McHenry County Blog

Look at what I saw on the way to Wonder Lake last weekend.

Two political signs left over from the February 5th primary.

Let's see.

That was two months ago.

And they are still up.

One is Republican.

From 8th congressional district primary candidate Kirk Morris.

He came in second.

The other is for 8th district Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

Wouldn't you think that members of the Democratic and Republican Parties would have picked them up by now?

It's not like they are hidden away on some back road.

They are on the south side of Route 120 on Thompson Road.

Maybe the political class doesn't realize that signs such as these bring disrespect upon party activists and their candidates.

I wonder if they will still be up when my in-laws return from Florida and we have our first family gathering in Wonder Lake.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Kirk Morris, Melissa Bean, Message of the Day

Some may not know what opposition research is.

It's what the Clinton's are famous for.

You dig up unfavorable parts of an opponent's background and release it when it will do your candidacy the most good.

Think "slum lord" Tony Rezko's connection to Barack Obama being tossed out in the South Carolina Democratic Party primary election in which Clinton is having big problems.

That came out in a Democratic Party debate.

Obama's retorted that Clinton had been on the board of Wal-Mart, a company much maligned by unions who would organized its workers.

It was designed to damage the chances of Barack Obama's winning that election.

Below McHenry County Blog presents some opposition research on 8th district Republican Party congressional candidate Steve Greenberg below. 

It comes from the campaign of Kirk Morris, as you can see at the bottom.

Dear Member of the Media,

You may have rec'd this e-mail yesterday, but some recipients may not have gotten the text in the e-mail. To remedy this situation, I've attached a 4th document that has the text of this email included.

The 8th district Republican race hasn't garnered the attention of the 14th, but there are some interesting developments. Last week, the Greenberg campaign aggressively attacked Kirk Morris' credibility, intimating that the information on his BIO (see  www.kirkmorrisforcongress.com) was inaccurate.

In fact, everything on the website is accurate. The Greenberg Campaign is not only barking up the wrong tree, but should beware of the numerous inaccuracies on their own website. Please note the information below, as well as the attached documentation.

You should also know that Greenberg, putatively running as a "reformer," received $1,000 from  Illinois Republican insider Bob Kjellander, and has refused to return it.  Greenberg is the ONLY candidate Congressional candidate Mr. Kjellander has funded this cycle.  This exposes Greenberg as a candidate of the party establishment.  This is the same Republican establishment that gave us Farm and Highway pork barrel spending, earmark abuse, The Foley Scandal, and of course, negative campaigning through character assassination over discussion of substantive issues.

Regarding such issues, we now have 2 local papers endorsing Greenberg calling him a "Social Moderate."  Yet, Greenberg is campaigning in the district as a staunch conservative.  We call on the newspapers that endorsed Greenberg to disclose all 3 of the candidates' questionnaires.  Is Steve Greenberg saying different things to different audiences?

The Kirk Morris for Congress campaign is sending this information to set the record straight on Steve Greenberg's own misrepresentations on his website.

____

The following are falsehoods told by the Greenberg campaign:

1. From Steve's Literature re: Locker Room Foundation
First, look at the printed (attached-click to enlarge) handout literature. Look under the heading: "A FAMILY MAN". In the last sentence, it says: 
"He and Kristine are founders of the Locker Room Foundation, which provides families of fallen soldiers with financial assistance."
Second, look at the Articles of Incorporation for: "The Locker Room Foundation" On the last page, the first paragraph of the attachment, last sentence, there is listed the specific purpose of the corporation: 
"Meeting with college alumni and booster clubs. 2 per week per college student volunteer."
A corporation cannot exceed its stated purpose without losing its tax exempt status. Further, in our polling of families of fallen soldiers, nobody has ever heard of the Locker Room Foundation. Nobody we know has heard of the Locker Room Foundation. We have a gold star family (outside of Kirk, who is ready to be interviewed), her name is Georgette Frank (224) 875-3669.
2. From the Greenberg website...
Steve serves on the board of Americans for Prosperity, a pro-jobs and pro-growth national organization."

