McHenry County Blog

With the defeat of McHenry County Board Vice Chairman John Jung by Lake in the Hills Village Trustee Paula Yensen, the race is on to replace him.

The post pays extra, a new benefit since my father served in the position before he died in 1989.

Two candidates have emerged.

Both are women.

State Rep. Mike Tryon's legislative assistant Tina Hill is soliciting votes. She is from Woodstock.

Also seeking votes from her colleagues is Sandra Salgado, who lives in McHenry.

It's no big secret that Hill would like to run for countywide office.

I'm not sure ideology matters in a race for the number two county board spot, but my impression is that Hill is more liberal than Salgado.

I would assume that Hill is more closely allied with County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.

He named her to chair the Management Services Committee.

I remember her handling the McHenry County Republican Cat Tax issue on the board floor.

Salgado is vice chair of the Public Health & Human Services Committee.

Salgado's father, Ron, was manager of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's successful campaign.

The day job of this former Deputy Sheriff is that of investigator for the office.

The father also managed the campaign of Tom Sanders when he unsuccessfully ran against Keith Nygren in the GOP primary for sheriff.

Alden's Don Larsen was vice chairman before Jung.

= = = = =
The photo of John Jung at the top of the article was taken in June at the Pro-Life Pig Roast at Resurrection Center. The picture of Tina Hill was taken Monday during the Management Services Committee meeting. The one of Sandra Salgado was taken after an earlier county board meeting.

Labels: Lou Bianchi, Ron Salgado, Sandra Salgado, Tina Hill

The more statements from candidates that McHenry County Blog receives and publishes, the more I realize that it is playing an important role documenting what candidate's want people to hear without the perceptual screen of a newspaper editor.

I don't know about you, but with newspapers devoting all of one article to each office's race, there is no way to figure out what the campaign is all about.

As regular readers know, I have been willing to publish pretty much every press release that was sent this way during the fall election.

Sometimes I got overloaded and once, on Tom Cynor's purchase of the defaced Obama yard sign for $2,000, I had already run another press release with the same information before I got the release.

After Election Gathering – November 4, 2008

Together we have labored ---together we have done the hard work

We have been plucking the feathers and crushing the grapes---it is now time to eat the chicken and drink the wine!

Looking back over the last – almost 2 years of campaigning, I was reminded of:

a. The many monthly meetings

b. The warehouse with over 125 people stuffing bags and putting together 5,000 signs

c. Walking to 10,000 homes in winter

d. The post cards, nail files, pads, magnets and palm card

e. The mailers

f. The letters to the Editor

g. Newspaper ads

h. Radio and TV spots

i. And working the 6 train stations

j. The Tony Scimeca “Bianchi” mobile

k. The 50 Parades

All this work by so many people, for almost 2 years, leads to one very important question:  What are you all going to do with your time this winter?

We have been watching, as all you probably were, all the polls during this last election cycle.  And the thing that stands out most of all…and the one thing that all the polls have consistently shown which I believe in the end will be the most accurate prediction:  That tonight more pizza will be delivered to homes than any other night in history.
 
I kept my promises and I will keep them in the future.

4 years ago you and the other voters elected me as your State’s Attorney because you wanted change…you wanted me to return the office to the People…AND WE DID.  Tonight voters in McHenry County have spoken loud and clear affirming the accomplishments we have made these past 4 years and our commitment to represent the people without favoritism or cronyism.

We will continue to work that way….Improving on what we started 4 years ago:

a. And to continue to save taxpayers money. And going forward on this point, we will go after the  1.2 million dollars in outstanding judgments in unpaid fines and costs…to help with our County’s  budget shortfall

b. Continue To put the bad guys away. Going forward on this point, we will grow our special prosecutions unit and establishing a special gang prosecution unit.

c. Continue To serve the county board, elected and appointed officials, ethically, efficiently and economically.  Going forward on this point, we will hire a special prosecutor to work with the Highway department to get those needed roads through the legal work as fast and efficient as possible.

d. With the mental health court, we will Graduate those 26 and more who a participants. And going forward on this point, to do whatever we can to start that drug court.

e. We will do more for our eturning veterans.  We read about the social, economic, and psychological adjustments that they will have to make.  In the event that some of them experience problems with the law, we want to make sure there is room in our mental health court (and new drug court). Within the next few weeks we will be meeting with the Veterans administration and other veteran groups to begin a dialogue to learn more about their unique issues and better able to handle their cases.

And finally, we will look  to bring other creative and necessary programs to the citizens who live and work here…always doing what is right, best and good for all of us here in the community.
 
My heart fell thanks to each and every one of you for all that you did to re-elect me. 

I am right now, and have been, surrounded by great people who have done extraordinary work for me and our office. 

There are really two groups. 

