McHenry County Blog

McHenry County Republican Party Chairman (and State Rep.) Mike Tryon formed a political action committee separate from the Central Committee.

I thought you might find the contributors and expenditures of interest. They are included in the PAC’s campaign disclosure filing this month.

The price to join the group of inside advisors seems to be $500, although more seems to be welcome.

Here are the contributors:

• Algonquin Township Highway Commisisoner Bob Miller’s PAC – $500
• State Rep. Mark Beaubien’s PAC – $500
• Alliance Contractors Inc – $1,000
• Robert Boncosky – $500
• Randy Donley – $395.20
• Blake Hobson – a $500
• Howard Green Company, Cedar Rapids, IA (John Smith’s Smith Engineering was acquired by HR Green) – $500
• Human Resource Techniques Inc, Algonquin Karla Dobbeck is its president) – $500
• Innovative Component Sales Inc, Huntley (Mike Skala is its president) – $2,500
• Kathleen Kuchta – $500
• Donald Lewis – $500
• Madsen Sugden and Gottemoller – $500
• Marc Munaretto – $500
• Gary Overbay – $500
• Tom Zanck – $500

About $3,500 of the money raised has been spent on “Roundtable Breakfast Meetings” at Crystal Lake’s 1776 restaurant and Richard Walkers Pancake House. I’ve been told candidates were “vetted” at some such meetings.

Richard Walkers Pancake House

• 8/12/2009
• 8/12/2009
• 9/15/2009
• 10/23/2009

1776

• 8/30/2009
• 9/8/2009
• 9/14/2009
• 10/12/2009
• 10/23/2009
• 12/2/2009
• 12/9/2009

In addition utilities have been paid at the campaign office and a camcorder purchased for the Young Republicans.

The fund has $11,800 in the bank.

When I heard of the $1,000 a year that McHenry County Board members can use to get reimbursement for county board-related expenses, it perked my interest.

Would goodies be found as they are with the Chicago Aldermen’s much larger expense accounts?

Here’s what I received when I filed a Freedom of Information request for Fiscal Year 2009, which ended November 30th. As you can see, it’s pretty obvious that the spreadsheet provided contains some reimbursements beyond the $1,000.

In fact, I learned it contains all of the expense rreimbursements to county board members, except mileage for driving to and from meetings.

What seems most significant is the large number of county board members that took no reimbursements.

McHENRY COUNTY BOARD EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS – FY 2009

Randy Donley

• $188.10 for 342 mile trip for 3-30-9 Rural Community Economic Development Conference
• $94.33 for hotel/food for Rural Comm Econ Dev Conf

John Hammerand

• $38, McCog (McHenry County Council of Governments) Dinner September 23

Tina Hill

Tina Hill

• $742.19 2009 National Association of Counties Conference 3-7 thru 3-10
• $28.05 Comcast broadband meeting 2/26/09
• $161.28 Rural Economic Development Seminar
• $841.12 NACO 3/7-3/10  Wash DC
• $32 March McCog Mtg 3
• $35 McCog May 27, 2009
• $34 McCog June 26th dinner
• $30 McCog Meeting July 2009
• $125 EDC Dinner Sept 17
• $38 McCog Dinner Crystal Lake 9/23/09
• $31 October McCog Dinner Mtg
• $32 November 18 McCog meeting

Ken Koehler

• 

  Ken Koehler

  $436.80 Wash DC Mtg w/Lobbyist

• $193 Paratransit/Fed Lobby/Strat Plan Dec 2008
• $76.50 Springfield Meetings Jan 2009
• $57.20 K.Koehler
• $255 DCA Lobbyist 3/2-4,2009
• $37 transportation mtg 2/17/09
• $38 EDC 2/19/09
• $12 CMAP 3/24/09
• $71 Amtrak/Rockford 3/25/2009
• $43 Integrated Justice Mtg Luncheon
• $45.25 Lakewood Issues Luncheon
• $43 Transit Grant Program Luncheon
• $129 PACE Pilot Project
• $28 Randall Rd., City CL Mtg
• $53 CMAP2030 Chicago
• $34 Public Safety Bldg Mtg
• $50 MCEDC Issues
• $26 RWSP, Chicago Water Issues
• $24 Valley Hi Issues Koehler, Dvorak
• $44 ISSSoftware Issues Koehler, Austin, Wallis
• $47.25 MCEDC Issues Koehler, Austin, MCEDC reps
• $84 Valley Hi long range Koehler, Austin, Revere reps
• $27.50 2030 plan w/Eldridge
• $47.25 Meeting w/Lobbyist – Ferguson
• $12 RTA – cab fare

Lyn Orphal

• $34 June 24th McCog Dinner

Ersel Schuster

• $173.28 Rural Community Econ. Dev. 03/04-03/05
• $64 McCog June and July reimbursement

Barb Wheeler

• $91.71 Housing Forum refreshments

Paula Yensen
$30 McCog reimbursement
$30 Feb McCog reimbursement
$34 McCog Dinner 6/24/09 3
$30 McCog July 2009
$20 MCCD Class-Creating Thriving Communities

OK. I was wrong.

