McHenry County Blog

The cover of Jack Franks’ 2012 McHenry County fund raiser invitation.

A friend of McHenry County Blog has forwarded an invitation to Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks’ September 29th fundraising breakfast at Donley’s Wild West Town.

The Jesse White Tumblers will perform.

As usual Franks provides a list of those who have agreed to be on his Host Committee.

In 2010 those attending the Crystal Lake 4th of July Parade could have seen this flip.

Unlike last year, GOP Sheriff Keith Nygren is not on the list.

But Woodstock Mayor Brain Sager still is.

He’s there with Chicago Democratic Party Ward Committeeman and Alderman Ed Burke.

Last year, such sponsorship was less significant than this year.

Brian Sager

Then, Sager was only a minor cog in the McHenry County Republican Party, a Precinct Committeeman from Greenwood Township Precinct 6.

The mayoral post is non-partisan.

Sure, I’ve written that I believe he wishes to run for Franks’ seat when Franks runs for something else, but his official role is that a GOP Precinct Committeeman.

This year, Sager

• was recruited to run as an Alternative Delegate by State Treasurer Dan Rutherford,
• was elected and
• is just returning from the National Republican Convention.

Looking for Republican County Board member candidates, I see far fewer than last year.

Randy Donley, who is retiring this year is listed.

There is a listing for “Bob & Judi Martens.”  I do not know if that is the District 4 candidate listed on the ballot as “Robert Martens Sr.”

Want to see who was on the Host Committee last year? Click away below:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11

Bob Anderson made his pitch to put an anti-double dipping question on the fall ballot for a second time Thursday. He won the fight 11-9.

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.

Sandra Salgado

“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.]

Randy Donley

“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.

Members attending the meeting to consider a resolution to put a referendum on the ballot to allow voters to elect the McHenry County Board Chairman. Only three voted in favor.

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.”

Jack Franks wasn’t invited to the meeting, but his ears must have been burning.

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.

Except for the comment to the left and recognizing people to speak, County Board Chairman Ken Koehler was silent during the meeting.

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.

Three of them, aparently

They had been reported when I did my story about his minimalist campaign disclosure, but I missed them because they were filed separately in the July-September reporting period.

These three contributions of over $1,000 were reported on July 8th. One would assume they were attributable to the June 30th fund raiser at Donley’s.  The threshold for electronic filing is $10,000 in a quarter.

The biggest was from Donley’s Banquets and Wild West Town.  It was for $5,657, presumably an in-kind contribution, even though that’s not the way it was reported.  Randy Donley is retiring from the McHenry County Board this year.

The number seemed high, so I called Donley.  He explained that the Zinke campaign paid “the raw cost of the food” and that the number reported included the profit that his banquet hall would have made had the full cost been charged, plus $15 a person for those who toured the Wild West Town.

Alliance Contractors, owned by Chuck Ruth, donated $1,200, as did John Cederlund.    Cederlund’s address was announced as the original location of the fundraiser.

For contributions under $1,000, folks will have to wait for the next quarterly report, which is due in mid-October.

Of additional interest to some will be that the campaign disclosure report was faxed from the Home State Bank, as you can see below:

The top line of this campaign disclosure report indicates it was faxed from the Home State Bank.

The McHenry County Board last year. In the discussion of the waiver, Board Chairman Ken Koehler was not in the room.

Commenting on the McHenry County Board’s decision to send a conflict of interest waiver to the Federal government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development, District 2 Democrat Jim Roden made the following comments:

“I can’t believe what just happened.

“17 people on the County Board think that HUD can make a better decision about who should or should not get county money.”

“The County Board’s role in the matter is little more than relaying the request to HUD…because members were uncomfortable with vouching for the accuracy of information in the proposal,” Roden quotes an article in the Northwest Herald by Kevin Craver.

“Are you saying you can’t vouch for information about people in your own back yard?

“You want some outside government agency to do it?

“ARE YOU NUTS?

“This is our county!

“Oh, and by the way, who keeps the $13,000 for the feasibility study either way?

“Guess!

“This is one of the reasons I am running for The County Board.”