If you look at the Americans for Prosperity site, you will see he is not listed:

He isn't on any board. I even checked on the Illinois division of the site, but didn't find his name.
3 From the Greenberg website, boasting of Steve Greenberg as a successful businessman:
"Steve also owns Herr's Pacific, a distributor of art materials and craft supplies. Through his companies, Steve has created hundreds of jobs in Illinois and across the country, and has learned first-hand how government policies can help small businesses."
However, the truth about Herr's Pacific can be found in the following article:
Herr's Pacific lays off workers
"Some employees who lost their jobs had worked at Herr’s Pacific for more than 20 years.

"A lot of people depended on those salaries. It’s been a livelihood for many," Skoog said. "It’s a very sad thing to have happen."

IKG Partners LLC, which consists of Bob Scott and his two brothers-in-law, Michael and Steven Greenberg, acquired Herr’s in 2001.

Shortly after that, IKG Partners LLC acquired Pacific Creatives in Orange, Calif., an art supply/craft wholesaler, and merged the two companies in Danville.

Michael Greenberg and Scott did not return phone messages left for them in Lincolnshire.

Herr's Pacific, as you can see from the above article, is also known as IKG Partners, LLC. The corporation, with all of its assumed names, is listed as "revoked" by the Secretary of State's website. The record of the Secretary of State, showing the revocation, is attached.
4. Steve Greenberg's campaign does not list the name "Goliath Falls" in any of his literature.

This business was started in 1999 and lasted until 2001. Attached are some documents regarding "Goliath Falls" and the initial cash put into the company in the amount of $4.5 million. The company failed in 2001, as the following article shows:

From the May Report
Many have speculated why such a great idea failed in just over a year. Goliath Falls was a B2B e-commerce company that gave independent retailers the buying power of the larger chain stores, thus allowing the little mom and pop stores to compete with the like of Walgreens and other "giants."

Goliath Falls started just about a year ago as the brainchild of Steve Greenberg. His family owns privately held Promotions Unlimited Corp (PUC) in Racine, Wisc. With an initial and substantial investment from his family, Goliath Falls became a reality. These family ties not only gave Steve the money he needed but gave him a "built-in" pool of customers. PUC highly promoted this venture to all their Ben Franklin stores as well as their other customers. Steve had 2,000 customers to start with before he even had a site. With thousands of other PUC customers to enroll later.

Goliath Falls had numerous investors including Compaq which gave them $10MM in cash and hardware. They hired Diamond Technology Partners to create their site, used InterWorld as their web platform, hired DDB to promote them, and hosted their site at Digex. They spared no expense to do things First Class. Their site went live on July 4th ("Independents" Day).

In the end Goliath Falls did themselves in. They wowed people with their flashy, expensive ads and site. Grew their staff very quickly. Paying some employees large signing bonuses. They even catered in meals for their staff two times a week. As part of their Compaq deal they gave customers a computer if the promised to spend $25K a year. Meanwhile they had trouble getting their products to customers in one piece, if at all. They were slow to bill customers, and even slower at collecting from them. They had lots of money going out and very little coming in.

So unless Steve Greenberg finds a miracle source of cash, Goliath Falls will be no longer."
Steve Greenberg is an empty suit  who has little or no accomplishments.  His campaign is based upon his parents money and a smooth tongue.

Bruno Behrend
Press Secretary
Kirk Morris for Congress

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Kirk Morris, Melissa Bean, Opposition Research, Steve Greenberg

This past week 8th congressional district Congresswoman Melissa Bean got endorsed in her Democratic Party primary over peace candidate challenger Randi Scheurer.

In the Republican Party primary, benefits consultant Ken Arnold got the nod over his two opponents, Steve Greenberg and Kirk Morris.

Only one paragraph was dedicated to each endorsement, which was included with a bunch of other congressional endorsements.

There is a characteriture of Bean sitting at the back of the wagon. I have reproduced it large enough for you to see.

“8th: Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean, who describes herself as ‘moderate mainstream’ and a ‘fiscal conservative’ was first elected to congress in 2004. She authored and led passage of an Internet education safety program and co-sponsored initiatives to track sex offenders online. Bean, who has worked issues across the aisle, including transportation funding, is endorsed over Randi Scheurer, whose husband Bill Scheurer, ran against Bean as an independent.

