McHenry County Blog

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.

As reported Monday, the three Democrats now on the McHenry County Board split their votes for board chairman.

Jim Kennedy and Paula Yensen–the two from Lake in the Hills’ District 5–voted for Crystal Laker Ken Koehler, who represents District 2.

McHenry County Democratic Party Chair Kathy Bergan Schmidt, the one from north of Crystal Lake in District 3, voted for District 3’s Barb Wheeler.

Pardon me if I look at this from a crass political viewpoint. But we are talking politics here, aren’t we?

The motivation to vote for Koehler could be as simple as wanting to be on the winning team.

With a vote spread of 16-6-2, I would think that virtually everyone voting would have known that Koehler was going to win.

Indeed, runner-up Barb Wheeler referred to herself as “the lamb being led to slaughter.”

So, Kennedy and Yensen could well have just been positioning themselves to get favorable committee assignments.

Or, they could have figured out that a number of Crystal Lake precincts are in their district and figured that Koehler and his allies might be less likely to actively oppose their re-election, if they supported him for county board chairman.

Schmidt, whose address is Crystal Lake and whose District 3 goes well into Crystal Lake—all the way south to Crystal Lake Avenue—could have used the same logic.

But she didn’t.

She decided to support her fellow District 3 Republican. Maybe the data base that Wheeler’s brother, Dr. Tom Salvi, developed in his almost successful 2000 run against State Representative Jack Franks, convinced her it was better to antagonize Koehler than Wheeler.

As the headline says, this is “speculation.”

Where does your train of thought take you?

As for vice chairman, all three of the Democrats were unified. They supported McHenry’s Sandra Salgado over the winner, Crystal Lake’s Jim Heisler.

Did they want to show support for a woman?

Did they realize that Heisler, much like Abraham Lincoln, was such a good guy that he wouldn’t retaliate?

Or have they figured out that Heisler is more into government than politics?

= = = = =
The top photo shows Democratic McHenry County Board member Jim Kennedy making a point. Behind him you can see Marc Munaretto. Newly-elected Democrat Paula Yensen is seen waving her thanks to fellow McHenry County Democratic Central Committee members who voted in caucus last February to nominate her to run for county board. [The commenter below notes that Yensen was on the primary ballot. My mistake. She was waving to her fellow precinct committeemen after being introduced.]

Below them, McHenry County Democratic Party Chair Kathy Bergan Schmidt is seen on the left and Barb Wheeler on the right. Both serve on the county board from District 3.

At the bottom, Jim Heisler is seen to the left of Sandy Salgado.

As reported Monday, the three Democrats now on the McHenry County Board split their votes for board chairman.

Jim Kennedy and Paula Yensen–the two from Lake in the Hills’ District 5–voted for Crystal Laker Ken Koehler, who represents District 2.

McHenry County Democratic Party Chair Kathy Bergan Schmidt, the one from north of Crystal Lake in District 3, voted for District 3’s Barb Wheeler.

Pardon me if I look at this from a crass political viewpoint. But we are talking politics here, aren’t we?

The motivation to vote for Koehler could be as simple as wanting to be on the winning team.

With a vote spread of 16-6-2, I would think that virtually everyone voting would have known that Koehler was going to win.

Indeed, runner-up Barb Wheeler referred to herself as “the lamb being led to slaughter.”

So, Kennedy and Yensen could well have just been positioning themselves to get favorable committee assignments.

Or, they could have figured out that a number of Crystal Lake precincts are in their district and figured that Koehler and his allies might be less likely to actively oppose their re-election, if they supported him for county board chairman.

Schmidt, whose address is Crystal Lake and whose District 3 goes well into Crystal Lake—all the way south to Crystal Lake Avenue—could have used the same logic.

But she didn’t.

She decided to support her fellow District 3 Republican. Maybe the data base that Wheeler’s brother, Dr. Tom Salvi, developed in his almost successful 2000 run against State Representative Jack Franks, convinced her it was better to antagonize Koehler than Wheeler.

As the headline says, this is “speculation.”

Where does your train of thought take you?

As for vice chairman, all three of the Democrats were unified. They supported McHenry’s Sandra Salgado over the winner, Crystal Lake’s Jim Heisler.

Did they want to show support for a woman?

Did they realize that Heisler, much like Abraham Lincoln, was such a good guy that he wouldn’t retaliate?

Or have they figured out that Heisler is more into government than politics?

= = = = =
The top photo shows Democratic McHenry County Board member Jim Kennedy making a point. Behind him you can see Marc Munaretto. Newly-elected Democrat Paula Yensen is seen waving her thanks to fellow McHenry County Democratic Central Committee members who voted in caucus last February to nominate her to run for county board. [The commenter below notes that Yensen was on the primary ballot. My mistake. She was waving to her fellow precinct committeemen after being introduced.]

Below them, McHenry County Democratic Party Chair Kathy Bergan Schmidt is seen on the left and Barb Wheeler on the right. Both serve on the county board from District 3.

At the bottom, Jim Heisler is seen to the left of Sandy Salgado.

Who voted how is what insiders often want to know.

So, here is how the Democrats voted for county board chairman:

For Ken Koehler:

Jim Kennedy – District 5
Paula Yensen – District 5

For Barb Wheeler:

Kathy Bergan Schmidt – District 3

Republicans for Koehler follow:

• Yvonne Barnes – District 1
• Bob Bless – District 1
• Scott Breeden – District 2
• Mary Donner – District 3
• Ed Dvorak – District 3
• John Hammerand – District 4
• John Heisler – District 2
• Tina Hill – District 5
• Ken Koehler – District 2
• Mary McCann – District 6
• Pete Merkel – District 4
• Anna Miller – District 1
• Lyn Orphal – District 2
• Ersel Schuster – District 6

Republicans voting for Barb Wheeler:

Sue Daffkorn – District 4
Virginia Peschke – District 5
Dan Ryan – District 6
Sandra Salgado – District 4
Barb Wheeler – District 3

The two Republicans voting for Marc Munaretto were

Randy Donley – District 6
Marc Munaretto – District 1

Add them up and you’ll see Ken Koehler received 16 votes, Barb Wheeler 6 and Marc Munaretto 2.