I predicted last night that the McHenry County Board would approved what proponents insist on calling video poker.

But, this morning social conservatives on the board pulled off a 13-10-1 victory.

That was with the help of all three Democrats on the county board. (Counting only Republicans, the vote would have been tied 10-10.)

Lake in the Hills member Paula Yensen has personal knowledge of how devastating gambling can be to a family.

Patriots United video slot machine debate panels, ban proponents on the right, opponents on the left.

Perhaps also influencing the vote was the leadership that Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks has taken on the issue. He attended a Patriots United debate on the subject after returning from one of this fall’s veto sessions.

All Republicans representing McHenry County in the Illinois General Assembly except State Senator Dan Duffy, that is, State Representatives Mike Tryon and Mark Beaubien, plus State Senator Pam Althoff, voted supported video slot machines.

Voting in favor of a ban of the video gambling machines in unincorporated areas were the following, who are grouped by county board district (those up for election this year are show in bold face type):

District 1

• Yvonne Barnes

District 2

• Jim Heisler

District 3

• Ed Dvorak (retiring)
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt
• Barbara Wheeler

District 4

• Sue Draffkorn
• John Hammerand
• Sandy Salgado

District 5

• Paula Yensen
• Jim Kennedy
• Virginia Peschke

District 6

• Mary McCann
• Ersel Schuster

Voting against the ban, thus in favor of expanding gambling were the following:

District 1

• Anna May Miller
• Bob Bless
• Marc Munaretto

District 2

• Scott Breeden
• Ken Koehler
• Lyn Orphal

District 3

• Mary Donner

District 4

• Pete Merkel

District 5

• Tina Hill

District 6

• Dan Ryan

Abstaining from the vote was District 6 Republican Randy Donley.

A month ago the board voted against holding an advisory referendum on the issue. The vote was 13-11-1.

The thirteen board members who voted against allowing their constituents to vote on the issue follow:

• Yvonne Barnes (R-Cary)

• Sue Draffkorn (R-Wonder Lake)

• Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills)

• Ed Dvorak (R-Crystal Lake)

• Jim Heisler (R-Crystal Lake)

• Ken Koehler (R-Crystal Lake)

• Mary McCann (R-Woodstock)

• Pete Merkel (R-McHenry)

• Virginia Peschke (R-Bull Valley)

• Sandy Salgado (R-McHenry)

• Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D-Crystal Lake)

• Barb Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake)

Voting in favor of an advisory referendum were

• Bob Bless (R-Fox River Grove)

• Scott Breeden (R-Lakewood)

• Mary Donner (R-Crystal Lake)

• John Hammerand (R-Wonder Lake)

• Tina Hill (R-Woodstock)

• Jim Kennedy (D-Lake in the Hills)

• Anna May Miller (R-Cary)

• Marc Munaretto (R-Algonquin)

• Lyn Orphal (R-Crystal Lake)

• Dan Ryan (R-Huntley)

Members of the Operating Engineers Local 150 lobbied vigorously against the gambling ban, arguing for the jobs its proceeds would finance.

Yesterday we looked at those fall fund raiser financial supporters of Jack Franks whose names begin with the letters A and B.  Today, we move on to C and D:

Jim Carbonetti
Chris Cardamone
Jack Carey
Michael T. Carrigan
Tony Casalino
Albert and Dawn Castellanos
Raymond Caywood
Dr. Christy Chambers and Ted BurkeSharon Wolf Chewning
Jim and Carol Chrisman
Bob Clifford
Al and Patty Cocks
Don and Ruth Coffey
Patti Condon
Tom and Midge Condon
Phil Corboy, Jr.
Anne and Bonnie Cornue
Mayor Terry Counley
Nicette Crawford
Jerry Chrohn
Bill Crowe
Tom and Brenda Dahifors
Duane and Lou Dahlman
Dr. George Dallas
Jerry Darlington
Scott N. Davis
Mark DeCraene
Tony DeCraene

Dan Deters
Scott and Linda Dikun
Julie Dillon
Steven DiMaria
Bob Dixon
Owen and Betty Doak
Donald Doherty
Sue Dominguez
Randy Donley
David and Leigh Ann Dorris
Ward and Chris Duel
Drs. Tom and Linda Dujmovich
Christine Duncan

As reported the day it happened, Crystal Lake businessman Jim Heisler (R-Crystal Lake) defeated McHenry board member Sandy Salgado (R-McHenry) 15-9.