The issue is whether there is a conflict between Ken Koehler’s being Chairman of the McHenry County Board and his son’s being Executive Director of the McHenry County Attainable Housing Corporation, which has asked for a $13,000 planning grant for a senior citizens facility in McHenry.

Citing an appearance of a conflict of interest, Wonder Lake’s John Hammerand said, “It cheapens the county board in many ways,” according to the Daily Herald story by Elena Ferrarin..

Votes against the resolution were cast by

• Randall Donley
• Diane Evertsen
• John Hammerand
• Donna Kurtz
• Ersel Schuster

All are Republicans.

The Family Service & Community Mental Health Center for McHenry County has been in trouble for “over five years,” according to its new Executive Director Lori Nelson.

Don Miskowiec, Lori Nelson and Sandy Lewis (seen from left to right) address the committee on the merger of Family Services and North Central Behavioral Health System.

That came out in response to a question from County Board member Randy Donley near the end of a meeting of Public Health and Human Services Committee Friday morning.

708 Board Executive Director Sandy Lewis revealed that her property tax-funded agency had had financial concerns about Family Services for two years, even making “a $1 million advance for cash flow purposes.”

Nelson, who replaced recently nominated District 4 County Board GOP candidate Bob Martens as Executive Director, outlined the criteria she and her board devised to find a “partnership with an outside agency” that would allow her agency to continue providing mental health services to local residents.

One was that the agency be fairly sizable with a budget of $40-50 million.

That was the magic number that the McHenry County people concluded was necessary to have a mental health agency that could survive the diminishing resources from Illinois state government and the uncertainties of the Federal government’s health care delivery changes.

But shear size was not the only criterion for what Nelson called “potential partners” for her agency with its “high debt load” for mortgaged buildings at Oak Street and Veterans Parkway in McHenry.

And the very survival of Family Services seemed to be the primary motivation for the 53-year old McHenry County mental health provider.

“Our alternative was to close the doors,” Nelson explained.

Randy Donley listens Lori Nelson explain Family Services' financial situation.

Nelson and her board looked at thirty-three elements, including

• a five-year history of net 3% (which a for-profit firm would call profit, I believe)
• six months of cash reserves
• an (undefined at the meeting) debt ratio
• measured performance standards
• presences at the national level
• primary care integration
• certified electronic record keeping
• ability to manage multiple sites
• understanding of a 708 board

“Ultimately, North Central met and exceeded all of our expectations,” Nelson said.

The result was a decision to agree to a takeover of everything but real estate debt by the North Central Behavioral Health System, based in LaSalle County.

“The entire presentation is about how the mental health system is changing,” observed 708 Exec Lewis.

Sandy Salgado

“Over 30% of mental health agencies will not survive,” she added.

She stressed that it was “not a [hostile] takeover.”

Run by former Iowa head hospital exec Don Miskowiec, North Central plans to continue providing the same mental health services locally, with the current providers who decide to remain on staff.

Sandy Salgado had a line of questioning of the liability of local taxpayers.

“Don’t say we don’t have responsibility for the taxpayers,” she said at one point.

There will, however, be a reduction of staff in McHenry County as overhead functions are shifted south.

“Without this kind of cost sharing, there wouldn’t be the possibility of maintaining [service here}," Miskowiec explained.

Mary Donner

Mary Donner, the County Board liaison to the 708 Board pointed out that overhead now is 20%, but that will be lowered to 10%.

The total cost of that overhead will be about $575,000 a year.

Under questioning Donna Kurtz, a former Family Services Board member, it was learned that of the 97 employees now, 85-87 will remain.

Nelson said “about 18 bodies” will be lost with the planned “economies of scale.”

CEO Miskowiec pointed out that Family Services has 60-65% productivity, while North Central has 72%.  He expects to increase McHenry County’s operational efficiency level for employees to that of the rest of his agency.  The productivity measure relates to the percentage of time that employees spend in direct contact with clients.

The Family Services building on Veterans Parkway in McHenry.

The Family Services board will remain in existence in order to service the mortgages and clean up bills and re-reimbursements which occur after the beginning of the May 1st “transition of service agreement” by North Central.