One, that includes all those who work within the office who gave their time and energy after hours and on weekends and the second group that is very large that consists of family, friends (some even from high school, but most of whom I have met through my practice and as of late during the last six years of campaigning). 

It was suggested that I acknowledge all of these people …by asking them to come on stage.  There is not enough room to bring everyone up here.

It may sound trite…but I really cannot find the appropriate words to say thanks, thanks to so many…for the many ways that you have supported me and our office in this campaign that has lasted almost two years. 

I cannot promise to solve all the problems that confront us, but I do pledge to devote 100 percent of my mind, heart and will to meeting all of the great challenges ahead…and I will continue to work to earn the trust that you have placed in me.

God bless you all for all that you have done for me…over the years and particularly this past year and ½.

= = = = =
Just before newly re-elected McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi gave the speech above, he waved for his wife Jean (introduced as St. Jean at his 2007 announcement party at the old courthouse.

Bianchi is not really pointing to his wife in the second picture. The camera angle just makes it look that way.


Bianchi works his way around the room thanking supporters.

The next two photos show Bianchi getting ready to give his talk after getting his wife on stage, then speaks to the audience in the Old Town Hall above Heisler's Bootery.

A scene of the crowd and photos of former FBI Agent Bob Borchert, a Republican Precinct Committeeman from the Crystal Lake part of Nunda Township, plus McHenry County Board member Virginia Peschke and Bianchi campaign manager Ron Salgado.

Below is Chief Deputy State's Attorney Tom Carroll and Jerome Majewski.

At the bottom is Nichole Owens, Criminal Division Chief, with her boss McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

McHenry Township Precinct Committeeman Joyce Story is the last photo. I do not know with whom she is standing.

Labels: Bob Borchert, Jean Bianchi, Jerome Majewski, Lou Bianchi, Nichole Owens, Tom Carroll

Without early voting totals folded into the results, Barack Obama was leading John McCain by one percentage point.

After adding those early votes in, Obama's lead leaped to 5.3 percentage points: 51.75% to 46.45%.

House Speaker Mike Madigan will have some explaining to do for his refusal to reinstate the straight party voting that Republican House Speaker Lee Daniels killed the ability to punch one hole and vote for every on the ticket.

Had straight party voting been in effect, there might have been more victories down the ticket.

As it stands now—with the Democratic Party-dominated early voting included in the totals—Democrats have picked up two county board seats.

Lake in the Hills village trustee Paula Yensen beat McHenry County Board Vice Chairman John Jung.

McHenry County Democratic Party Chair Kathy Bergan Schmidt turned out Nick Provenzano.

Both men were strongly supported by Pro-Life forces in McHenry County.

64th state representative Democratic Party candidate Robert Kaempfe got more Democratic primary votes than Mike Tryon received in the Republican primary last spring.

But Kaempfe could not convert that seeming advantage to victory. Instead the spread was almost 23 percentage points.

Democratic Party candidate for coroner, the only countywide Democrat who actually had his name on the ballot, also got more Democratic Party primary votes than incumbent Republican Marlene Lantz.

That did not convert to a close fall race.

Lantz got over 60% of the vote.

I am sure local Democrats will wonder what would have happened had there been straight party voting.

The countywide candidate who came closest to losing was McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer.

She got almost 58% of the vote.

55% is considered a landslide.

Running best was McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi. He almost got 62% of the vote in his re-election campaign. The possibility that the hotly contested primary election with Dan Regna would hurt his re-election chances against former Democratic Party Chair Tom Cynor did not materialize.

Labels: Barack Obama, Dave Bachmann, John Jung, John McCain, Kathy Bergan Schmidt, Lee Daniels, Lou Bianchi, Mike Madigan, Nick Provenzano, Pam Palmer, Paula Yensen

Any hopes of Democrats sweeping away lots of Republicans in McHenry County seem to be dashed from early returns.

With one-third of the vote counted, John McCain is leading Barack Obama by just over one percentage point.

That should buoy Democratic Party hopes, wouldn't you think?

But look at the congressional race between incumbent Republican Don Manzullo and challenger Robert Abboud.

It's 63% to 33% with Green Party candidate Scott Summers scoring 3 1/2%.

No coattails there.

State Rep. Mark Beaubien is cleaning Democrat Rich Garling's clock 69% to 30%.

Much was made of Democratic Party state representative candidate Robert Kaempfe's getting more votes in the primary election than incumbent Mike Tryon.

No carryover can be noticed this fall.

Tryon is winning 64% to 36%.

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi is leading challenger Tom Cynor almost 2-1.

McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer, another Republican incumbent is not leading her opponent by as much as Bianchi, but she is still topping 61%.

Four term incumbent Coroner is getting 63% over Democrat Dave Bachmann. Not quite as high as Bianchi, but quite close.

So, at the legislative and countywide levels, there is no sign McHenry County voters are defecting to the Democrats.