All three Democrats supported Salgado, along with four of her female colleagues.

Let me give you an idea of what led up to the vote—at least the county board part.

Cary’s Yvonne Barnes nominated Salgado. Mary McCann (R-Woodstock) put Heisler’s name in nomination.

Then, Randy Donley (R-Union) nominated Barb Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake), who had just lost her chairmanship race to Ken Koehler.

Wheeler declined Donley’s nomination.

Just as he did with the county board chairman candidates, Democrat Jim Kennedy asked the candidates to tell why they were running for the office.

Anna Miller (R-Cary) read a prepared statement in support of Heisler, arguing it is the “vice chairman’s role to support the chairman.”

She also cited Heisler’s “strong personal skills.”

Barnes described Salgado’s “long history of working hard for the good of the people.”

She pointed out that her candidate had “no personal motivations,” was “goal oriented, results driven and a person of compassion.”

Salgado herself rose to Kennedy’s request saying,
“This was an opportunity I did not see presenting itself…but when it did, I welcome it.”

Perhaps Salgado was thinking of outgoing vice chairman John Jung’s loss to Lake in the Hills Trustee Paula Yensen.

Heisler received the support of the following 15 Republicans:

Bob Bless – District 1
Scott Breeden – District 2
Randy Donley – District 6
Mary Donner – District 3
Ed Dvorak – District 3
John Hammerand – District 4
Jim Heisler – District 2
Tina Hill – District 5
Ken Koehler – District 2
Mary McCann – District 6
Marc Munaretto – District 1
Anna Miller – District 1
Lyn Orphal – District 2
Dan Ryan – District 6
Ersel Schuster – District 6

Republicans for Salgado follow:

Yvonne Barnes – District 1
Sue Draffkorn – District 4
Virginia Peschke – District 6
Sandra Salgado – District 4
Barb Wheeler – District 3

= = = = =
McHenry County Board member Sandra Salgado is seen in the top photo; Jim Heisler in the one at the bottom.

As reported the day it happened, Crystal Lake businessman Jim Heisler (R-Crystal Lake) defeated McHenry board member Sandy Salgado (R-McHenry) 15-9.

All three Democrats supported Salgado, along with four of her female colleagues.

Let me give you an idea of what led up to the vote—at least the county board part.

Cary’s Yvonne Barnes nominated Salgado. Mary McCann (R-Woodstock) put Heisler’s name in nomination.

Then, Randy Donley (R-Union) nominated Barb Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake), who had just lost her chairmanship race to Ken Koehler.

Wheeler declined Donley’s nomination.

Just as he did with the county board chairman candidates, Democrat Jim Kennedy asked the candidates to tell why they were running for the office.

Anna Miller (R-Cary) read a prepared statement in support of Heisler, arguing it is the “vice chairman’s role to support the chairman.”

She also cited Heisler’s “strong personal skills.”

Barnes described Salgado’s “long history of working hard for the good of the people.”

She pointed out that her candidate had “no personal motivations,” was “goal oriented, results driven and a person of compassion.”

Salgado herself rose to Kennedy’s request saying,
“This was an opportunity I did not see presenting itself…but when it did, I welcome it.”

Perhaps Salgado was thinking of outgoing vice chairman John Jung’s loss to Lake in the Hills Trustee Paula Yensen.

Heisler received the support of the following 15 Republicans:

Bob Bless – District 1
Scott Breeden – District 2
Randy Donley – District 6
Mary Donner – District 3
Ed Dvorak – District 3
John Hammerand – District 4
Jim Heisler – District 2
Tina Hill – District 5
Ken Koehler – District 2
Mary McCann – District 6
Marc Munaretto – District 1
Anna Miller – District 1
Lyn Orphal – District 2
Dan Ryan – District 6
Ersel Schuster – District 6

Republicans for Salgado follow:

Yvonne Barnes – District 1
Sue Draffkorn – District 4
Virginia Peschke – District 6
Sandra Salgado – District 4
Barb Wheeler – District 3

= = = = =
McHenry County Board member Sandra Salgado is seen in the top photo; Jim Heisler in the one at the bottom.