“Vying in the Republican primary are businessmen Steve Greenberg, Kenneth Arnold and Kirk Morris. Notably, Morris’ son, a Marine, was killed in Iraq. Arnold is strong on policy, while Greenberg has greater financial backing. Arnold is endorsed over Greenberg, because brains should matter more than bucks.”

I would note that Bill Scheurer did not run as an independent. He created his own party, which he named the Moderate Party. I would also note that the editorial does not point out that both Scheurers ran to protest Bean's position on the Iraq War.

So, what difference does the Sun-Times endorsement make?

I got it in 1980 when I ran against incumbent Robert C. McClory, but still lost the primary election, carrying only McHenry of the three county district that looking like a crane.

And, they endorsed me in spite of my opposition to gun control, as they did Lynn Martin.

For those interested in history, here was the endorsement:
OFFICE: U.S. House. Term, 2 years
Salary, $60,662.50

13th DIST. Republicans Robert McClory, Cal Skinner, Jr. Democrats
Edward J. LaFlamme, Michael Reese

Despite a sharp tongue that can wound needlessly and obtuseness on some public transit maters, state Rep. Cal Skinner Jr. has served Illinois well on such complex matters as school taxes and urban sprawl—and as an idea-generator.

Incumbent Rep. Robert McClory’s stewardship of his office has been amiable but increasingly listless. And his recent vote for pork-barrel water projects belies his claimed opposition to wasteful spending.

Skinner favors innovative use of alcohol to increase fuel supplies and practical deregulation of various industries as an anti-inflation measure. Both men agree on such key issues as the need to promote savings and investment, but we think Skinner offers more intelligent, vigorous representation.

That was the year I was driving a Pinto that used 85% alcohol and 15% water.

That is not a typo.

Elgin's Herb Hanson and an Elgin policeman, whose name escapes me right now, invented it. It smelled like a still going down the street. This same time, GM and Ford were producing all-alcohol fueled cars in Brazil, but refused to do so in the United States.

It only broke down once...just east on Route 120 of where the highway turns south in Greenwood Township. Fortunately, the very surprised farm family living on the northwest corner or Route 120 on Charles Road took pity and let me call Gravers in Woodstock to tow it in and give me a ride back to 360 S. Madison Street, Woodstock.

Lynn Martin got endorsed to fill John B. Anderson's seat in the same editorial. She won.

And, no.

My filing system is not good enough that I could have found this if I were looking for it. I was looking for a small black-on-yellow “Write-In Vance Roberts” sign that we used when he ran for the Crystal Lake city council.

Instead, I found this bad copy of a February 29, 1980 Sun-Times editorial, plus a Re-Elect Bob McClory yard sign.

Click on the editorials and you should be able to read them. The other images can also be enlarged the same way.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Bill Scheurer, Cal Skinner Jr, Characteriture, Doug Aurand, Ken Arnold, Kirk Morris, Lynn Martin, Melissa Bean, Randi Scheurer, Robert McClory, Steve Greenberg

A volunteer to 8th congressional district GOP primary candidate Kirk Morris sent me this press release about an award he received January 5th. Thought it might be of interest.

Citizen of the year for HIS service to veterans

Chicago – Gurnee resident Kirk Morris was honored by a Veterans Organization in Chicago for his work on behalf of Illinois veterans.

Morris is running for the Republican nomination for the Eighth Congressional District seat currently held by Democrat Melissa Bean. He faces Ken Arnold from Gurnee and Steve Greenberg from Buffalo Grove in the February 5, 2008 primary election.

Morris received the “Citizen of the Year Award” from the McCarthy Group in a ceremony held at St. Cajetan’s Church in Chicago on Saturday January 5th. The Group cited Morris for “his service above and beyond” the call of duty to Illinois veterans. The event was witnessed by more than 2,000 people who filled the pews.

Presenting the award to Mr. Morris was Mr. Allen Lynch, Medal of Honored recipient from Viet Nam who also lives in the Gurnee, IL area.

In a speech responding the award, Kirk Morris asked everyone in attendance to demonstrate their dedication to country by doing, instead of talking. “It is one thing to talk about what needs to be done, but without anyone taking action, talk will not help anyone without action,” said Morris.

The McCarthy Group was founded by Colonel Joseph McCarthy, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at Iwo Jima. During World War II, McCarthy was a captain commanding a rifle company attached to the Second Battalion, 24th Marines, and led an assault team across exposed ground to wipe out positions holding up the advance of his company.