The only potential crack in the Republican wall appears in county board races. More on that later.

Labels: Dave Bachmann, Don Manzullo, Lou Bianchi, Mark Beaubien, Marlene Lantz, Mike Tryon, Pam Palmer, Robert Abboud, Scott Summers, Tom Cynor

It appears that the press release Thursday and robo-phone call Monday morning from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi warning of a last minute smear campaign by Democratic Party challenger Tom Cynor were misplaced.

Cynor had loaned his campaign $50,000.

Most people thought he would spend it on his campaign.

Apparently not.

No last minute mailing.

No nothing.

Labels: Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Smear Campaign, Tom Cynor

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi just called me.

It was a pretty good call, although I could noticed parts had been spliced together.

Bianchi warned that his opponent Tom Cynor was “attacking me in a last minute smear campaign. That's unfortunate...”

He said he had “gone after violent crime with (experienced prosecutors).”

Bianchi reminded voters he had “saved millions of dollars (by bringing legal work in-house).”

“I would be honored if you would re-elect me (tomorrow).”

And, there you have as much as I could scribble down.

Labels: Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Smear Campaign, Tom Cynor

I'm looking at campaign disclosure reports on the “Most Recent Reports” page of the Illinois State Board of Elections and there's a string of $1,296 contributions to each GOP countywide candidate.

The cost for each to the Illinois Republican Party is reported to be $1,296. The mailing is coming from Buford, Georgia, of all places.

Not only is Lou Bianchi, the GOP candidate for State's Attorney getting that amount, but Phyllis Walters, the Republican candidate for Recorder of Deeds is credited with a similar contribution from the Illinois Republican Party.

And the same amount to Katherine M Keefe, the GOP candidate for Circuit Clerk.

Same for Pam Palmer, the County Auditor, who is running for re-election.

I think I am seeing a pattern.

Total cost – $6,480.

I think it is for the joint mailing I wrote a story on Friday. That's where you can read the "Top Ten Reasons to Vote for Local Republicans."

Labels: Illinois Republican Party, Katherine Keefe, Lou Bianchi, Marlene Lantz, McHenry County Republicans, Pam Palmer, Phyllis Walters

McHenry County Republican State's Attorney Lou Bianchi is running an ad on upper right hand corner of the main page of the Northwest Herald's web site.

This was all the rage in the hotly contested GOP primary election.

I have seen nothing in the way of an individual campaign by Democrat Tom Cynor.


This looks a lot like what I would expect for a final mailing.

It's positive, as would be expected.

Maybe it will come today or Monday.

Labels: Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Thomas Cynor

I don't watch a lot of television.

To be honest, if it's not “24” or the news, I'm probably watching this computer screen reading an escapist novel or, more recently, putting up signs in Bull Valley.

So, I don't know whether McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi is airing the YouTube ad below on cable TV or not.

But, I thought you might be interested in looking at it.



31 had viewed it when I watched it.

Bianchi is being challenged by Democrat Tom Cynor.

Labels: ate's Attorney, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, YouTube

Using Abraham Lincoln's visage, the piece features the five countywide candidates for office.

The Illinois Republican Party decreased the postage cost by making the mailing for the McHenry County Republican Central Committee.

It's a duplicate of what appears on the back of the sample ballot zoned by county board district. That piece has photos of all the GOP candidates, not to mention the judges up for retention.

What are the “Top Ten Reasons” to support McHenry County Republicans?

1. McHenry County Republicans do not suffer from Springfield Gridlock – There is not Rod Blagojevich, Mike Madigan or Emil Jones operating in McHenry County. Republican leadership works together for the benefit of the people in McHenry County.


2. Republicans Streamline Local Government – Republican controlled McHenry County has 25% fewer Governmental employees per capita than Democrat controlled Cook County.


3. Republicans Invest in Future Transportation – The Republican led County Board has taken the bold initiative to reduce congestion by borrowing $50 million to spend on road construction NOW. This is a smart move as road construction costs are rising faster than the borrowing rate. The existing motor fuel tax repays this debt.


4. The Republican County Board Adheres to a Balance Budget – While most counties deficit spend, McHenry County Republicans insist upon operating a balanced budget and have built a five month cash reserve.


5. Republicans Borrow Smarter at Lower Rates – McHenry County has earned an AA1 bond rating, one step from a perfect AAA. This outstanding rating allows the county to borrow at LOWER rates. This SAVES tax dollars. This is a rating that less than 3% of counties in the U.S. have attained.


6. Republicans Protect the County's Scenic Beauty – The Republican controlled McHenry County Board introduced the Land First Initiative. This initiative protects ground water and preserves open space. This ordinance was applauded by conservationists and developers alike.


