After David McSweeney endorsed McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz, this is what happened. Both Kurtz and her mother, former State Rep. Rosemary Kurtz, were at Dee Beaubien’s announcement for office. Donna Kurtz had the microphone.

Petitions are circulating for Bill Downs to run on the Democratic Party ticket against State Representative David McSweeney.

Downs lives in Fox Trails.

Last year, McSweeney came in first in a three-way GOP Primary Election, but was challenged by Dee Beaubien, running as an Independent in the General Election.

The McSweeney-Beaubien contest was a knock-down, drag-out fight with Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan pouring in money for the Independent.

The results, however, resulted in a landslide for McSweeney:

David McSweeney beat Dee Beaubien 59-41%.

Since being elected McSweeney has gained a high profile, passing legislation that would make it tougher for McHenry County College to get away with issuing non-referendum bonds and getting a Constitutional Amendment through the Illinois House to eliminate the office of Lieutenant Governor.

According to the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, ore money was spent on the contest than on any other State Rep. race: $2,110,396.95

• Beaubien-$1,054,256 (including $56,815 of in-kind spending, probably all from the pro-abortion
  Personnel PAC)
• McSweeney-$1,054,140

Apparently more signatures are needed for both Downs and Dennis Anderson, the Democratic Party candidate against Randy Hultgren, because people are being invited to a meeting of the Party at McHenry County College on November 20th at 7PM. B-166-167, neat the cafeteria.