The same Marine Corps Unit is now a reserve unit headquartered in Chicago . The battalion has been activated for second tour in Iraq

Also receiving Honors Saturday, was Marine Sgt Brian Woznicki, who earned three Purple Hearts in his two deployments to Iraq . One such award was the result of injuries he sustained in Spring of 2004, the same place and time PFC Geoffrey Morris, son of Kirk Morris, was killed in Iraq.

Chicago Firemen also presented an Iron cross to Navy Chaplain 2nd Lt. John Conrae, who served with the Marines on two tours in Iraq and is headed back for another deployment by the end of January. The cross was cut from the iron beam from the former World Trade Center on September 12, 2001.

“This cross has a lot of emotion and meaning attached to it. I will carry this to the Battlefront far any all to see. What a wonderful symbol and memoriam for those that are taking the battle back to those that caused such great loss of life in NY on September 11th,” said Conrae.

The Chicago Police Drum and Bagpipe Corps added ceremonial and processional music to the event.

Link to photo’s of the event.

= = = = =
The caption to the photo is "Medal of Honor recipient Mr. Allen Lynch presenting Kirk Morris with the 1st ever citizen of the year award from Medal of Honor recipient Joseph McCarthy foundation."

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Allen Lynch, Brian Woznicki, Col. Joseph McCarthy, Geoffrey Morris, Ken Arnold, Kirk Morris, McCarthy Group, Melissa Bean, Purple Heart, Steve Greenberg

In the 8th congressional district, the Chicago Tribune has endorsed incumbent Democratic Party U.S. Representative Melissa Bean and the best financed Republican—Steve Greenberg.

Here’s the text:

Melissa Bean has been a smart, centrist Blue Dog Democrat, willing to work across the aisle. She and 10th District GOP Rep. Mark Kirk teamed up recently to warn of the loss of federal transportation funds if Springfield doesn’t get its act together soon. Bean is endorsed over Randi Scheurer of Lindenhurst, whose husband ran against Bean as an independent in the 2006 general election.

In the Republican primary, Steve Greenberg, a businessman from Long Grove whose family supplies merchandise to small variety stores, is moderate on social issues, fiscally conservative and surrounding himself with good people. He is endorsed over businessmen Ken Arnold and Kirk Morris, both of Gurnee.

Expect to see the second paragraph on a Greenberg mailing soon.

Undoubtedly, Scheurer is disappointed that she was not identified as opposing Bean’s Iraq War stance.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Chicago Tribune, Endorsement, Ken Arnold, Kirk Morris, Melissa Bean, Randi Scheurer, Steve Greenberg

Last night at 8:11 I emailed 8th congressional district Republican primary candidate Kirk Morris asking for its reaction to fellow GOP primary candidate Steve Greenberg’s saying that Morris’ campaign was spreading rumors about Greenberg or his companies having gone through bankruptcy.

This afternoon at 3:48, the answer arrived. It follows:


The Greenberg press release to Cal Skinner’s McHenry County Blog accuses the Morris campaign of spreading rumors. Morris campaign manager Peter Karlovics stated that he was not aware of anyone spreading rumors, and if they were, it would be against the Morris campaign's policy to run a positive campaign.

In response to the Greenberg press release, Karlovics noted that there were insufficient details in the press release as to who spread the rumors, where the rumors have come out, and how many people heard the rumors.

"If the Greenberg campaign wants to stop these supposed rumors, then I ask them to tell us who supposedly said them. If there is a confirmed incident of a Morris supporter spreading a rumor, I will make sure it stops. I hope this press release is an honest attempt by the Greenberg campaign to resolve an issue, and not some type of political ploy."

Bruno Behrend, Campaign Press Spokesperson, notes that the Greenberg's campaign has been laying the groundwork for a negative campaign of its own.

First, in the beginning of the campaign, Greenberg's campaign conducted a widespread negative push poll against Kirk Morris. The poll asked respondents if they would be likely to vote for Kirk Morris if they learned he had declared bankruptcy. (Morris' ex wife had died of alcoholism, and his ex-wife's addiction had bankrupted him).

