If you are a Democrat, you can become Precinct Committeeman in any precinct but Ringwood’s without opposition.

That’s because only Marti Swanson filed for Committeeman as a Democrat on the first day possible.

It takes only 10 valid signatures to get on the ballot. Less, if no one challenges a petition.

Are McHenry County Democrats dead or are they lying in the weeds and going to file Precinct Committeeman petitions when they file County Board petitions?

Although the office of Precinct Committeeman opens the door to the Republican Party, few are interesting in using it. So few are running that Tea Party adherents could take over the McHenry County GOP.

Not many Republicans have filed either.

My excuse for not having filed for Republican Precinct Committeeman in Algonquin’s Precinct 7 is procrastination.

Those who filed as Republicans the first day follow (an asterisk means they were filed at 8 AM):

CHEMUNG 1 – *Glenda L. Miller, Harvard
CHEMUNG 2 – *Joseph F. Hagenbruch
SENECA 1 – *R. Mark Gummerson, Woodstock
SENECA 2 – *Mary T McCann, Woodstock
CORAL 1 – *Pamela K. Palmer, Union
GRAFTON 6 – *Harriet Ford, Lakewood
GRAFTON 8 – *Carolyn Schofield, Crystal Lake
GRAFTON 19 – Samuel F Paglini, Lake in the Hills
DORR 7 – Tina R Hill, Woodstock
DORR 8 – *Katherine M. Keefe, Woodstock
DORR 11 – John Jung Jr., Woodstock
GREENWOOD 6 – *Brian Sager, Woodstock
RICHMOND 3 – Tamara A Valentine-Garza, Richmond
MCHENRY 1 – *Richard E Mack, Ringwood
MCHENRY 2 – *Geraldine “Geri” Davis, McHenry
MCHENRY 13 – Neal Schepler, McHenry
MCHENRY 16 – *Gregory L Foreman, McHenry
MCHENRY 26 – *Andrew “Andy” Glab, McHenry
MCHENRY 27 – *Robert “Bob” Koehl, Lakemoor
MCHENRY 32 – *Sandra Fay Salgado, McHenry
MCHENRY 33 – *John D. Hammerand, Wonder Lake

The elephants at Disney World showed more activity than the ones in McHenry County.

NUNDA 7 – *Kelvin Lee Jennings, McHenry
NUNDA 11 – Mark Daniel, Crystal Lake
NUNDA 12 – *Mary McClellan, Holiday Hills
NUNDA 14 – Patrick Collins, Crystal Lake
NUNDA 21 – *Brent Smith, Prairie Grove

How did Disney World's Pop Century maid know of our interest in elephants? Maybe towels like this can be used to clen up after the party is over.

ALGONQUIN 2 – Kenneth (Ken) D Koehler, Crystal Lake
ALGONQUIN 3 – *Michael E. Barnas, Cary
ALGONQUIN 5 – *Charles A. Lutzow, Jr, Crystal Lake
ALGONQUIN 8 – *Neils Kruse, Cary
ALGONQUIN 9 – *Dan Shea, Fox River Grove
ALGONQUIN 13 – *Rita M. Heuel, Crystal Lake
ALGONQUIN 16 – *Lou Anne Majewski, Algonquin
ALGONQUIN 17 – *David W Miller, Cary
ALGONQUIN 18 – *Mary Cardelli, Algonquin
ALGONQUIN 22 – *Lowell A. Cutsforth, Fox River Grove
ALGONQUIN 25 – *Thomas P. McDermott, Crystal Lake
ALGONQUIN 33 – *Sean Murphy, Algonquin
ALGONQUIN 40 – *Mallory A. Rosencrans, Cary
ALGONQUIN 46 – *Kathleen R. DeRaedt, Cary
ALGONQUIN 50 – *Linda (Lyn) Orphal, Crystal Lake

No Green Party candidates have filed.