Leases payments for use of the two buildings, combined with rent from the on-site pharmacy, plus renting out existing empty space are expected to pay back the mortgage holders and maintain the buildings.

An issue brought forward by Donna Kurtz was why Family Services was not merging with a McHenry County not-for-profit organization.

Nelson had explained “other behavioral health providers” in surrounding counties had been examined, as well as health care entities like hospitals, had undergone a financial viability review before North Central had been selected as the best match.

Donna Kurtz

Kurtz was critical of “tax money…going to…North Central and come back here.  Now we have the money.  It [won't be] a local bank…That hurts the economy.  A lot?  No, but that bothers me.”

Donner explained that most of the deliberations had taken part in Executive Session.

Kurtz also criticized the use of the term “partnership.”

“Partnership is among equals…This is a takeover.”

“Let’s keep it local.

“We have more layers; we have less control,” Kurtz contended.

McHenry County residents will have three of eleven board spots.

In response, Miskowiec said,  “I think there is a severe risk to service delivery here [without the merger].  We’re not here as a hostile takeover.  accomplished].”

Miskowiec stressed that McHenry County money, outside of the 10% overhead, will be spent in McHenry County.

“I can’t cross-subsidize counties.

“There are changes, but not in day-to-day services.”

McHenry County has about 6,000 clients, while North Central has 8-10,000.

North Central currently service clients in a seven-county area, having outpatient centers in

• LaSalle
• Ottawa
• Streator
• Princeton
• Canton
• Macomb

The agency service area stretches almost to the Mississippi River in the area where Western Illinois University is located. Counties covered are Bureau, Fulton, LaSalle, Marshall, McDonough, Putnam and Stark.

2008 Republican primary votes. Click to enlarge.

There are four incumbents in McHenry County Board District 6, as there are in all districts.

Since everyone is up or election after reapportionment, there are four vacancies.

District 6 of the McHenry County Board's 2012-20 map.

One incumbent, Randy Donley of Union, who got by far and away the most votes four years ago, announced his retirement pretty early.

So with probably the best known and most popular incumbent not to be on the ballot, all sorts of people decided to run.

As of the close of petition filing Monday at 5 PM, eleven people had filed, including Donley.

Six filed in a tie at 8 AM on the first day possible:

• Diane Evertsen
• Shawn Green
• David LaGue
• Mary McCann
• Ersel Schuster
• Rachel Smith

There are three places on a ballot that is as long as this one that add extra votes to one’s total.

First place is worth about an extra 10%, second place and last place get a 5% bonus. I actually read a study that showed that in a municipal election when I was attending grad school at the University of Michigan.

The first and second place ballot advantages will be decided by lottery.

Last place went to Corey Brackmann. He filed last.

Worst place is next to last, according to what I remember from the study. Michael Stanard got that slot.

The filing period ended at 5 PM.  I was there from 4-5 and there was no “fight” for last place.  After looking at all the candidates who filed, I find that strange.

The three others running, all of whom will be in the bottom middle of the ballot, are

• Michele Aavang
• J. Vincent Ranzino
• Randall Donley

So, who’s going to win?

Here's how the Republican primary votes for County Board broke in 2010. Click to enlarge.

The best guidance is contained in the canvass reports from the 2008 and 2010 GOP primary elections.

Donley was way in front in 2008 and McCann had a substantial lead in 2010.

There’s not really much reason to believe their popularity had diminished.

That means that Ersel Schuster and Diane Evertsen, the two who placed second in 2008 and 2010, respectively, will probably be the targets of incumbents.

Each person could cast two votes.

Next year, because there are four vacancies, everyone gets four votes.

10,564 votes were cast in the presidential year of 2008.

8,942 in the non-presidential year of 2010.

In both years various candidates urged supporters not to cast all of their votes so opponents wouldn’t win with a 2nd choice vote.

That resulted in and under votes of 2,230 in 2008 and of 2,280 votes not cast in 2010.

What will it take to win?

Give us your best guess in the comment section below.

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).

Most of the 2010 McHenry County Board members on swearing-in day.

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.

This looks as if it could end up as a Shawn Green yard sign.