7. Republicans Crack Down on Crime – The Republican States Attorney and Sheriff have taken a tough stand on crime which has led to harsher sentences and more penitentiary time for offenders. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been saved by handling civil lawsuits with staff attorneys, rather than outside counsel.


8. Republicans Protect the Environment & Lead the State in Ground Water Protection – McHenry County Republicans have launched one of the most aggressive programs in the state to protect ground water. Further, they have implemented a Green Building Policy to protect the environment.


9. Republicans Don't Tax Everything that Moves and let you keep More of YOUR Money – Unlike Democratic controlled Cook County, McHenry County does NOT have soft drink, amusement, liquor, natural gas, electric telecommunication or special restaurant taxes. Democrat controlled Chicago has the highest sales tax in the U.S. At 10.25%.


10. There is no Glass Ceiling for Women with McHenry County Republicans – Woman play an important role in McHenry County. Four of five countywide candidates are women.

Click to enlarge the images.

Labels: Kathleen Keefe, Lou Bianchi, Marlene Lantz, McHenry County Republican Central Commit;tee, McHenry County Republican Party, Pam Palmer, Phyllis Walters

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi, being challenged by Democrat Tom Cynor, is warning of an expected smear campaign between now and the election. Here is his press release:

Bianchi warns of smear campaign

Crystal Lake – McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi said Wednesday that he expects his Democratic opponent, Tom Cynor, to launch an eleventh-hour smear campaign by mail.

“His history shows that he favors last-minute, shock allegations instead of a full and honest debate of ideas,” Bianchi said.

Bianchi noted that all three newspapers covering McHenry County—Northwest Herald, Daily Herald and Chicago Tribune have endorsed him and that Cynor is desperate.

Cynor was an advisor to a county board candidate who launched such an eleventh-hour smear campaign.

Further evidence is that Cynor took out a $35,000 loan recently and hasn't spent it yet on advertising.

“I'm confident that the voters of McHenry County will see through the oldest political dirty trick in the book—a last minute smear campaign,” Bianchi said. “They know I have put their interests first ahead of special interests, saved taxpayer dollars and protected them from violent crime.”

Labels: Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Smear, Smear Campaign, Tom Cynor

Today we look at the third side of the McHenry County Monopoly board.

Where the second CHANCE space usually appears after FREE PARING. the same man with his hands pulling out his pockets.


The Dems could have done something with Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley's 75% city sales tax hike that took effect on July 1st.

No ballot box vote was required because Crystal Lake is a "Home Rule" unit and its ordinances generally are as important as state law because of that special status that can only be challenged by passing a petition seeking a vote on whether to repeal Home Rule status.

Shepley is an appointed Vice Chairman of the county GOP--for "Community Outreach," of all things!

That huge sale tax hike went into effect on July 1st.

And, after all, all of the city council members are Republicans.

But they are elected on a non-partisan basis. Maybe that is why the Democrats gave them a pass.

Where the third railroad would be is a third bag of money.



Oh, I get it.

Each board side's money bag is $500 more than the one before.

The utility just before the regular “GO TO JAIL” has three more monkeys,


One candidate for office, the Democrat's man for County Coroner, Dave Bachmann, has said he won't take the authorized raise during the first year, should he win election.

The “Go to Jail” space at the next corner has been replaced with


I would have put the apostrophe after the “S,” but that's a small quibble.

Tomorrow - McHenry County Monopoly - Side 4

Labels: Dan Regna, Dave Bachmann, Lisa Madigan, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Democats, McHenry County Monoploy, McHenry County Republicans, Monopoly

Nothing like an opponent to get the fund raising juices flowing.

With Island Lake Trustee Rich Garling on the ballot, State Rep. Mark Beaubien is clearly out hustling.

He has raised $104,080.18.

Even though Garling has only managed to scrape up $11,000 to challenge him.

Looks like this is another “book of lists.”

Here's who Beaubien got to contribute:

