Overflowing Room of Supporters Raise Money for Cliff Surges
After attending State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay’s event in Lakewood, it seemed appropriate to see what was up at her opponent’s pizza affair in Lake in the Hills.
The table where Cliff Surges' Campaign Treasurer took the $25 price of admission.
While McConnaughay’s was a freebee, Cliff Surges’s affair cost $25. When I got to the entry table, Surges recognized me and let me in free.
The fundraising room was crowded.
The place was packed, with some seeking a place for a quiet conversation in an overflow room.
The only elected official I found from McHenry County was Cary Village Trustee Bruce Kaplan. He is seen standing pretty much in the center of this photo.
While McConnaughay’s affair had numerous locally-elected officials, the only one I saw at Surges was Cary Village Trustee Bruce Kaplan and Cary is not in the district. Of course, his opponent had folks at her affair who live out of her district.
Cliff Surges worked the tables, here talking with Frank Muzzalupo
After an introduction by his campaign manager Scott Webb, the Northern Illinois campaign coordinator for Peter Fitzgerald’s U.S. Senate campaign, Surges test marketed a new talk.
Cliff Surges' campaign manager Scott Webb.
Surges really was pretty good.
Cliff Surges delivered a high energy speech.
Surges revealed to us non-Kane County folks that there is a slate that has developed down there.
Kane County Circuit Clerk candidate Tom Hartwell (far right in photo) listens to Cliff Surges speak.
Kane County Campaign signs at Cliff Surges fund raiser.
Surges is aligned with
- State Senator Chris Lauzen’s County Board Chairmanship campaign,
- Tom Hartwell’s Circuit Clerk’s campaign,
- Dr. Bob Tiballi’s campaign for Coroner,
- Terry Hunt’s campaign for Auditor and
- County Board candidates Robert Sauceda and Drew Frasz,
and perhaps others I missed.
The main event was a speech by Adam Andrzejewski.
Andrzejewski ran in the GOP primary for Governor in 2010 and has been on a transparency campaign since then.
Adam Andrzejewski energizes Cliff Surges' supporters.
His organization, For the Good of Illinois, has posted salary information for all sorts of public employees.
Andrzejewski said that Surges was “taking on the entire failed political class in Kane County.
“The Illinois political class still doesn’t understand the political crisis,” he continued.
Former Director of Development Phil Bus came in for comment.
Andrezejewski said that McConnaughay raised his salary over 60% in six years, retired, took a good pension and then was put on as a consultant.
He said that the man’s wife and brother made multi-thousand dollar contributions to McConnaughay.
Andrzejewski railed against
- “salary spiking”
- “pension padding”
- “contributions after retirement along the lines of pay to play.”
“His opponent has an unlimited access to tainted money.
“There’s not one person in this room that has a county contract.”
Adam Andrzejewski and East Dundee Trustee Allen Skillicorn had a chat after the event.
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The event was full of people who seemed likely to campaign actively, including one 18-year old Surges had coached. He registered to vote in order to be able to vote for Surges.
