“What’s up, Doc?” as Bugs Bunny used to ask.
Are a herd of elder elephants off to the political graveyard?
Maybe they are just tired. Some may have moved.
Goodness knows, if one is a Precinct Committeeman who knocks on doors, one could wish that someone else would do the job.
In any event, a number of men and women decided not to run for the office in 2014. Some are short-time volunteers, but a significant number are veterans of what could be characterized as the McHenry County Republican Establishment.
Mary McCann
A number of County Board members are stepping down. Maybe they think the role of Precinct Committeeman is not worth their time.
In western McHenry County, those retiring are
- Kathleen J. Meyer of Riley Township
- Joseph F. Hagenbruch of Chemung Township
- Preston R. Rea, Supervisor of Alden Township
- Mary T. McCann of Seneca Township, a McHenry County Board member
In Grafton Township those not running again are
- Mike Skala, McHenry County Board member, a one-term Committeeman
Carolyn Schofield
- James Ketchmark from the most rural precinct, Grafton 4
- Carolyn Schofield, McHenry County Board member, a one-term Committeeman
- Samuel F. Paglini
- Joseph M. Calomino, a veteran political operative
In McHenry Township, the retirees are
- Angelo Nardi
- Neal Scheplere
- Bruce Novak, the Township Republican Chairman
- Thomas M. Hughes
- Lewis F. Matuszewich
Brent Smith
In Nunda Township the following are not running for re-election as Precinct Committeeman:
- Bernard V. Narusis, a candidate for McHenry County State’s Attorney in 1964 when my father ran for the GOP nomination for McHenry County Auditor, the year the office was created
- Jim Schlader, former Nunda Township Trustee and appointed Supervisor
- Brent Smith, former Nunda Township Republican Chairman, who is now helping in Andy Zinke’s campaign for Sheriff
- Barbara Wheeler, former County Board member and State Representative
Ken Koehler
The Algonquin Township retirees are
- Ken Koehler, McHenry County Board member
- Michael E. Barnas
- Aaron T. Shepley, Mayor of Crystal Lake and, at one point, appointed by County GOP Chairman Mike Tryon as Vice Chairman of Outreach
- Raymond G. Chisholm, a Cary Village Trustee
- Lowell A. Cutsforth, a former Algonquin Township Trustee
- Jake Justen, a former Young Republican President
- Mallory A. Rosencrans
- Sharon Ann Meroni, the first-term Fox River Grove-Barrington Hills Committeeman who led the fight to put Tonya Franklin, an energized Tea Party activist who was willing to take on long-term Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks, on the ballot, but was rebuffed by the Party Establishment. She is devoting full-time to Defend the Vote.
Rebecca M. Lee, elected Algonquin Township Republican Party Chairman by one precinct’s votes, and one of the lawyers successfully defending Andy Zinke against my ethics complaint about his use of his Sheriff’s Department email account to deny that he was giving me and those around me the finger at Crystal Lake’s Independence Day Parade. Lee is the daughter of Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller and his wife, McHenry County Board member Anna May Miller.- Linda (Lyn) Orphal, former McHenry County Board member who lost in 2010 to Donna Kurtz in District 2 and then ran successfully n District 3 after reapportionment in 2012
- Eugene F. Sittinger
- Robert Abraham
I’ve seen similar apathy down here in Kane County too. They’ve either given up or moving to greener pastures like IN or TX.
Some probably used their earlier involvement as a stepping stone to a higher position or a job. Staying on the streets as political soldiers probably contributed to keeping them in those higher places.
There comes a time for all things to end. Term limits shouldn’t have to be stated or enforced before some people move on. I am also hoping there are some new power players coming into the area.
I suspect I am what would have been considered a veteran of the political process. I resigned as Precinct Committeeman when it became apparent to me that the IL GOP leadership had no intention of holding to either conservative or republican principles.