$2,500 – Arlington International Racecourse Inc., Arlington Heights
$2,500 – Vincent Foglia, Barrington
$2,500 – Richard S. Pepper Trust, Barrington
$2,000 – Com Ed, Chicago
$1,500 – Altria Corporate Services Inc., New York City
$1,500 – Dan Schueneman, Sales, Coral Chemical, East Moline
$1,500 – AT&T Illinois, Chicago
$1,500 – David Dato, Chief, Wauconda Fire Protection Dist. 303, Wauconda
$1,000 – Mark J. Beaubien, Chicago
$1,000 – James E. Bramsen, Pres., Spraying Systems Co., Barrington
$1,000 – Comcast, Des Plaines
$1,000 – Gerald Fitzgerald, Jr., Cornerstone National Bank, Inverness
$1,000 – Heartland Solutions Group Inc, Lake Barrington
$1,000 – JPMorgan Chase & Co. PAC, Chicago
$1,000 – Ira D. Leavitt, Lawyer, Palatine
$1,000 – Donald E. Nordlund, Barrington
$1,000 – Walgreens Corporate Offices, Deerfield
$500 – Mitchell Asher, Palatine
$500 – Baxter, Springfield
$500 – Bluestar Energy Services, Chicago
$500 – Bluff City Materials, Bartlett
$500 – Consumer Lending Alliance Inc., Crawfordville, F
$500 – Farmers Employees and Agents PAC, Aurora
$500 – James G. Fitzgerald, Inverness
$500 – Thomas Fitzgerald, Inverness
$500 – Terence Graunke, Chicago
$500 – Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Co., Glenview
$500 – Thomas Hayward, Jr., Barrington
$500 – Paul F. Hills, Barrington Hills
$500 – Raymond Hipp, Barrington Hills
$500 – Steven D. Hovde, Steven D., Barrington
$500 – Humana, Chicago
$500 – Kelleher & Buckley, Attorneys at Law, Barrington
$500 – James J. Kirby, Wauconda
$500 – James R. Lancaster, Barrington
$500 – James G. Martell, Barrington Hills
$500 – McGuire Woods Consulting, Chicago
$500 – Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council, Chicago
$500 – Penn National Gaming Inc., Wyomissing, PA
$500 – J. Stanley Pepper, Barrington
$500 – Quaker, Springfield
$500 – William Morton, Barrington Hills
$500 – Motor Works, Barrington
$500 – Motorola, Schaumburg
$500 – Nicolay & Dart LLC, Chicago
$500 – Scott E. Nemanich, Joliet
$500 – Sorling Northrup Hanna Cullen, Springfield
$500 – Takeda Pharmaceuticals, East Moline
$500 – Trans Union LLC, Chicago
$500 – Union Pacific Railroad Company, Chicago
$500 – UST Public Affairs Inc., Aurora
$500 – Robert W. Welsh, Barrington
$500 – Windy City Fieldhouse, Chicago
$400 – Daniel A. Michalec, Lake Zurich
$300 – Robert C. Frankenberg, Inverness
$300 – Daniel J. Donahue, Daniel, Barrington
$250 – Diageo, Chicago
$250 – Barbara Feinstein, Barrington
$250 – Michael Hayward, North Barrington
$250 – Don Killian, Barrington
$250 – James Leopardo, North Barrington
$250 – Frank J. Morgan, Barrington
$200 – Thomas J. Casey, Barrington Hills
$200 – Micheal Graft, South Barrington
$200 – Harold Guenther, Barrington
$200 – Allan Lannom, Barrington
$200 – Geoffrey Michelin, Barrington Hills
$200 – Thomas Mitchell, South Barrington
$200 – Stuart W. Porter, Barrington

The following is supposed to be transfers from political action committees, but the first one on the list does not seem to meet that category:

$5,000 – Associated Beer Distributors Of Illinois/PAC, Springfield
$5,000 – Cuba Township Republican Club, Barrington
$5,000 – IPACE (Illinois Education Association), Springfield
$2,000 – Credit Union PAC, Naperville
$2,000 – Illinois Bankpac, Springfield
$1,250 – Allstate Insurance Co., Northbrook
$1,000 – Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park,
$1,000 – AIA Illinois, Springfield
$1,000 – Amerencips, Springfield
$1,000 – Bank of American Illinois PAC, Chicago
$1,000 – HSBC North America PAC, Prospect Heights
$1,000 – IHHA PAC, Springfield
$1,000 – Illinois Federation of Teachers, Oak Brook
$1,000 – Illinois Lawpac, Springfield
$1,000 – Illinois State Medical Society, Springfield
$1,000 – IVCA-PAC, Chicago
$1,000 – Lake County Federation of Teachers-COPE Local 504 IFT-AFT/AFL-CIO, Gurnee
$1,000 - Midwest Generation LLC, Waukegan
$1,000 – RPAC, Springfield
$1,000 – Trustmark Insurance Com PAC, Lake Forest
$750 – Caterpillar Employees PAC, Peoria
$500 – American Family Insurance IL Pac, Mt. Prospect
$500 – Car of Illinois, Springfield
$500 – Chem PAC, Des Plaines
$500 – Chicago Title Staff PAC, Chicago
$500 – Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce One IBM Plaza, Chicago
$500 – CNA Citizens for Good State & Local Government, Chicago
$500 – DYN-PAC, Springfield
$500 – ExelonPAC, Chicago
$500 – ILIPAC, Springfield
$500 – Illinois Food Distribution PAC, Lombard
$500 – Illinois Home Builders PAC, Springfield
$500 – Illinois Hotel Motel PAC, Springfield
$500 – Illinois League of Financial Institutions Political Education Committee, Springfield
$500 – Illinois Vendors PAC 20, Chicago
$500 – NICOR Gas, Naperville
$500 – Professional Independent Insurance Agents PAC, Springfield
$500 – The Legislatie Interest Committee of IL Podiatrists, Springfield
$500 – Troopac Troopers PAC, Springfield
$500 – Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois, Chicago
$300 – GM PAC, Detroit
$250 – Citizens to Re-Elect Bob Miller, Cary
$250 – Emergency Medicine PAC, Oakbrook Terrace
$250 – Illinois Assn of Aggregate Producers, Springfield
$250 – Illinois Assoc. of Mortgage Brokers PAC, Lombard
$250 – Illinois Medical Anesthesia PAC, Chicago
$250 – Illinois Medical Eye PAC, Vernon Hills
$250 – The Alliance PAC, Springfield
$200 – AFSCME CouncIl 31, Springfield
$200 – Citizens for Peterson, Grayslake
$200 – Citizens for Tom Ryder, Jerseyville
$200 – Illinois Optometric Association PAC, Springfield

