Walkup Comments on Limitation of McHenry County Board Rules on Remote Access

A commentary by McHenry County Board member Michael Walkup: A storm is brewing over the vote not to allow County Board Member John Hammerand to participate at last Tuesday’s County Board meeting via speakerphone. Here is what the Board Rules … Continue reading

The Hammerand Request – Getting Stranger and Stranger

After the Tuesday, January 6th meeting of the McHenry County Board, Northwest Herald reporter Kevin Craver thought the the refusal of the McHenry County Board to allow District 4 member John Hammerand was the biggest story of the night. That … Continue reading

Gottemoller Committee Assignments – To the Winners Go the Spoils

Newly-elected McHenry County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller has a chance to build a coalition for an at-large race for County Board in the fall of 2016, but he decided to please his current supporters instead. (See “Joe Gottemoller’s Quandary.”) Gottemoller … Continue reading

Hammerand Campaign Financing

District 4’s John Hammerand is the third candidate seeking the office of McHenry County Board Chairman. He won a hotly-contested race with teacher union-backed Crystal Lake South High School auto mechanics and manufacturing technology teacher Arne Waltmire. Waltmire had over … Continue reading

Gasser Defeat of Chirikos Means GOP Controls All Seats on County Board

In District 1 after about 3,150 early and absentee ballots were added to in-person ballot results from last night, newcomer Andrew Gasser of Fox River Grove defeated incumbent Democrat Nick Chirikos of Algonquin by 382 votes. That increased his 169 … Continue reading

County Board May Have No Democrats

There are now two Democrats on the McHenry County Board: Nick Chirikos Paula Yensen With 20,000 absentee and early votes still missing, Republicans are ahead in all districts where Democrats are on the ballot. With three precincts outstanding, candidates for … Continue reading

Pro-Lifers Endorse Hammerand

An email from Illinois Citizens for Life, PAC: PRO-LIFE ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSE JOHN HAMMERAND FOR RE-ELECTION TO DISTRICT 4 MCHENRY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS October 29, 2014 Dear Pro-Life Supporter, McHenry County Board Commissioner John Hammerand has said “I pride myself … Continue reading

Arne Waltmire Assaults John Hammerand with Mailings & Robo-Call

Fueled by thousands and thousands of dollars of teacher union money, Crystal Lake South auto mechanics teacher Arne Waltmire is filling mailboxes and people’s ears with campaign messages. Pretty much all are negative, aimed at defeating incumbent Republican John Hammerand. … Continue reading

Sex Trade Zoning Regs in Jeopardy

Some will remember the sexually-oriented club that was opened during the 1990’s in Burton’s Bridge. The first night limos were bringing in customers. Neighbors weren’t happy, but the McHenry County zoning ordinance left officials pretty much defenseless. The club eventually … Continue reading

Nick Chirikos Votes Against Allowing Public Comment Before Zoning Votes

The agenda for last Tuesday’s McHenry County Board meeting is below: The room was pretty full for the fourth straight meeting. Here’s how County Board member John Hammerand saw the meeting: The County Board Meeting Room was packed with citizens … Continue reading

Hammerand Holds Fundraiser

On my way to McHenry County Board member John Hammerand’s fundraiser, I saw another Liberty Outdoor billboard advising voters who vote for Democrat Jack Franks that they are voting for House Speaker Mike Madigan to continue his reign over the … Continue reading