More recently, the Greenberg campaign attacked Kirk Morris in a story in the Daily Herald. In an endorsement interview at the Daily Herald, Morris discussed his meeting with Guiliani, their discussions of border security and the establishment of electronic monitoring devices as a cheaper alternative to buildings walls and fences.

Morris had mistaken the Presidential candidate’s display of polite interest in the idea as Guiliani hearing the idea for the first time, and left the Daily Herald with the impression that he had an impact on Guiliani’s policy ideas.

In a follow-up, the Daily Herald asked about the misimpression, Kirk Morris apologized for any mistaken impression and moved on. He did meet with Mayor Guiliani, and they did discuss border security, as well as other issues. (The campaign produced a photo of the meeting to the Daily Herald.)

In the same Daily Herald article, Greenberg campaign manager Brad Goodman accused Morris of “lying” – a baseless charge.

Recently, Peter Karlovics, discussed his concern about both campaigns going negative with Brad Goodman. To this date, Goodman has refused to make a commitment to stay positive. He told Karlovics that “everything is on the table” and that “this is a big boy’s game.” The Morris campaign is asking the Greenberg campaign to make a public commitment to repudiate negative campaigning – as has been the Morris Campaign policy all along. To date, the Greenberg Campaign has refused to do so.

= = = = =
Photo of Kirk Morris and Rudy Guiliani supplied by the Morris campaign.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Kirk Morris, Steve Greenberg

Rumors are endemic to campaigning.

I remember when I was running for McHenry County Treasurer at age 23.

I was single, living at home, having just returned from a grueling job as a budget examiner at the U.S. Budget Bureau.

It was 1966, Vietnam War time.

So, why wasn’t I drafted?

My opponents started this rumor:

You know, there are only two reasons that a guy his age isn’t drafted. One is physical. He certainly looks healthy enough, knocking on all those doors and all.

The other reason is moral. You know he lives with his parents and doesn’t have a girl friend.

In short, I must be a homosexual.

A rumor impossible to refute. Nothing to do but continue campaigning.

For the record, I had a 1-Y deferment. It was physical, enough to keep me out of the Marine Reserves, but not out of the Marines, if I volunteered. (A story for another time.) I could have been drafted anytime that congress declared war, which it never did.

I understand similar rumors are being spread about at least one single young Republican candidate in Illinois this year.

8th congressional district GOP primary candidate Steve Greenberg is fighting a rumor campaign of a different nature.

He send out the following press release:

Setting the Record Straight
More Lies from the Morris Campaign

LAKE ZURICH 1/14/08— Eighth District GOP frontrunner Steve Greenberg has been the subject of lies spread by Kirk Morris' desperate campaign and its surrogates.

Morris, his campaign and his campaign's surrogates have spread utterly false rumors that Greenberg has been involved in business ventures that ended in bankruptcy. In fact, no company Greenberg has ever invested in or managed has ever declared bankruptcy.

Brad Goodman, Greenberg's Campaign Manager, said,

"Steve Greenberg has spent his career creating hundreds of good paying jobs in Illinois. No company he has been involved with has ever filed bankruptcy, and he has also never filed personal bankruptcy of any kind."

Goodman continued,

"Kirk Morris tells fairy tales. First, he told 2 editorial boards that he greatly influenced Rudy Giuliani's immigration policy when he later admitted that all he really did was have his picture taken with the former New York City Mayor. Now, he's lying about Steve Greenberg's companies declaring bankruptcy. When will Morris' lies stop?"

I talked to Greenberg and here’s what he told me,

“There’s a lot of fluff out there. They sure don’t let facts get in the way of a good story.

“For the last six years I’ve taken companies that are losing money and potentially leaving the market place, closing shop. We would acquire them, fix them up and create jobs that would not have been there otherwise.

“I have never had a business go bankrupt.

“We’ve had an 80% success rate on the turnarounds.”

He gave his brother the credit for the operating side of the business.

Bankruptcy seems to be something that someone could find if one looked for it. If anyone has any documentation, please send it to me.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Bankrupt, Bankruptcy, Kirk Morris, Steve Greenberg

Nunda Township Republicans are hosting an 8th congressional district candidates' night at McHenry County College tonight at 7 PM.

Since this will probably be one of the few places people can see candidates

• Ken Arnold,


• Steve Greenberg and


• Kirk Morris

(listed in alphabetical order and seen left to right) in the flesh, it should be a good show.

