expensive.”

She estimated candidates spent $100,000 on the campaign to become the at-large elected Chairman of the Kane County Board.

Mary Donner was suspicious about Rep. Franks’ timing, she indicated while expressing agreement with Schmidt view that putting a second referendum on the ballot would be confusing.

“I certainly do not support the Executive form of government,” Randy Donley said when he gained the floor.  He made it clear, however, he supported electing the County Board Chairman at-large.

Donley expressed the opinion that Franks would be willing to take his question off the ballot, if the County Board put the at-large referendum on the ballot.

Donley asked how many had called him.

Jim Heisler, Paula Yensen, and Mary Donner said they had, although Yensen later said she had talked to him in person with others being present.

“I do not know at this time the motivation of Mr. Franks.”

“We’ve sent numerous letters to him saying we’ll set a Special Meeting when he wants to come,” County Board Chairman Ken Koehler interjected.

Announcing her intent to push for Term Limits again, Schuster said, “I find it mind boggling that a State Representative would act in this manner.”

Scott Breeden said his opposition to at-large elections was based on how the expense of the campaign wold limit “the number of qualified people.”

He pointed out that currently the Chairman “owes responsibility to the County Board members.”

Donna Kurtz said she supported Term Limits, as well as an at-large elected Chairman.

“A County Executive is so onerous,” she continued, “such a huge threat to the democratic process [because it puts] such an unprecedented amount of power and control down to the [lowest] employee.”

She pointed out a County Executive would have the power to hire its own attorney and “that will wreck havoc with legal fees.”

Kurtz said she thought having two referendums on the ballot would “confuse the issue.”

“If anyone doesn’t think there isn’t political influence in the way we now select the County Board Chairman, [he's wrong],” Peschke said.

“I’d like to know why this discussion didn’t occur prior to his getting the signatures,” Yensen said, pointing out that those petitions had set “a fire under us.”

John Hammerand probed as to whether the County Executive form of government, once approved, could be changed by putting another referendum on the ballot.

The answer seemed to be that a repeal referendum could be put on the ballot in 2014, but that would be the first election for a County Executive, so he or she would have at least one term in office.

As last year, the McHenry County Fair had representatives from the Pro-Choice and the Pro-Life side of the abortion issue.

The Pro-Choicers, represented by the McHenry County Citizens for Choice, had their usual booth and the Pro-Lifers had three booths, the same as last year.

Visiting the Pro-Choice booth, as seen in the photo below, is McHenry County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Bissett and his wife, McHenry County Board member Paula Yensen.

Peter’s Net, the organization that gave fits last year to an organization across the aisle trying to capture teenagers email addresses in return for a chance for a scholarship again graced the McHenry County Fairgrounds.  This is also one of the Pro-Life organizations the Lake County Fair tried to ban.

1st Way Pregnancy Support Services, a crisis pregnancy center based in Johnsburg, had a booth again, too.

So did the Catholic Diocese of Rockford.  It appeared to be three booths wide.

It even said, “Vote Pro-Life.”

Driving to the Marengo Business Expo on Saturday my political eyes could hardly avoid the two large political signs on the stretch of Route 47 where it shares space with Route 176.

First was one for District 5 incumbent Tina Hill.

Next was one for District 5 incumbent John Jung.

That night, I attended the McHenry County Young Republicans candidates’ forum for District 52′s three aspirants for office.

And, there I saw something out-of-context.

Although it was to be a debate among Kent Gaffney, Danielle Rowe and David McSweeney, there was this face I recognized as I walked into the MCC auditorium, I couldn’t place him.

Then, he helped me out by handing me the palm card you see below:

It’s clean, crisp and with a four-letter last name easy to comprehend. I note that one both sides of the card, Rein gives his web site address: www.VOTE FOR REIN.com.

Good marketing.

Something that I guess I should not be surprised to see coming from a chiropractor.

