McHenry County Blog

Doug Marks

Below is an email from Carpenterbville Village Trustee Doug Marks.

He has filed 3,400 signatures to run for the State Senate on the Libertarian Party ticket against Republican primary winner Karen McConnaughay.

3,000 “good” ones are needed to make the ballot, so his margin was thin.

Today I received the following email from Marks:

Campaign Status

Well folks,

I apologize for the delay in sending out this correspondence but I wanted be sure that I was pursuing the right choice.

Though our efforts were exceptional, the parties in power who have created a matrix of failure for those who work outside their system, or are without financial independence, have used their exclusionary tactics to have sufficient objections against my petitions to exclude me from having ballot access. [Emphasis added.]

I don’t blame Karen or any of the GOP for using the system they put into place to exclude candidates that can beat the insider, pay 2 play, big government types but if Illinois expects to be a prosperous place to live these antics have to be ended.

After spending the past week pondering whether I should mount a write-in candidacy I still have not reached a decision. Just to put it out there, I am still willing to move forward with this campaign even though, without ballot access, the effort required has changed dramatically.

If there is the financial will to support this campaign I will move it forward.

To that, I estimate that I will require, at a minimum, commitments that will exceed $50k from those who wish this fight to reclaim our state to continue.

To date, I have received commitments for less than 1/3 of that which will not suffice.

So folks, the ball is in your court.

If I move forward or just walk away rides entirely upon the liberty minded individuals who will financially support the required advertising campaign I will need to become successful in November.

If you want this campaign to continue, contact me with your pledge or go directly to the campaign website’s donation link. The finality of this campaign will be determined by July 31st 2012.

Thank you,

Doug Marks
Libertarian Candidate
33rd Senate District of Illinois

http://DougMarks2012.webs.com

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Marks has a blog here.

It’s deadline day for so-called “Established Party” candidates to file their petitions for State Rep., Senate and Congress.

McHenry County Blog has posted most of the final day filers and completes the list below:

• The GOP’s Hector Concepcion of Beach Park is running against Luis W. Tutierrez in the 4th Congressional District
• Cary Collins, a Republican from Hoffman Estates, has filed to take on 22nd District Democratic Party incumbent State Senator Michael Noland
• Republican Glenn Farkas of Glenview is filing to run against incumbent Senator Daniel Bliss in the 9th District
• Eric Joseph Lieberman of Evanston wants to run in the 18th State Rep. District against incumbent Robyn Gabel
• Republican Christopher McCann of Benton has filed to run against Democrat 117th District State Rep. John Bradley
• Republican Bob Shelstrom, who lives in Palos Park filed petitions to run against 36th District Democratic Party State Rep. Kelly M. Burke
• Urbana Democrat Michael Langendorf has filed to run in the 104th State Rep. District against the GOP’s Chad Hays
• O’Fallon Democrat Daniel Pl Polites has filed in the 108th State Rep. District against Republican Charles Meier.

A press release from Chad Koppie that arrived last night:

Koppie endorses Surges in 33rd

(Gilberts)- December 5, 2011 Tonight, Kane County Regional School Board member Chad Koppie, a farmer and retired airline pilot, endorsed fellow Republican Cliff Surges (R-Gilberts) for the newly created 33rd Senate District. Koppie had announced his candidacy for the seat previously but decided to back Surges.

“Cliff is a strong conservative and a person who brings a lot of business and community volunteer experience to the table,” Koppie said.

“His main opponent, Karen McConnaughay, has a record at the county as a big spender, one who gives large pay raises to favored employees, and has not treated our tax dollars conservatively,” Koppie concluded.

State Senate candidate Cliff Surges shakes Chad Koppie's hand as Koppie withdraws his candidacy and endorses him.

Surges warmly accepted the support, praising Koppie for his four decades of community service which included stints on the Dundee District 300 School Board and the Rutland Township Board until his election to the Kane Regional School Board in 2007.

Surges said, “Springfield is broke, literally and figuratively.