In the case of my township we saw where party building activities enlarging the base, outreach) were considered far less important than throwing money at very weak candidates who had no chance of getting elected rather than investing the money on voter outreach and inclusion to expand and shore up the base for future victories.
Additionally it became obvious that those with a hold on the party at the township, county, and state level were only interested in maintaining the status quo; their only issue wit the democrats approach is that the republicans did not hold the reins. So instead of promoting an alternative vision to the democrats they sought to keep the status quo in place and merely move the oppression of government from democratic to republican control.
Take a look at the pension reform vote, the republicans just gave Madigan and Quinn the victory they needed – good job guys.
So for many of us, for decades we fought the good fight only to have our party leadership unless a quiver of arrows in our back.
Many of us are in the final third or quarter of our life.
We could continue to fight a pointless war helping RINOs get elected or we could spend our remaining time with our families and spend more time trying to teach conservative principle to our grandchildren – I decided to do the later.
The GOP at the local, county, state and national level serves no useful purpose for those of us who get up everyday and actually work. It is a party of elites who simply want to suppress the working man’s wages through immigration and visa workers while taxing the middle class in order to subsidize the very people who form a barrier to earning higher wages.
And of course the Democrats desperately want those immigrant workers, to become part of their reliable base.
That is why you see wholesale defection from the GOP, the outcome is the same for the working man.
With wither party our culture is eradicated, our wages suppressed and the rungs up the ladder of opportunity are torn out and all we get out of the deal is the bill.
When faced with this position, my father always asked if one were willing to have someone else be the one in a decision-making position.
In organizations where things are not going as I wish them I have remained to fight for reform.
Cal, there are no words to thank you for what you do with this blog, and what you did as our State Rep., you have brought people together that have been caught up in the current regime, many have lost much, but you do give us some hope and a reason to continue on.
Geez, anotherwatcher, why don’t you just declare Cal a saint while you’re at it.
All Cal does is write a politically slanted blog.
Half the time anymore, he just posts the results of his massive FOIA requests
‘anotherwatcher” You are absolutely “RIGHT”
Cal should be commended for all of his efforts and his willingness to tell truth……
http://www.mchenrycounty1981.com
jack on, go join Fukoku and his/her friends, Cal has done a great service to the taxpayers in McHenry County.
If “jack on” is supporting Undersheriff Andrew Zinke for Sheriff of McHenry County, which he did not state that as a fact, he will indeed be joining the winning team.
Not like you losers, Zane Seipler = Duncan Mchenry and Scott Milliman.
Now you losers can get your noses out of Cal’s butt, they are turning brown.
I agree with Anon (11:37AM), that many committeeman are in it as a stepping stone to something.
You forgot to mention if their kid has gone through college on legislative scholarship that committeeman service was used to leverage to get from a local legislator.
The pictures in this article are of losers that won’t be missed. Thank you to the good people who’ll replace them.
To: Fukoku can you post your comments without the ugly profanity? it’s disgusting. thank you.
The name is “jack”, and I posted “on” 12/04.
I’m not supporting Zinke, but then again, I’m not supporting Prim, either. If anotherwatcher and Fukoku Kyohei represent politics (or even levels of intelligence) in McHenry County, I think its time to move.
Your flame wars are doing more to damage your candidates’ images than they’ve done themselves, and given what they’ve done, that says something.
That’s a funny statement (levels of intelligence) coming from you Jack considering that you made a full frontal attack on Cal.
Maybe you should move!
Legislative scholarships are no more.
“Fukoku” = Kim Zinke. That is exactly what everyone has been waiting for you to do… MOVE..
“Jack” The Crusade Against Corruption Team, has done nothing but captivate the people of Mchenry County and compelled many to pay attention to politics and corruption..
The numbers on the blogs increase consistently ever month.
That means “We the People” are listening and many have joined the bandwagon for the crusade to create positive change in our County Government.
You can either choose to cover your ears or listen and you might find you have something to learn…