Former Huntley School District 158 Board President is running for the McHenry County Board in a very crowded  District contest.

Today he sent me the link to his new web site.

It’s pretty sparse at the moment, but there is an image of what looks like a future yard sign.

Here’s what he says to potential constituents:

Shawn Green at the April 15, 2010, Tea Party demonstration in Crystal Lake.

I am a ten year resident of McHenry County; my wife Angela and I are raising our two daughters in unincorporated Coral Township. I am a veteran police sergeant for a large suburban municipality, Republican Precinct Committeeman, and former president of the District 158 Board of Education. 

I have a solid record of leadership, fiscal accountability, and transparency in government. During my five year tenure on the school board (2005-2010), the district got its finances in order, experienced significant gains in student achievement, and attained true reform in openness and transparency.

As a McHenry County Board member, I will be committed to

• fostering responsible growth,
• insisting on pro-business and pro-jobs policies,
• conserving open space,
• protecting ground water supplies,
• ensuring governmental transparency, and
• safeguarding taxpayers’ interests.

I look forward to serving you, and thank you for your support.

He also lists experience and comments on current events, which might help some figure out where he is coming from.

This is going to be a race where candidates who identifies enough votes and gets them to the polls will probably win.

10,644 votes cast in the 2008 Presidential Primary Election.

8,942 case in the 2010 Republican Primary with 34,000 registered voters.

Those totals are for two-position races.

Four seats up in 2012, so there will be twice as many votes.

Let’s say 22,000 votes to be expected (work with 25,000 to be safe).

Divide the number of candidates into 25,000-27,000 and what do you get?n

If it’s nine candidates, an even split would mean winner would end up getting 3,000 or so votes. Randy Donley received 2,943 in 2008 with five candidates.

The top vote getter in 2010 was Mary McCann. She received 2,541 votes also in a five-candidate race.

Candidates should make their own estimates and try to identify that many supporters and get them to the polls.

Whoever does that best will probably win.

Mike Tryon gave a short speech at his Huntley Fish Boil.

What does one do when one has no announced opponent for State Representative?

You know you have to keep raising money, because the Republican GOP Leader in Springfield tries to assess you for thousands to use in marginal races. ($2,500 a year when I was there, probably $10,000 now.)

And, you want to be able to contribute significant amounts to candidates you support.

Undoubtedly there are even more expenses to be met because of Tryon’s role as McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman.

So you hold the fund raisers you have held before, hoping that people will continue to support you financially.

Early in the 5-9 informal fund raiser, Tryon was at the gate on the sidewalk in front of where money was being collected.

Later, he mingled inside the beer garden.

Because it is an election year, there were candidates drawn to the affair.

Two announced candidate for the empty State Senate district in which Tryon is running for State Representative were in attendance:

Kane County Board Chairman and State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay talks with Dan Plote.

• Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay and
• former Rutland Township Trustee Chad Koppie.

State Senate candidate Chad Koppie was at the gate while former State Senator Jack Schaffer was signing in with Cheryl Meyer.

There were plenty of McHenry County Officials.

A ring of women power was sighted. From left to right are Chief Deputy Treasurer and Secretary of the McHenry County Republican Central Committee Glenda Miller, head of the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee Rebecca Lee, Auditor Pam Palmer and Recorder of Deeds Phyllis Walters. Although attending, McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz missed being in this photo.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi was introduced.

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi waves as he is introduced. To his right is Congressman Randy Hultgren. McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler and Cheryl Meyer can be seen to Bianchi's left. At the table are Huntley Village Trustee Pam Fender and Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager.

Ken Koehler was introduced as not only the Chairman of the McHenry County Board, but also the Treasurer of Tryon’s political action committee since its inception.

Congressman Randy Hultgren and McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi applaud as Ken Koehler is introducted.

McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler, who seeks to be the next State Representative from the 64th District, the number of Tryon’s current district, was at the Fish Boil.

State Rep. candidate Barbara Wheeler was seen talking to Kim Keefe, the President-Elect of the McHenry County Board of Realtors.

More tomorrow.