McHenry County Blog

When I walked up to the courthouse where I spent four years as McHenry County Treasurer between 1966 and 1970, I saw Bianchi signs in the front yard of the courthouse.

I immediately thought of the story that Julie Covert told me.

She was up at the courthouse during the early 1960’s and saw the incumbent state’s attorney’s sign posted on the same courthouse lawn. [Ruth Rooney, Julie's daughter, tells me the signs were for Nixon and that Julie took them down and tore up the ones in the courthouse windows.]

Feisty former union organizer she was, she took the sign down.

She knew it wasn’t right for political signs to be on the courthouse lawn.

As I remember the story, a sheriff’s deputy followed her our of town and her husband Ben was told to admonish her.

Yeah.

Right.

That would be like someone telling me to admonish my wife.

Julie and she can take care of themselves.

But, back to the main show.

The rumor mill has been busy with tales of Jim McAuliff’s being ready to announce for the office…St. Patrick’s Day was the date I was given the week before.

The same grapevine said McAuliff would step aside if Appellate Court Justice Sue Hutchison decided to run come the August petition passing time.

A couple of days before St. Pat’s Day, McAuliff called to tell me that he had been approached to run, but was not announcing that Saturday.

The word on the street is that GOP County Chairman Bill LeFew is none too happy with Bianchi. And rumored to be deeper in the background is former Republican Party Chairman Al Jourdan and former State’s Attorney Gary Pack maneuvering to dump Bianchi.

As those attending the event climbed the curved staircase to the old courtroom (where I was sworn in as county treasurer as a 24-year old in December, 1966), they could see a sign announcing names of people who have endorsed Bianchi’s re-election.

A casual glance would show that many were Al Jourdan stalwarts. (Jourdan became GOP County Chairman in 1968 and most Republican official holders since then owe him at least a debt of gratitude.)

You can read the names in the image I have posted, which can be enlarged by clicking on it.

A crowded second floor courtroom greeted McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi when time came near for his announcement.

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler introduced Bianchi, stressing how he had saved county taxpayers money by bringing previously outsourced legal work into the state’s attorney’s office.

“He’s been a very strong advocate for all the people of McHenry County,” Koehler told the crowd….Lou deserves all of our strong support.”

Standing behind the bench, Bianchi said,

This is the closest I’ll ever come to being a judge.

The reason?

“I want to be the greatest state’s attorney I can possibly be.”

He seemed a bit worried about his speaking ability, explaining he had been reading a book telling how to make a speech.

The beginning of his term was occupied with mediating between countywide elected officials and the county board on who had what budget authority. Bianchi said the dispute was “all because of an opinion by outside counsel.”

He used the example to show he was “dedicated to cooperation.”

The crowd shouted,

Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

All I could think of was the 1972 chant of supporters of Richard Nixon. At least Bianchi didn’t hold both hands up showing “V’s.”

Bianchi introduced Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bob Blazier as the head of his campaign.

Chuck Ruth, head of Alliance Contracting and large donator to any number of good causes, will be Finance Chairman. (You can see what bad lighting does when one shoots across a room.)

Ruth used a pause to good-naturedly tell folks that checks and credit cards could be accepted immediately.

There were campaign co-chairmen, but I only got the name of his neighbor Nancy Prioletti.

Ron Salgado, who moved over to the state’s attorney’s office from the sheriff’s office was introduced as the Political Director.

Then, Bianchi introduced his wife, whom he called,

Saint Jean

He also introduced the office supervisors, noting that his criminal division chief had conducted 53 jury trials and was doing a good job in the Cox trial, in which, perhaps, not coincidentally, Mark Gummerson is the defense attorney. Gummerson’s name keeps coming up at one of the leaders in the attempt to defeat Bianchi.

Bianchi then moved on to a poster of his “kept promises.”

I was on the wrong side of the room, but did get a picture of it later for you to take a look at.

In the lead up, the state’s attorney bragged about the 261 years of experience in his office.

“The rumor is a lot of those years are mine.”

He talked about how his predecessor’s (Gary Pack’s) bad check collection operation was a “bank with people answering telephones in California.”

I know from the experience of my legislative assistant Pete Castillo, that the state’s attorney’s office was inadequate except as a threat when bad check complaints were submitted to our office.

Bianchi also announced that he was planning to set up a mental health court and a drug court to save time and money by diverting some of those arrested from the court system.

“I promised four years ago that we would return the office to the people…We have returned the office to the people,” he concluded to cheers.

Bianchi has about $46,000 available for the campaign.

= = = = =
As usual, all of the images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Top right is McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi in full campaign mode.

Below left are two of the signs that were on the Old Courthouse lawn. (I should have gotten the fence, too.)

In the third photo, Bianchi is greeting a boy while supporters hand out rally signs.


Next, McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler can be seen introducing Bianchi, as can the crowd on the right side of the room.

Beneath that photograph is one of the public officials who have endorsed Bianchi. Those who are missing are probably as interesting as those who are listed.

Those standing in the middle of the room are pictured next. Right below are those on the left side of the courtroom.

Crystal Lake's Bob Blazier is seen holding up a Bianchi after being introduced as his Campaign Chairman.

Below right is Chuck Ruth starting his role as Finance Chairman by soliciting those in the room.

Political Director Ron Salgado is to the left below, while "St. Anne," Bianchi's wife is slightly below to the right.

Next comes a poster listing Bianchi's "Kept Promises."

And below is a close-up of Bianchi addressing the crowd.

Finally, considering the stealing of signs toward the end of bitter fought campaigns in McHenry County, I couldn't resist posting this brother and sister and their friendly sign war on the way up the Old Courthouse steps. I think Dad is the referee. The steps, by the way, are a lot safer than they were in the late 1960's. The sandstone had been quite eroded by then.

Labels: Al Jourdan, Bill LeFew, Bob Blazier, Chuck Ruth, Gary Pack, Julie Covert, Ken Koehler, Lou Bianchi, Mark Gummerson, McHenry County State's Attorney, Nancy Prioletti, Ron Salgado