In these photos you can see Judge Michael J. Sullivan swearing in the eight McHenry County Board members who took office on Monday.

From left to right are

• Randy Donley (R-Union),
• Jim Heisler (R-Crystal Lake),
• John Hammerand (R-Wonder Lake),
• Virginia Peschke (R-Bull Valley),
• Bob Bless (R-Fox River Grove),
• Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills),
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D-Crystal Lake),
• Mary Donner (R-Crystal Lake),
• Ersel Schuster (R-Woodstock),
• Scott Breeden (R-Lakewood),
• Sue Draffkorn (R-Wonder Lake) and Marc Muneratto (R-Algonquin).

In the bottom picture, you can see (if you click on the image) McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler to the right of Munaretto’s head awaiting the election of board officers.

Here are the details about the discussion about the contested election before the vote, which resulted in two Crystal Lakers taking control.

In these photos you can see Judge Michael J. Sullivan swearing in the eight McHenry County Board members who took office on Monday.

From left to right are

• Randy Donley (R-Union),
• Jim Heisler (R-Crystal Lake),
• John Hammerand (R-Wonder Lake),
• Virginia Peschke (R-Bull Valley),
• Bob Bless (R-Fox River Grove),
• Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills),
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D-Crystal Lake),
• Mary Donner (R-Crystal Lake),
• Ersel Schuster (R-Woodstock),
• Scott Breeden (R-Lakewood),
• Sue Draffkorn (R-Wonder Lake) and Marc Muneratto (R-Algonquin).

In the bottom picture, you can see (if you click on the image) McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler to the right of Munaretto’s head awaiting the election of board officers.

Here are the details about the discussion about the contested election before the vote, which resulted in two Crystal Lakers taking control.

After comments by

• Anchor Towing’s Dan Hunt,
• his attorney William Hellyer,
• Jim Olson from Olson Collision, with locations in Harvard, Woodstock, Crystal Lake and Cary,
• his brother Pete Olson form Olson Autobody from Johnsburg,
• Huntley’s All-Star Towing and
• Colleen Smith of C & M Towing out of Union, the only firm who paid the $900 for the business license to perform relocation towing in favor of rescinding the Illinois Commerce Regulations,

the county board voted unanimously to repeal its towing ordinance.

One person, Laurie Cwerenz, a lady from Johnsburg, spoke in favor of keeping the ordinance. She said her car got removed by Cougar Recovery, headquartered in Lake Barrington. She said the tow bill was $240, but the company caused $2,500 to $3,000 in damage because of improper towing technique. She said there was no recourse, apparently not knowing that a civil lawsuit might have been a possibility.

Making the repeal motion was ordinance sponsor Nick Provenzano.

“After the vote,” Dan Hunt told me. “I stood there and tried to shake everyone’s hand. A simple ‘Thank you’ for looking at this for what it was.”

Also in attendance was State Senator Pam Althoff. She explained the history of the bill and apologized to Provenzano and to Randy Donley for having not known all the details of the bill. Apparently both county board members asked the right questions, but Althoff had been misinformed of the implications of the law.

Althoff said a revised bill has been drafted, but seemed to imply that current state law would adequately protect county residents.

After comments by

• Anchor Towing’s Dan Hunt,
• his attorney William Hellyer,
• Jim Olson from Olson Collision, with locations in Harvard, Woodstock, Crystal Lake and Cary,
• his brother Pete Olson form Olson Autobody from Johnsburg,
• Huntley’s All-Star Towing and
• Colleen Smith of C & M Towing out of Union, the only firm who paid the $900 for the business license to perform relocation towing in favor of rescinding the Illinois Commerce Regulations,

the county board voted unanimously to repeal its towing ordinance.

One person, Laurie Cwerenz, a lady from Johnsburg, spoke in favor of keeping the ordinance. She said her car got removed by Cougar Recovery, headquartered in Lake Barrington. She said the tow bill was $240, but the company caused $2,500 to $3,000 in damage because of improper towing technique. She said there was no recourse, apparently not knowing that a civil lawsuit might have been a possibility.

Making the repeal motion was ordinance sponsor Nick Provenzano.

“After the vote,” Dan Hunt told me. “I stood there and tried to shake everyone’s hand. A simple ‘Thank you’ for looking at this for what it was.”

Also in attendance was State Senator Pam Althoff. She explained the history of the bill and apologized to Provenzano and to Randy Donley for having not known all the details of the bill. Apparently both county board members asked the right questions, but Althoff had been misinformed of the implications of the law.

Althoff said a revised bill has been drafted, but seemed to imply that current state law would adequately protect county residents.