Steve Doherty Appointed to Replace Craig Wilcox on the County Board

Last night the nomination of Democratic Party McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks to replace Franks’ critic Republican Craig Wilcox, who resigned to take Pam Althoff’s State Senate seat, was approved with 19 out of 22 possible votes. Abstaining were … Continue reading

McHenry County Board Committee Recommendations (Corrected)

Correction: My eyes were not working well enough yesterday when I copied the following information from item 14.2a in tonight’s McHenry County Board Agenda.  Most of my mistakes were in the Public Health Committee. = = = = = On … Continue reading

Mike Skala Elected Vice Chairman of McHenry County Board

Grafton Township Republican Party Chairman Mike Skala has been elected Vice Chairman of the McHenry County Board for the next two years. The position of Vice Chairman of the McHenry County Board has been a largely ceremonial position for the … Continue reading

Jack Franks’ Personal Agenda & Secret Legal Opinion Trumps State’s Attorney’s Opinion re Committee Chairman’s Control of Committee Agendas – Part 1

The following was written by a Friend of McHenry County Blog: RE-DIRECTED, STONE WALLED, OBFUSCATED AND IGNORED Describing How County Board Member Concerns Are Addressed By The County Board Chairman As He Continues To Break Board Rules and Waste Taxpayer Money … Continue reading

Joe Walsh Promotes Craig Wilcox for State Senate

On the same day that McHenry County Assessor Mary Mahady announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for State Senate, Republican candidate Craig Wilcox was holding a fundraiser for the same office. Wilcox, a Republican member of the McHenry County … Continue reading

14 (13 GOP) County Board Members Boycotting Special Meetings on Patronage Hiring & Valley Hi Give Franks Victory

With only nine members answering the roll call Tuesday night (and a tenth arriving a little late), McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks was able to avoid a vote on two resolutions that would overturn his decisions. The first was … Continue reading

GOP Members of County Board Seek Two Special Meetings Wed. Night

A press release about the call for special McHenry County Board meetings by Republican County Board members: Special Meetings, McHenry County Board Two Special Meetings of the McHenry County Board have been called by Republican members for Wednesday, August 23, … Continue reading

Jack Franks Seeks Leasing Agent for Valley Hi Nursing Home Without County Board Involvement

In a move of which no McHenry County Board member attending State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally’s fundraiser last night was aware, Jack Franks has asked for Requests for Proposals to lease Valley Hi, the County nursing home. One member of the … Continue reading

Thanks to Four County Board Members

Former McHenry County Board member Ersel Schuster takes time to thank those County Board members who voted against raising the County’s tax levy: A belated, but nevertheless grateful “thank you” to Yvonne Barnes Andrew Gasser Jeff Thorsen Craig Wilcox for … Continue reading

Jack Franks’ Agenda Item to Raise Real Estate Taxes Sees Nineteen County Board Members Vote Approval

Discussion showing that far too many McHenry County Board members don’t understand the property tax system ended with nineteen County Board members, including many who campaigned Taxes will be increased $80,000.against increasing real estate taxes, voting to increase next year’s … Continue reading

Franks Makes Progess on Lowering Number of Committees

McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks made significant progress in convincing Board members to lower the number of committees from twelve to seven. Can’t imagine why readers might be intereste, but here’s an attempt to list the proposal: Finance Internal … Continue reading

The County Board Winners Get Sworn In

There are so many aspects of the December 5th McHenry County Board meeeting that there will be stories coming for a while. One that was overshadowed by the activies of newly-elected Chairman Jack Franks was the swearing in of the … 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

Committee on Committees Members Announced

The McHenry County Board gets recommendations from its Committee on Committees as to who will serve as committee chairmen and members. In past years, the recommendations were just that. The McHenry County Board Chairman made the final selections. This past … Continue reading

Jeff Thorsen Elected McHenry County Board Vice Chairman

As suggested in an article last night, newly-elected Board member Jeff Thorsen (R-Crystal Lake) was elected Vice Chairman of the McHenry County Board Monday morning. Also nominated was Mary McCann (R-Woodstock), a veteran Board member. Thorsen beat her 13-10 with … Continue reading

Jeff Thorsen Most Likely Headed for County Board Vice Chairmanship

Newly-elected McHenry County Board member Jeff Thorsen seems headed to be elected the Vice Chairman of the County Board. Thorsen, who was appointed to replace Ken Koehler when Koehler was appointed to the Metra Board, is a former long-time Crystal … Continue reading

McHenry County Pro-Life Victory Endorsements

The following endorsement mailing came from the Pro-Life Victory Committee, the political arm of Right to Life, McHenry County. Those endorsed in McHenry County follow: Donald Trump – President Peter Roskam – 6th District Congress Randy Hultgren – 14th District … Continue reading

NWH Endorses in County Board Districts 1 & 2, 1 Dem, 3 GOP

The Northwest Herald rolled out endorsements for two McHenry County Board districts today. In District 1 incumbent Yvonne Barnes, a Republican challenger Kerri Barber, a Democrat In District 2 appointed incumbent Jeff Thorsen, a Republican challenger John Reinert, a Republican … Continue reading

Foglia Sents Checks to Republicans

The man who built Sage Products and his wife are writing some big checks to McHenry County Republicans. Here’s what shows up for the fall election: $10,000 – Republican Central Committee of McHenry County $10,800 – Committee for Michael Walkup … Continue reading