The one who wins the February 5th primary election will face off against Democratic Party incumbent Melissa Bean.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Ken Arnold, Kirk Morris, Melissa Bean, Steve Greenberg

In a normal year, some political organizations would be holding Christmas parties.

But this isn't a normal election year.

The primary election is February 5th thanks to Illinois Democrats who want to boost the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama.

Republicans in Nunda Township, the one on the east side of McHenry County that runs from Crystal Lake Avenue in Crystal Lake into southern McHenry, are hosting a candidates' night for the three GOP candidates at McHenry County College next Monday night at 7 PM.

Since this will probably be one of the few places people can see candidates

• Ken Arnold,


• Steve Greenberg and


• Kirk Morris

(listed in alphabetical order and seen left to right) in the flesh, it should be a good show.

So, you all mark your calendars and come meet the person that the GOP will run against Democratic Party Congresswoman Melissa Bean next fall.

The press release follows:

Forum features Republican congressional hopefuls

CRYSTAL LAKE – A trio of Republicans vying for their party’s nomination for the 8th Congressional District seat are expected to square off in debate next week.

• Ken Arnold, a Gurnee businessman;
• Kirk Morris, a Gurnee executive and veterans’ advocate; and
• Steve Greenberg, an athlete-turned-businessman from Long Grove,

all are bidding for the Republican Party nomination Feb. 5.

“Up until now, the primary has been relatively low-profile,” said Blake Hobson, Nunda Township Republican chairman and organizer of the forum. “As a committeeman, I go door-to-door and I talk to people and they say, ‘Geez, I don’t know who these people are.’

“By putting together this forum ... it gives primary voters the opportunity to come and say, ‘I like candidate A, I like candidate B.’”

All candidates have confirmed that they will participate, Hobson said.

The forum is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Monday at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. The forum will be conducted in the college conference center, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

The forum is free and open to the public.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Blake Hobson, isa Bean, Ken Arnold, Kirk Morris, Melissa Bean, Nunda Township, Steve Greenberg

The following arrived in an email last night. It is from one of two candidates from Gurnee in the Republican primary election against Melissa Bean. The other is Ken Arnold. A third candidate, Steve Greenberg, appears to have the most money to spend.

Here is Morris email:

You can support Kirk Morris for Congress with your PayPal, On-Line Donation today.. by clicking here or pasting the link www.KirkMorrisForCongress.com into your browser. The button is on the right......

About Kirk;

Kirk Morris has spent his life (50 Years in January 2008) as an 8th District resident. Born in Palatine, raised in Barrington and Richmond, he has lived in Gurnee for the past 17 years. He and wife, Vickie, care for a blended family that includes Jennifer, a college student, two seniors, Lauren and Taylor, sophomore Austin, and 4th grader Dylan. The family mourns the loss of the oldest son, Marine PFC Geoff, killed in Iraq on April 4th of 2004, who was looked up to and adored by his younger siblings.

Why the 8th District?

The issues Kirk is determined to work on are national issues that also impact us here locally. Finding a just and long-term solution to the war in Iraq, reducing the threat of terrorism by protecting our borders, serving the veterans who have served our country, protecting the environment, and restoring fiscal responsibility to our national budget—these are all national issues that go beyond our community and need to be addressed in Washington.

As a longtime resident who has volunteered and worked across this 8th District for 40 years.. he will provide a level of access and attentiveness to district residents not seen in a very long time....

Support Kirk Morris for Congress—he has heard your voices for 50 years.. and will bring your voice with him to Washington!

Please pass this information along to your friends and family... and visit the website www.KirkMorrisForCongress.com often.. there will be frequent updates and notices of events you won't want to miss....

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Ken Arnold, Kirk Morris, Melissa Bean, Steve Greenberg

The Chicago Tribune, which has cut back its coverage of the suburbs significantly, has finally run an article on the 8th congressional district primary elections.

The article concentrates on the Republican contenders, but mentions the challenge by Randi Scheurer to Melissa Bean in the Democratic Primary is also mentioned.

The paper managed to find room to run photos of two of the three GOP candidates—Steve Greenberg and Kirk Morris.

But, Ken Arnold does appear faceless in the article.