Since most people don't think Beaubien has much of a contest, it's not surprise that he shared over $13,000 of his campaign wealth. Here's who got what:

$6,731 – House Republican Organization
$2,800 – Personal PAC, Chicago
$550 – Lake County Republican Central Committee, Libertyville
$500 – Citizens for Bassi, Palatine
$500 – Citizens to Elect Christine K. Prochno, Elk Grove Village
$250 – Citizens for LeFew, Harvard Citizens for Shepley PO Box 1546
$250 – Citizens for Shepley, Crystal Lake,
$250 – Citizens for Skidmore, Mundelein
$250 – Citizens to Elect Bob Miller, Cary (the same amount Miller gave Beaubien)
$250 – Citizens to Re-elect Mike Waller, Waukegan
$250 – Committee to Re-Elect Louis Bianchi, Crystal Lake
$250 – Nunda Township Republican Central Committee, Prairie Grove

= = = = =
Rich Garling in on the left on top, while Mark Beaubien is on the right.

Labels: Aaron Shepley, Bill LeFew, Bob Miller, Lou Bianchi, Mark Beaubien, Rich Garling, Tom Ryder

Add the $70,400 reported yesterday with the almost $4,000 available at the beginning of July and McHenry County State's Attorney has almost $75,000 to spend on his re-election campaign

Some may find long lists of contributors boring, while others will enjoy trying to figure out why individuals decided to donate to Bianchi.

To those who aren't interested, my apologies. Go down and read the other stories.

To those interested, have fun.

$50,700 came in large, reportable amounts:

$10,000 – David Wescott, Crystal Lake
$2,000 – James & Merlynn Boback, Crystal Lake
$2,000 – Thomas Lee Cooper, Wonder Lake
$2,000 – Vincent & Patricia Foglia (Sage Products CEO), Barrington
$2,000 – G. Rabine & Sons, Spring Grove
$1,500 – Patrick & Therese Kenneally, Winnetka
$1,000 – Alliance Contractors, Woodstock Alliance Contractors
$1,000 – Campion Curran Dunlop & Lamb P.C.,Crystal Lake
$1,000 – Clover-Leaf Realty & Development Company, Roselle
$1,000 – Custom Management Services Inc., Chicago
$1,000 – Ira & Lorraine Greenberg, Long Grove
$1,000 – Spiros Markos, Crystal Landing Realty, Park Ridge
$1,000 – John Sandnerm, Lake Bluff
$1,000 – Richard Stephenson, Investment Banker, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
$575 – Home State Bancorp Inc., Crystal Lake
$500 – Althoff Industries, Crystal Lake
$500 – Caldwell Berner & Caldwell, Woodstock
$500 – Design Temperature, Chicago
$500 – Robert Dorion-Gray, Prairie Grove
$500 – Elman & Ehardt Ltd., Harvard
$500 – American Door and Dock, Schaumburg
$500 – K. J. Investments West LLC, Itasca
$500 – Rich & Leslie Koscinski, Johnsburg
$500 – Fred & Corinne Lane, Glencoe
$500 – Millennium Electronics Inc., Crystal Lake
$500 – Pauly Toyota, Crystal Lake
$500 – Roth & Melei Ltd., Crystal Lake
$500 – Louis Rundio, Barrington
$500 – SEC Group Inc., McHenry
$500 – Spruce Lake Sand & Gravel Inc., McHenry
$500 – Surgipath Medical Industries Inc., Richmond
$500 – Zukowski Rogers Flood & McArdle, Crystal Lake
$300 – Robert Hanlon, Woodstock
$300 – David Kerrigan, Crystal Lake
$300 – Tree & Timber Inc., Richmond
$300 – George & Uschy Wyss, Woodstock
$275 – Victor Narusis, Jr., Woodstock
$250 – Joseph Algers, Crystal Lake
$250 – AncelGlinkDiamondBush Dicianni & Krafthefer P.C., Chicago
$250 – Mary & Dale Batson, Crystal Lake
$250 – Robert & Diane Borchert, Crystal Lake
$250 – Michael Cahan, Chicago
$250 – William Caldwell, Woodstock
$250 – Carponelli & Krug, Chicago
$250 – Thomas Carroll, Woodstock,
$250 – Caufield & Flood, Crystal Lake
$250 – Fred & Peggy Chamberlain, Crystal Lake
$250 – Mark & Dani Daniel, Crystal Lake
$250 – Davenport Family Funeral Home & Crematory, Crystal Lake
$250 – Gary Lang Chevrolet Inc., McHenry
$250 – James Geocaris, Fox Lake
$250 – Georgio's, Crystal Lake
$250 – Gitlin Busche & Stetler, Woodstock
$250 – Halftime Bar & Grill, Johnsburg
$250 – Dennis & Joyce Henrickson, Woodstock
$250 – Innovative Component Sales Inc., Huntley
$250 – International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Crystal Lake
$250 – Thomas Jiaras, Richmond
$250 – Dick Klemm, Crystal Lake
$250 – Phillip Lambruschi, Lakewood
$250 – Law Offices of Robert H. Hanaford, Chicago & Fox River Grove
$250 – Donald Lewis, Crystal Lake
$250 – Bob & Rose Likas, Orland Park
$250 – James Montana, Jr., Chicago
$250 – Nancy S. Scotillo, Arlington Heights
$250 – Richard & Joy O'Connell, Delavan, Wis.
$250 – Gary & Judy Ostrowski, Woodstock
$250 – Robin F. Pendergrast Photography Inc., McHenry
$250 – Jeff & Susie Pokuta, Johnsburg
$250 – RAF Interpreting LLC, Woodstock
$250 – Jose Rivera, Crystal Lake
$250 – Schain Burney Ross & Citron Ltd., Chicago
$250 – Jason & Amy Sciarro, Woodstock
$250 – Send-It, Algonquin
$250 – Charles & Nancy Smith, Cary
$250 – VCP, Algonquin
$250 – John & Paulette Vrett, Woodstock
$250 – W. Randal Baudin, Dundee
$250 – John & Victoria Wauterlek, Barrington
$250 – Mitch & Marcia Weisz, Crystal Lake
$250 – Wickham Interiors, Crystal Lake
$250 – Working World Inc, Crystal Lake
$200 – Cameron & Chris Clark, Crystal Lake
$200 – Edward Donahue, McHenry
$200 – Michael Jiaras, Palm Dessert, CA
$200 – Joseph H. Huemann & Sons Inc., Ringwood
$200 – Thomas & Betsy Les, Crystal Lake
$200 – Alan Muir, Marengo
$200 – Keith & Trish Spengel, McHenry

In-kind contributions amounted to a little over $1,400:

$300 – Ambrosia Euro American Patisserie, Barrington, Pastries
$150 – G. Rabine & Sons, Spring Grove, Bicycle
$51.95 – Georgio's, Crystal Lake, Gift Certificates
$792 – Health Bridge Fitness Center, Crystal Lake, Gift Certificates
$125 – Wickham Interiors, Crystal Lake, Gift Certificates and Bottle of Wine

$2,250 in contributions from other politicians follow:

$250 – Citizens for Beaubien
$250 – Citizens for Pam Althoff
$250 – Citizens for Tully, Chicago
$500 – Citizens to Elect Sheriff Nygren
$500 – Committee To Elect Ken Koehler
$500 – Committee to Elect Michael W. Tryon

Bianchi transferred $900 of the money to three other candidates:

$500 – Sheriff Keith Nygren
$250 – Senator Pam Althoff
$200 – McHenry Mayor Sue Low

Labels: Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Tom Cynor

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi, County Clerk Katherine Schultz and Recorder of Deeds Phyllis Walters have issued the following press release concerning investors who may be offering to help distressed homeowners:

State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County Clerk Katherine Schultz and the McHenry County Recorder Phyllis Walters are jointly informing the public of a significant increase in the number of investors soliciting County homeowners who may be facing serious economic difficulties.

With the increased number of foreclosures occurring in the County, it is very clear that many McHenry County residents are financially struggling to the point that they are on the verge of losing their homes.

Economic times like these give rise to opportunistic investors that will try to turn struggling families and individual’s bad fortunes into their own good fortune. This conduct is not necessarily illegal.

However, with a growing concern of property fraud, please take caution with individuals who solicit you through offers to pay off your loans, pay the real estate taxes or offer you a quick sale of your home.

Before signing any documents or turning any property over you should consult with an attorney of your choice for legal advice.

We are also mindful that our senior citizens are especially at risk for falling victims to financial schemes or avenues that seem to be an easy way out of difficult financial circumstances.