There are five people running for four slots on the Republican ballot:

• Tina Hill
• John Jung
• Michael Rein]
• Michael Skala
• Virginia Peschke

The incumbents are Hill, Jung and Peschke.

The four winners to challenge Paula Yensen in her first bid for re-election. Yensen beat Jung in the general election four years ago.

At least one candidate in each McHenry County Board district.

The rumor mill was right.

An article has already been run on District 1′s Nick Chirikos.

In District 2 there are two challengers, Jim Roden and Jim Kennedy.

District 3 will have incumbent Kathy Bergan Schmidt joined by Prairie Grove School Board member Lori McConville. The latter lost her previous race for County Board.

A re-run will occur in District 4. Mary Margaret Maule will be on the ballot. In 2006, Maule came within 652 votes of beating Sandy Salgado.

In the firth district, only incumbent Democrat Paula Yensen will represent the Democratic Party.

The biggest effort will be made in District 6, where former McHenry County College Board President Scott Summers had deserted the Green Party to run for County Board as a Democrat. Summers ran for State Treasurer and Congress on the Green Party ticket. On the MCC Board, he and Crystal Lake’s Donna Kurtz publicly opposed the building of a minor league baseball stadium before the Crystal Lake City Council, which led their being censured by their fellow Trustees.

He will be joined by Ryan Heuser of Marengo and former Huntley Village Board member Jayant Kadakia. Kadakia ran out of the money in his re-election bid in Huntley and his recent effort to gain appointment to that Board lost on a 3-3 tie.

The McHenry County Board failed to break with the “increase the tax take as much as possible” crowd, but they came close.

Barb Wheeler made the motion to remove the CPI and Nick Provenzano seconded it.   Wheeler is a candidate for State Representative and Provenzano is running for re-election.  Both are from District 3, where a hot primary for County Board is shaping up.

There was an 11-11 vote on the motion to prevent county government from grabbing as many property tax dollars as the Real Estate Tax Cap law allows.

A tie vote loses.

I explained what was to be presented to the County Board in this article two weeks ago:

No Financial Diet for McHenry County Next Year + The Tax Levy Game

It was a levy intended to maximize the tax take for county government.

If the levy for year two exceeds the extension year one by the percentage amount allowed under PTELL (the initials of the Tax Cap law), then taxes will go up the maximum amount allowed.

The extension is the amount allowed to be collected, that is, the amount billed by the County Treasurer.

After an attempt by half of the Board to keep county taxes from increasing, a second vote passed the “take all you can get” levy by a vote of 15-7.

Kevin Craver’s article in the Northwest Herald tells details, but the most telling observation was made by Crystal Lake’s Donna Kurtz.  The story puts it this way:

“…the hole created by inflation would increase over time and hamper the county’s ability to handle unforeseen expenses and state funding shortfalls.”

That, of course, is the line and attitude of those who believe that government must take as much as it can out of our pockets.

Somehow, I don’t think the ordinary taxpayers with a couple of empty houses on their blocks would agree with that logic.

There was a motion to eliminate the 1.5% tax hike, but it failed 11-11.

Listed in the order in which their names were called, those in favor of limiting county government’s budget growth follow:

• Sue Draffcorn (D4)
• Diane Evertsen (D6)
• John Hammerand (D4)
• Tina Hill (D5)
• Anna May Miller (D1)
• Robert Nowak (D1)
• Nick Provenzano (D3)
• Sandra Salgado (D4)
• Ersel Schuster (D6)
• Barb Wheeler (D3)
• Paula Yensen (D5)

Those voting against cutting the budget were

• Bob Bless (D1)
• Scott Breeden (D2)
• Mary Donner (D3)
• Jim Heisler (D2)
• John Jung (D5)
• Donna Kurtz (D2)
• Mary McCann (D6)
• Peter Merkel (D4)
• Marc Muneratto (D1)
• Kathy Schmidt (D3)
• Ken Koehler (D2)

Note that one Democrat (Yensen) voted against increasing taxes, while the other (Schmidt) stuck to the traditional position of her party and voted to maximize tax income.  That mitigates against a county wide campaign by Democrats next year in which they position themselves as being on the side of the taxpayers.