“We can send another career politician down there, but how would that get us any different results?…

“I am not a politician, but rather a small business owner. I am a man of faith. I am a conservative. Please join me in sending a loud and strong signal that Enough is Enough in Springfield,” Surges concluded.

There have been three announced candidates in the 33rd State Senate District that runs from just south of my precinct, which is just south of Crystal Lake, the lake, but they weren’t the three that showed up on the Illinois State Board of Elections web site after petition filing closed.

A previously unknown candidate for State Senate in the 33rd District popped up on the State Board of Elections web site Monday. His name is Craig Powers and he is from Geneva.

The 33rd State Senate District with underlying State Rep. districts.

Karen McConnaughay

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConanughay of St. Charles was the first to announce.

So far, she has by far the best organized campaign.

Then came Chad Koppie of Rutland Township.

Cliff Surges

He is from Gilberts.

Koppie withdrew in Surges’ favor last week.

And Monday Craig Powers of Geneva filed for the State Senate seat.

If anyone can tell me how to get in touch with him, please do.

You may have read that incumbent State Senator Suzi Schmitt, the one who seemed to throw around her weight when calling 911 about a domestic argument, decided not to run for re-election.

Now Tea Party leader Lennie Jarratt is announcing his intentions to seek the seat.

You can bet that Establishment Republicans, who are supporting former Republican State Central Committeeman Bob Neal’s son Joe, will not want him elected.

Here is the press release:

Linwood “Lennie” Jarratt Launches Campaign

(Round Lake, IL – November 7, 2011) Lennie Jarratt is officially announcing his candidacy for the 31st State Senate District.

Lennie Jarratt, whose State Senate campaign theme is running to support "families, not government."

I am running on the platform of supporting families, not government.

Too many families in the 31st State Senate District are losing their jobs and homes due to the bad policies coming from Springfield.

These bad policies now have Illinois ranked in the 48th worst financial position.

Springfield is broke and their only solution it to squeeze more money from families with higher income taxes, high gas taxes, and internet taxes that destroyed extra income for many home based businesses.

These policies slow the startup of many small businesses started by families and negatively affect the 1.1 million Illinois small businesses with 5 or less employees.

My track record of holding local officials accountable for their actions puts Springfield on notice that I am coming to change the culture and end the back room deals.

Together, we can restore fiscal sanity and once again have Springfield policies supporting families, not government.

Please visit http://LennieJarratt.com for more information.

I didn’t make it to Dundee when Cliff Surges announced his candidacy for State Senate in the 33rd District, but Jon Zahm did. He supplied his observations below, as well as the photos.

The 33rd District now has three candidates:

• Karen McConnaughay
• Chad Koppie
• Cliff Surges

Gilberts Business Owner/ Community Volunteer Declares for Illinois Senate

Flanked by a map of the 33rd State Senate District, Cliff Surges announces his candidacy.

Clifford T. “Cliff” Surges, 48, a lifelong resident of the Fox Valley, announced his bid for the newly created 33rd Senate District Saturday at 1 PM at historic Grafelman Park in West Dundee. An impressive turnout of 120 enjoyed the music, speeches, ice cream and ice water that was provided.

Pastor Bill Yonker of Immanuel Lutheran Church in West Dundee blessed the event and introduced Cliff to the crowd that basked in the sunlight on a comfortable autumn-like afternoon.

Among the supporters in attendance were

• Gilberts Mayor Rick Zirk,
• East Dundee Trustees Allen Skillicorn and Rob Gorman,
• Gilberts Trustee Nancy Farrell,
• Kane Coroner candidate Dr. Bob Tiballi,
• Kane Regional School Board Vice-Chairman Kevin Williams,
• Kane Auditor candidate Terry Hunt,
• East Dundee Village President Jerry Bartels,
• Fmr. East Dundee Village President Dan O’Leary,
• Dundee Twp. Park Board member Frank Scarpelli,
• Elgin Township Republican Precinct Committeeman Drew Veeneman, and
• Past President of the Kane County Regional School Board Jon Zahm.

Part of the crowd at Cliff Surges' announcement of candidacy.

Surges is a Hall of Fame agent for American Family Insurance who has built his agency from scratch to over 4000 policies and offices in Chicago and Gilberts.

