I’ve watched Algonquin Township since the last election in 2021.
The swearing-in ceremony was followed by a pizza party in the Board room financed by newly-elected Supervisor Randy Funk.
All were newly-elected Republican officials who ran unopposed in the GOP primary election.
All were newbies like Funk, who had served as the Algonquin Township’s insurance agent.
None had served in township office, although Ed Zimel had been a village Trustee.
Not really knowing what they were doing, at the first meeting, the Township Trustees ceded power to Supervisor Funk.
His leadership reminded me most of the way Democrat Jack Franks ruled the McHenry County Board.
The “It’s my way or the highway” approach to governing.
The relationship between Funk and the three female Township Trustees (call them “The Spice Girls”) has been pretty much downhill since then.
Having the most governmental experience, Zimel crafted the attempt of the Trustees to implement good government practices.
He was rewarded for his leadership efforts with a successful Funk-led effort to remove him from office for misdeeds while in his twenties.
That left the three women:
- Millie Medendorp
- Teresa Sharpe Decker
- Theresa Fronczak
Medendorp is now running for Township Clerk. The Clerk can be a check and balance to the Supervisor because the Clerk’s signature is required on contracts.
Incumbent Danijela Sandberg is seeking a second term as Highway Commissioner.
Decker and Fronczak are running for re-election, along with former appointed Trustee Robert Becker and fiscal conservative Eduardo Aviles, a retired fireman, a Veteran and Vice Chairman of the Algonquin Township Republican Party.
They are opposing Funk’s slate, which consists of these Trustees, who undoubtedly will go along with anything Funk proposes:
- Maureen Huff, who is currently Township Clerk
- Debbie Rinn Alcock
- Kevin Byrnes, whose wife ran in the GOP primary for Coroner
- Tony Colatorti, who ran in the GOP primary for Sheriff
Also on Funk’s slate are
Tim Carone, running to unseat Danijela Sandberg for Road Commissioner and Richard J. Yelle, Jr., running for Clerk.
Township Assessor Richard Alexander is running unopposed.
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My father was covering Algonquin Township politics in his Star Reporter back in the 1970’s.
