Franks Loses Three Races

McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks’ fingerprints haven’t been identified in any of the April 4th contests, but there are three contests where he lost. The first was in his hometown of Marengo. Republican Precinct Committee and Mayor Don Lockhart, … Continue reading

Another Mailing from “Final Four” on Crystal Lake High School Ballot Stressing D155 Takes 27% of Our Taxes

I didn’t receive this mailing, but others in the Crystal Lake area did. It is from the four candidates running for the Crystal Lake High School District 155 Board of Education on a tax cutting theme. … Continue reading

Crystal Lake High School Teacher Union Feeling the Heat

You can tell an election contest is close when one side stops putting out positive pieces about its candidates and starts attacking the other side. Consider this literature found at the Crystal Lake Jewel on Saturday: I think this is … Continue reading

Donna Kurtz Outlines D155 Cost Cutting Ideas

From Crystal Lake High School District 155 Board of Education candidate Donna Kurtz, who currently serves on the McHenry County Board: COST CUTTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DISTRICT 155 As usual Susan Handelsman provides an excellent blueprint for how District 200 can … Continue reading

Algonquin Township GOP Endorses in MCC, D155 Races, Plus Only One Republican Candidate for Township Trustee

Here is what was delivered to my mailbox today: It is a sample ballot from the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee. For the first time the Republican Party is officially endorsing candidates running in non-partisan races. Apparently, the party has … Continue reading

NWH Points Out District 155 High School Board Candidates Endorsed by Teacher Union

In its article on the Crystal Lake High School District 155 Board election Friday, the Northwest Herald did something I have not seen done before. It identified which candidates were endorsed by the teacher union. In my precinct letter, I … Continue reading

Literature from Crystal Lake High School District 155 Tax Cutting Team Led by Donna Kurtz

Donna Kurtz has served on the McHenry County College Board and now is on the McHenry County Board. At MCC, she and Scott Summers changed their mind on building a minor league baseball stadium on the watershed of Crystal Lake … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Hires Fail HR Committee Test – Part 3

This is Part 3.  Part 1 can be found here. Part 2 is here. Michael Rein wondered if most jobs were not advertised on the internet and advertised. “That’s correct,” County Administrator Peter Austin replied, [but] it varies for the … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Hires Fail HR Committee Test – Part 2

Part 1 can be read here. Continuing the questioning of McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin, Human Resources Board member Craig Wilcox said, “You exercised an authority that the County Board is responsible for, that we do spell out in [your … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Hires Fail HR Committee Test – Part 1

A bare majority of the McHenry County Board’s Human Resources Committee refused to rubber stamp McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks’ hiring of two patronage employees at its Wednesday meeting. By a 4-3 vote, HR Committee members voted down a … Continue reading

Fight Over McHenry County Board Rules Fight Continues

First, what Ersel Schuster found in the audio recording of the last Internal Support & Facilities Committee meeting. The saga continues over the McHenry County Board’s Rules How much more honest it would have been had the new chairman entered … Continue reading

Testing the Memory of Past MCC Board President George Lowe

The following article form Feb. 3, 2008, might give current readers an idea of the past service of McHenry County College Board candidate George Lowe. Lowe seeks to return to the Board for a six-year term. The Daily Herald seems … Continue reading

District 155 Dueling School Board Slates Deploy Signs

There’s a fight for control of the Crystal Lake District 155 School Board this spring. One team is led by McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz. You can see that side’s four by four foot sign below: Running with Kurtz … Continue reading

Questioning Jack Franks Patronage Hire End Run Around the County Board

Listened to a little of the end of the McHenry County Internal Services Committee recording and discovered a couple of the members are none too happy that McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks has hired to patronage employees without County … Continue reading

Jack Franks Temporary Rules Committee

There is a provision in the McHenry County Board Rules that allows its Chairman to appoint ad hoc committees. It was designed, according to one member of the Management Services Committee who was there when the language was added, to … Continue reading

County Board Considering Health Coverage Changes

Almost two hours was spent by the McHenry County Human Services and Finance & Audit Committees discussing proposals for next year’s health coverage for non-union employees. At issue was about a $20 million budget item. Under proposals outlined by Cheryl … Continue reading

Donna Kurtz Explains County Board Approval of Randall-Algonquin Road Improvement

The following was written by McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz: WHY FIXING RANDALL ROAD / ALGONQUIN ROAD INTERSECTION AREA MATTERS Most will agree that the Randall and Algonquin Roads intersection and surrounding area is a significant congestion problem for … Continue reading

Pols in the Algonquin Parade – Part 1

While McHenry’s Fiesta Days Parade was blistering hot last Sunday, Algonquin’s Founders Day Parade Saturday had a pleasant temperature, was cloudy and had a good breeze. In short, the day was comfortable. I parked near Port Edward, where dignitaries ate … Continue reading

Pols on Parade in McHenry – Part 2

Yesterday, I told you most of what happened to me before the parade (one surprise to come later). Today, let’s look at the politicians courting voters in the McHenry Fiesta Days Parade. I had to walk through these poms each … Continue reading

Pols on Parade in McHenry – Part 1

Or I could entitle this, “My very hot Sunday at the Fiesta Days Parade.” It started at a reception for Congressman Randy Hultgren hosted by Perry Moy, the owner of Plum Garden. Touring the room, I found lots of Republican … Continue reading