There was a second vote taken in which the levy was passed as presented.

Nevertheless, almost half of the County Board members opened themselves up to primary or general election challenges about their being on the taxpayers’ side.  (Two were absent.)

On a parochial note, no District 2 members voted against increasing taxes.  Perhaps not coincidentally, District 2 has only four candidates for four County Board openings.  Finance Committee Chairman Scott Breeden is retiring.

In the most rural district and the one with most candidates running, two incumbents voted with taxpayers–Evertsen and Schuster–while one (McCann) voted to hike taxes.

In District 5, voting “No” besides the lone Democrat Yensen was Republican Hill.  The other incumbent, Jung, who was beaten by Yensen in 2008 voted to hike taxes.  Jung ran ahead of Hill in the last election, when Jung defeated Democrat Jim Kennedy, who is running again.

The following 15 members voted in favor:

• Robert Bless
• Scott Breeden
• Sue Draftcorn (a switch)
• Mary Donner
• Jim Heisler
• Tina Hill (a switch)
• John Jung
• Donna Kurtz
• Mary McCann
• Pete Merkel
• Anna May Miller (a switch)
• Marc Munaretto
• Robert Novak (a switch)
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt
• Ken Koehler

In a related effort Tea Party East Dundee Village Trustee Allen Skillicorn could find only one person (Jeff Lynam) to vote with him on not increasing the village’s levy.

McHenry County Board members have budgeted themselves $1,000 a year for miscellaneous expenses.

$24,000 in total.

The Fiscal Year runs from December through November, so FY11 is almost over.

Maybe because all of the Board members are up for election, most have turned in no receipts.

Below you see the expenditures through November 9th:

These do not include expense reimbursements from other sources in the McHenry County budget.

A friend of mine got the fundraising invitation for November 9th for a newcomer to McHenry County politics–Michael Rein.

The Doctor of Chiropractic invites supporters to join him Wednesday night at Stage Door Left next to the Opera House in Woodstock.  If you are a Republican Precinct Committeeman, you can come free of charge.

He has a web site reserved–VoteforRein.com–but it has not been launched.

Others running in District 5 include incumbents

• Tina Hill (R-Woodstock)
• John Jung (R-Bull Valley)
• Virginia Peschke (R-Bull Valley)
• Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills)

and challengers

• Mike Skala (R-Huntley)
• Michael Rein (R-Woodstock)
• Jim Kennedy (D-Lake in Hills)

All have picked up petitions at the McHenry County Clerk’s Office.

Kennedy beat Perry Moy in strenuous campaign in 2006. Yensen beat Jung in 2008. Jung beat Kennedy in 2010.

There was “a Scribner’s error” in the county offices’ pay hike resolution some argued.  It passed October 18th.

In that first vote, County Board members voted 19-4 to raise County Board salaries to $21,500 per year.  That’s about where all county board members would be before the new term started (+ or – $4-500).

Voting “No” were

• Virginia Peschke
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt
• Ersel Schuster
• Paula Yensen

Two weeks later, four again voted against the pay raise, but they aren’t the same people. Nov. 1st, “No” votes were cast by

• Diane Evertsen
• John Hammerand
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt
• Paula Yensen

The vote was 16-4, with Randy Donley, Marc Munaretto, Nick Provenzano and Barb Wheeler not voting. Munaretto appears not to have been at the meeting. Donley and Wheeler left early, having voted on earlier issues.  Provenzano left during the salary vote, but returned later.

There was another motion made by John Hammerand to refer the whole matter back to the Finance Committee.  It failed 15-4.

Voting for additional committee consideration were Hammrand, Evertsen, Anna May Miller and Schuster.

If the Democrats could put their act together, they would have an issue.

Republicans for pay hikes, Democrats against.