For vice chairman, Jim Heisler beat Sandra Salgado 15-9.

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
John 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

All three Democrats—Kennedy, Schmidt and Yensen–voted for Salgado.

Republicans for Salgado follow:

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

= = = = =
In the top photo you can see Judge Michael J. Sullivan swearing in (from left to right) McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler and Vice Chairman Jim Heisler. At the podium is McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz. Below right, Heisler speaks to the county board after his elevation to the vice chairmanship.

Who voted how is what insiders often want to know.

So, here is how the Democrats voted for county board chairman:

For Ken Koehler:

Jim Kennedy – District 5
Paula Yensen – District 5

For Barb Wheeler:

Kathy Bergan Schmidt – District 3

Republicans for Koehler follow:

• Yvonne Barnes – District 1
• Bob Bless – District 1
• Scott Breeden – District 2
• Mary Donner – District 3
• Ed Dvorak – District 3
• John Hammerand – District 4
• John Heisler – District 2
• Tina Hill – District 5
• Ken Koehler – District 2
• Mary McCann – District 6
• Pete Merkel – District 4
• Anna Miller – District 1
• Lyn Orphal – District 2
• Ersel Schuster – District 6

Republicans voting for Barb Wheeler:

Sue Daffkorn – District 4
Virginia Peschke – District 5
Dan Ryan – District 6
Sandra Salgado – District 4
Barb Wheeler – District 3

The two Republicans voting for Marc Munaretto were

Randy Donley – District 6
Marc Munaretto – District 1

Add them up and you’ll see Ken Koehler received 16 votes, Barb Wheeler 6 and Marc Munaretto 2.

For vice chairman, Jim Heisler beat Sandra Salgado 15-9.

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
John 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

All three Democrats—Kennedy, Schmidt and Yensen–voted for Salgado.

Republicans for Salgado follow:

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

= = = = =
In the top photo you can see Judge Michael J. Sullivan swearing in (from left to right) McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler and Vice Chairman Jim Heisler. At the podium is McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz. Below right, Heisler speaks to the county board after his elevation to the vice chairmanship.

For the first time in my memory, two individuals from the same county board district were elected to head the McHenry County Board.

Incumbent County Board Chairman Ken Koehler (R-District 2) easily beat back challenges from District 3 county board member Barb Wheeler and District 1 member Marc Munaretto.

The vote was 16-6-2 for Koehler, Wheeler and Munaretto.

Two contended for the second spot.

Crystal Lake’s Jim Heisler faced off against McHenry’s Sandy Salgado.

Heisler won 15-9.

= = = = =
You can see Ken Koehler and Jim Heisler (from left to right) being sworn in by Judge Michael J. Sullivan. In the background on the first row is Crystal Lake’s Ed Dvorak. On the second row is newly-sworn in Democrat Kathy Bergan Schmidt.

More details tomorrow.

For the first time in my memory, two individuals from the same county board district were elected to head the McHenry County Board.

Incumbent County Board Chairman Ken Koehler (R-District 2) easily beat back challenges from District 3 county board member Barb Wheeler and District 1 member Marc Munaretto.

The vote was 16-6-2 for Koehler, Wheeler and Munaretto.

Two contended for the second spot.

Crystal Lake’s Jim Heisler faced off against McHenry’s Sandy Salgado.

Heisler won 15-9.

= = = = =
You can see Ken Koehler and Jim Heisler (from left to right) being sworn in by Judge Michael J. Sullivan. In the background on the first row is Crystal Lake’s Ed Dvorak. On the second row is newly-sworn in Democrat Kathy Bergan Schmidt.

More details tomorrow.

A friend of McHenry County Blog has informed us that there is a third member of the McHenry County Board who would like the number two spot.

And, it’s another woman—Barb Wheeler, who lives north of Crystal Lake.

The two other female candidates are Woodstock’s Tina Hill and McHenry’s Sandra Salgado.

Wheeler’s political involvement goes at least back to when she ran for Republican precinct committeeman while still living at home with her Salvi parents. She was 21. Her bothers include former State Rep. Al Salvi and Dr. Tom Salvi, who almost beat State Rep. Jack Franks in 2000.

= = = = =
In the photo above, McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler is on the right. On the far left is her husband Joe Wheeler. In the middle, from left to right, are Nunda Township Precinct Committeeman Bob Borchert and 8th district Republican candidate for Congress, Steve Greenberg. The photo was taken at the Nunda Township Republican Central Committee picnic in early August.

A friend of McHenry County Blog has informed us that there is a third member of the McHenry County Board who would like the number two spot.

And, it’s another woman—Barb Wheeler, who lives north of Crystal Lake.

The two other female candidates are Woodstock’s Tina Hill and McHenry’s Sandra Salgado.

Wheeler’s political involvement goes at least back to when she ran for Republican precinct committeeman while still living at home with her Salvi parents. She was 21. Her bothers include former State Rep. Al Salvi and Dr. Tom Salvi, who almost beat State Rep. Jack Franks in 2000.

= = = = =
In the photo above, McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler is on the right. On the far left is her husband Joe Wheeler. In the middle, from left to right, are Nunda Township Precinct Committeeman Bob Borchert and 8th district Republican candidate for Congress, Steve Greenberg. The photo was taken at the Nunda Township Republican Central Committee picnic in early August.