Surges was elected twice to the Gilberts Village Board, is the current President of the Jacobs HS Sports Booster Club and coached youth soccer and football for many years.

He has been married to Audrey for 21 years and they are the proud parents of two sons and a daughter. Their oldest son attends Baylor University on scholarship after graduating as Salutatorian. Their middle son attends Jacobs, and their daughter is at Immanuel Lutheran School.

Surges grew up in St. Charles and graduated St. Charles HS in 1981.

The 33rd State Senate District.

Surges remarks focused on the feedback he has gotten from taxpayers since he began exploring this bid for office back in June.

He has been told, over and over again, that “enough is enough.”

People are frustrated with increased taxes, waste and corruption in government, and a lack of family-friendly and business-friendly policies in Illinois.

Surges told of his meeting Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in August and having him explain that he was in town to try and lure Illinois business to his state due to the better business climate there.

Surges has promised to vote to repeal the 67% income tax and 46% business tax increases that passed the Illinois Senate earlier this year with the bare minimum 30 votes required.

Surges will face Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay in the Republican primary, who announced her bid for the office on the river in West Dundee in front of a much smaller crowd of 30 people several weeks ago.

Retired airline pilot and current farmer and Regional School Board member Chad Koppie is also a Republican candidate in the 33rd. No Democrats have declared for this office.

People can get in touch with the Surges campaign at senateinfo@cliffsurges.com.

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay announced her candidacy for State Senate representing South Central McHenry County (all the way up to the Crystal Lake Country Club) at the end of June.

Conservative Chad Koppie tossed his name in the mix in mid-August.

Now a third candidate has indicated he will run for the legislative seat.

His name is Clifford Surges.

In an email, he invites folks to an announcement speech this Saturday. It will be held at at 1:00 at historic Grafelman Park in West Dundee.

There are a few things in my life worth fighting for; my family, my faith, my business and my community.

Illinois is in dire straits and I am more than concerned. I am angry, I am frustrated and I am tired of excuses.

I need your help this Saturday as I announce my candidacy for the Illinois Senate in 2012. We are looking for a crowd!

During my conversations within the new 33rd District I have repeatedly heard the following concerns:

• 

  Cliff Surges just before meeting Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker at the Family PAC Cruise.

  Who has lost their job?

• Who is struggling to keep their home?
• Why are property taxes out of control?
• How will we pay for College?
• Why can’t the State of Illinois pay its bills … even to our own schools?
• Is Illinois really borrowing money just to pay our past obligations?
• How will we get ahead?
• Why are we letting Wisconsin and Indiana woo our Corporations and jobs away?
• Why are our schools struggling?
• Why is everything just so darn complicated here?We hope to have a strong turn out to send a significant message that we care, that we are willing to stand up for our beliefs and that the answers lie within the voters.

I am asking for your support and need 30 minutes of your time this Saturday. I will not waste it!

Sturges’ announcement press release follows:

Surges Announces Candidacy for State Senate

(Gilberts) – Lifelong Fox Valley Resident Cliff Surges will announce his candidacy for the Illinois Senate Saturday, September 10 at 1:00 at historic Grafelman Park in West Dundee.

Cliff Surges

“I am running as a resident, businessman, and community volunteer because enough is enough. No matter where I go or who I speak with the conversations seem dismal regarding the State of Affairs in Illinois. From budgets to ethics, we have gone from bad to worse. I would like the opportunity to prove that you don’t need to be a career politician and that good people can still make a difference”.

“Simple principles are in play here in Illinois. We spend too much, more than our neighboring States, more than we should … and instead of figuring out how to curb the spending, we are simply being asked to give more money.”

“Figure out how to spend what you have, responsibly and we will evaluate from there.”

“The biggest items on the table right now are the protection of people’s homes, families and dreams. It’s pretty tough to accomplish this without a job. Instead of looking to our corporate partners here in Illinois to help create and foster an environment where everyone wins, we have forced them to look elsewhere, and they are leaving. They have not just stopped hiring; they are relocating out of Illinois.”