The reporter did miss another candidate, however. Iain Abernathy is running as the Moderate Party candidate. Last year Bill Scheurer captured enough votes against Bean and David McSweeney to garner a place on the ballot this year.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Ken Arnold, Kirk Morris, Melissa Bean, Randi Scheurer, Steve Greenberg

Thought you might be interested in the support in congress that 8th district GOP primary aspirant Steve Greenberg has lined up.

The congress folks include Judy Biggert, Dennis Hastert, Tim Johnson, Mark Kirk, Ray LaHood, Don Manzullo, Peter Roskam, John Shimkus and Jerry Weller.

I think that’s all the Republicans Illinois has on Capitol Hill.

They are hosting a fund raiser for Greenberg tonight on Capitol Hill.

Greenberg is being challenged by Ken Arnold and Kirk Morris.

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Ken Arnold, Kirk Morris, Steve Greenberg

What follows is the press release from Gurnee’s Kirk Morris announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Congress in the February 5th primary election. He will be facing off against Steve Greenberg of Long Grove and Ken Arnold of Gurnee. The winner will then run against two-term Democrat Melissa Bean.

I note from below the press release that the announcement is limited to his hometown. The 8th congressional district consists of parts of Lake, McHenry and Cook Counties.

More information about Morris can be found in this McHenry County Blog article.

Kirk Morris Announces Bid For Illinois’ 8th District Republican Nomination

Kirk Morris, Gurnee businessman and Veteran’s Affairs Activist, is set to announce his intention to run for the Illinois 8th Congressional District Republican Nomination.

Kirk will be formally announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination at 11:00 AM Thursday, September 13, 2007.

The announcement will take place at the Veterans Memorial Outside of Gurnee Police Station (NW corner of O’Plaine and Washington Streets), and will mark the formal start of the campaign. Kirk will provide brief remarks explaining why he is running and what he hopes to accomplish as the 8th District’s Representative in Washington, D.C.

Kirk Morris brings to the race a deep understanding of veterans’ issues as well as a commitment to successfully completing the mission of our troops currently serving the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan. On the domestic front, Kirk is a common sense conservative. He supports keeping government off of the backs of the people, and holding the line on taxes and spending. Kirk will bring together 8th District citizens of good faith from all points on the political compass to address the complex social and cultural issues of the day. He realizes that none of America’s problems are insurmountable if we find ways to work together to solve them.

Following the Announcement, The Kirk Morris Campaign invites you to a Meet and Greet, where members of the media and citizenry can speak one-on-one with Kirk.

Campaign Itinerary

Kirk Morris for US Congress Announcement
Date: Thursday, September 13, 2007
Time: Thursday, September 13th at 11:00am
Where: Veterans Memorial outside of Gurnee Police Station (NW corner of – O’Plaine and Washington St. - See Map below

Kirk Morris for US Congress Candidate Meet & Greet
Date: Thursday, September 13, 2007
Time: Thursday, September 13th at 11:00am
Where: In-Laws Restaurant; 720 Milwaukee Ave., Gurnee, Illinois 60031

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Ken Arnold, Kirk Morris, Melissa Bean, Steve Greenberg

The Daily Herald is reporting that a third Republican man wants the right to run against 16th congressional district Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

The newcomer’s headline?


His name is Kirk Morris. He is 49 and a sales exec for a bio-fuels firm.

The Gurnee resident will be running against Ken Arnold, also of Gurnee, and Steve Greenberg of Long Grove.

Morris, whose 19-year old Marine machine gunner son PFC Geoffrey Morris was killed in 2004 in Iraq, has dedicated himself to the Heroes of Freedom Memorial.

Chicago Bears, past and present, have assisted in fund raising efforts to “raise $2.5 million to build a Fisher House on the grounds of the Hines VA Hospital,” according to a Lake County Journal article. The Fisher House web site says its goal is to

”enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful time -- during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.”

The organization is also raising money for “a 1.6-acre site located where the former Village of Gurnee police station stood at 4580 Old Grand Avenue as the site for a future Heroes of Freedom Memorial,” according to a press release I found.

I can find no web site and Morris did not return my phone call requesting his press release.

Labels: 16th Congressional District, Ken Arnold, Kirk Morris, Melissa Bean, Steve Greenberg