“Small business owners don’t seem to have it any better. The layers of bureaucracy and paperwork are staggering. In the town hall meetings I have attended, the small business person is feeling the State’s pinch and excess government. Property taxes are out of control, corporate income taxes have escalated again along with overly complex tax codes, permits for everything under the rainbow and fees to join them. Protecting the public is one thing, but we have just shifted too far.”

Surges is no stranger to elected office as a twice elected official in Gilberts. During his terms the targets were clear:

• stabilize the town’s facilities planning area by opening a water and waste water treatment facility;
• expand the parks and recreational areas to serve the residents; and
• create the visioning committee/comprehensive plan for the future.

As a small business owner, he started his insurance agency in 1993 from scratch. His agency has earned the Hall of Fame designation with American Family Insurance, a Fortune 300 company, has received several profit awards and the prestigious JD Powers Distinguished Agency designation.

He has also

• spent time in service to neighboring towns as a consultant with Municipal Design Group,
• currently volunteers as the President of the Jacobs High School Booster Club that has raised just over $500,000 over the past 5 years to help offset budgetary shortfalls at the high school,
• is a member of the Strategic Planning Committee for Immanuel Lutheran in East Dundee,
• is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, and
• has coached a few hundred young athletes in soccer and baseball from St. Charles to the Dundee’s to name a few of his activities.

Cliff and Audrey celebrated their 21st anniversary this past June and have three children, Jake, Colin and Talia. Jake recently graduated Salutatorian from Jacobs High School and is attending Baylor University, Colin is a junior at Jacobs and Talia is in eighth grade at Immanuel Lutheran.

“As a graduate of St. Charles East living in Gilberts, a brother in St. Charles, parents in South Elgin, family in Huntley and children attending school in Algonquin, I feel I am well positioned to serve the 33rd District.”

A press release about Tuesday morning’s press conference by Kane County Chairman Karen McConnaughay’s announcement that she is running for State Senate in the 33rd District, one-sixth of which is located in the south central part of McHenry County:

KAREN McCONNAUGHAY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR STATE SENATE

Pledges to fight for common sense fiscal and conservative values on behalf of the residents of the Fox Valley

WEST DUNDEE, ILLINOIS—Citing the need to tackle the state’s chronic mismanagement and economic crisis, Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay today announced that she will not seek a third term as the County Chief Executive, but will run for the Illinois State Senate in District 33.

Before a crowd of supporters on the River Walk in West Dundee, McConnaughay, (R-St. Charles) pledged to work to get Illinois back to work and to reduce the size and inefficiency of government.  She stated that Kane County and the rest of the state will not be able to realize economic recovery until the state government makes serious changes to reform the way it does business.

West Dundee Village President, Larry Keller introduced McConnaughay.

West Dundee Village President Larry Keller

“Springfield will benefit from Karen McConnaughay, she identifies the challenges, finds solutions, and builds consensus to get the job done. And she does so without compromise to her core belief that the taxpayers always come first. I have worked with Karen and know how dedicated she is to the Fox Valley community. She is a straight shooter who possesses the Integrity and leadership skills that are needed to turn this state around.”

“My friends, this is a pretty simple agenda.  It is the kind of no-nonsense, fiscally conservative plan that has proven successful in Kane County.  And it is what I passionately believe in.”

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay announces her candidacy for State Senate in West Dundee at the eastern edge of her district, the Fox River.

Said McConnaughay, who was elected Chairman in 2004, “We can reduce the size and spending of government, we can deliver services smartly and efficiently and we can try to leave the people freer to pursue the dreams of success that fuel economic growth.”

McConnaughay said her experience as chief executive of the fifth largest county in the state will be vital in addressing the state’s crisis of leadership.

Karen McConnaughay

“In these tough times, we’ve consistently reduced spending and balanced our budget, we’ve actually improved our bond rating and resisted the temptation to borrow money to grow government.,” she said.

As Chairman, McConnaughay has reduced the number of employees in departments under her control by 25%.  Since 2008, she has reduced general revenue fund expenditures by nearly 12% and the County’s bond rating has improved from AA to AA+ according to Moody’s.

McConnaughay referenced her start in politics as a community activist. As a young mother she rallied and organized her neighbors to fight against the condemnation of her family’s and 26 neighbor’s backyards for a proposed bike path which ultimately led to a change in Illinois eminent domain laws. That effort lead her to a seek solutions through public service.

Karen McConnaughay makes point in her announcement speech.

No current state senator resides in the newly drawn 33rd Senate District which includes much of northern Kane County and southern McHenry County.

In both her general elections as County Board Chairman, McConnaughay has received over 60% of the vote in the precincts that make up the 33rd and in the 2008 primary she received two-thirds of the Republican votes cast in the new district.

In her announcement McConnaughay laid out her agenda and priorities.

She will push for more significant reform of state employee pensions, reduce spending and focus resources on job creation and education.

She will also work to make government more efficient and promote consolidation of duplicative layers of government.

35-40 family, friends and political allies gathered to hear Karen McConnaughay announce her candidacy for the State Senate.

“I believe our best days are ahead of us, not behind us,” said McConnaughay.  “I believe that the General Assembly can find better solutions to the problems that face us.”

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An appearance has not yet been scheduled in McHenry County.

A press release from Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay:

McConnaughay to kick-off campaign

Karen McConnaughay

St. Charles, Illinois – On Wednesday June 29, 2011, Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay will formally announce her candidacy for Illinois State Senate District #33 at campaign event and press conference that is open to the public.

The press conference will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the River Walk on North First Street in West Dundee.

Supporters will join McConnaughay as she announces her candidacy and shares her vision for her campaign for State Senate.

West Dundee Village President, Larry Keeler, will introduce her.

Senate District #33 is an open seat created by the redistricting legislation that was passed and signed into law by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor earlier this month.

Karen McConnaughy

The rumor mill is hot and heavy that Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay will run for the State Senate in the 33rd District.

When I searched for her name and web site on Bing, the text said,

“The fast-growing county has a strong leader and rising star in Karen McConnaughay.”

If one held the top job in one of the largest counties in Illinois, what could the words “rising star” mean?

Running for state senator in a district containing fewer constituents that one currently has strikes me as a step down.

Conversely, if Chris Lauzen, a State Senator, decided to run for Kane County Board Chairman, that would be a step up.

Here's the bing search engine result for "Karen McConnaughhay web site."

But the rumor is out there and are strong rumors about no other candidate running in the 33rd State Senate District.

There was talk about State Rep. Mike Tryon’s doing so, but he has announced he will run for re-election in the 66th State Rep. district. This is half of the 33rd Senate District.

But what about the self-described “rising star” language.

I conclude that McConnaughay, whose new district would spike into McHenry County to the southern edge of my Algonquin Township Precinct 7, must want her “star” to rise above the State Senate.

So, what could that be?

The only thing I can think of is statewide office.

2014 is not that far away and it is helpful for people running for statewide office to have the firm grasp on state issues that comes with serving in the Illinois General Assembly. Every statewide official is up for election then, plus U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, who will be 70 shortly after election day.

At the end of the reporting quarter, McConnaughay reported having just over $21,000 in her campaign fund. Not a lot for a state senate campaign.

But since then, she picked up the following big contributions in May:

• $1,500 – Attorney’s Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., Chicago
• $1,500 – Cisar & Mrofka, Oak Brook Terrace
• $1,500 – Fona International Inc., Geneva
• $1,500 – Hoving, Kenneth, Kenneth Hoving Companies, Oak Brook, IL 60523
• $1,500 – Realtor Political Action Committee, Springfield
• $1,500 – Shanahan & Sons, S. Elgin
• $1,000 – Union Pacific Railroad, Chicago
• $1,000 – Sheaffer & Roland, Inc., Geneva
• $1,000 – XPress Professional Services, Springfield

XPress Professional Services did a $781 poll on February 1st. The same day she contributed $2,500 to the Illinois Republican State Central Committee. She also gave State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka and Congressman Randy Hultgren $1,000 apiece this year.