So we also ask the public to check on family and neighbors that are senior citizens to make sure that they are doing okay, and that they are availing themselves of the benefits and services that are available specifically for them such as Senior Services and senior citizen’s property tax exemptions and the like. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi can be seen on top. At the table are sitting McHenry County Clerk Kathie Schultz and McHenry County Recorder of Deeds Phyllis Walters.

Labels: Katherine Schultz, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Clerk, McHenry County Recorder of Deeds, McHenry County State's Attorney, Phyllis Walters

Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce the beginning of Red Ribbon Week in McHenry County on October 23-31, 2008.

Red Ribbon Week commemorates the ultimate sacrifice of DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarera, who was brutally killed by drug lords in Mexico as he was fighting the war on drugs.

Red Ribbon Week serves as an opportunity for local communities to rally together in support of local efforts to fight the spread and usage of illegal drugs.

In recognition of Red Ribbon Week, Louis A. Bianchi, and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office is again providing area students in McHenry County almost 30,000 red ribbons to wear so that they may show their support for this cause, and this year's theme


These ribbons are being distributed to area schools for students in grades K-8 and were paid for out of State’s Attorney drug asset forfeiture funds in cases charged by local police departments and prosecuted in McHenry County.

There will be a special presentation at the McHenry County Courthouse Grand Jury Room on October 21, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. where select students from local schools will make a presentation on how their schools are participating in Red Ribbon Week and why they believe it is important to say no to drugs. Over 70 students and educators, as well as representatives from the Regional School Board and the Circuit Court of McHenry County, are expected to attend. The press is invited.

Louis A. Bianchi joins all the students in McHenry County in the effort to stop illegal drugs and in their hope that they and their classmates will be “Too Proud to do Drugs.”

Labels: DEA, Enrique Kiki Camarera, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Red Ribbon Week

The following press release was sent out by Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County State's Attorney Tom Cynor late last night. Imagine my surprise to its reference to McHenry County Blog.

LOCAL BLOGGER EXPOSES STATE'S ATTORNEY'S UNETHICAL CAMPAIGNING PRACTICES

WOODSTOCK IL. – McHenry County State's Attorney, Louis Bianchi (R-Crystal Lake, IL.) again appears to have run afoul of campaign ethics rules. After suffering a public embarrassment over the purchase of parade candy with taxpayer funds last primary season, Mr. Bianchi and his office have once again mixed official community outreach efforts and political campaigning. This time using a staffed State's Attorney's booth to distribute and display political signs at the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Business Expo held this spring.

Photographs taken on behalf of and posted on the internet by local Crystal Lake, Il. blogger, Cal Skinner (McHenry County Blog) reveal that the McHenry County State's Attorney booth was used for political sign distribution and display. Not only is it unethical to mix campaigning while on official duty, it may be illegal if public funds were used to staff the booth or pay for the entry fee. The Illinois Election Interference Act states in part, "no public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote for or against any candidate or proposition, or be appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any candidate or political organization."

"Take a brief look at the photo and you can see that there is a stack of "Elect, Lou Bianchi signs" either being distributed or otherwise made available to the public at the McHenry County State's Attorney table," McHenry County Democratic Candidate, Thomas J. Cynor (D-Woodstock, IL) said. "Once again we have the State's Attorney's office mixing political campaigning with official business. When Mr. Bianchi goes out and does these types of community outreach events he is acting in his capacity as our public official. Our State's Attorney's Office is not an extension of his campaign office."

Cynor stated further, "And if taxpayer money was used in staffing the booth or paying for the entry fee, this is a clear violation of the Illinois Election Interference Act. The taxpayers of McHenry County should never have to shoulder the expense of Mr. Bianchi's political campaigning."

In a published article in January, the Northwest Herald Editorial Board noted, "We believe that Bianchi has learned his lesson and will not try to bill taxpayers for such frivolous [parade candy et al.] expenses in the future." Some three months after this article was penned, Mr. Bianchi was back at it again mixing official office business with political campaigning. Despite the Northwest Editorial Boards hopes, Mr. Bianchi has not learned his lesson or followed the law," Cynor stated. "He's given us no reason to believe he is going to start now or ever."

Labels: Election Interference Act, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Tom Cynor

by Pete Gonigam

In late 2006 Illinois State Police investigated a complaint of unusual deaths at the Woodstock Residence nursing home. Within two weeks they identified a primary suspect and had her removed from duty.

If they had the right suspect the deaths logically should have ended.

Only they didn't.

When news broke in Mid-November, 2006, that there an investigation was underway Chicago Sun-Times reporter Dan Rozek wondered how big the case might be. He asked McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz for figures on recent deaths at the home.

The disturbing response was that almost twice as many people had died at the facility in the first 8 1/2 months of 2006 as in all of the previous year, 34 versus 18.

According to Lantz, no one ever asked about the number of deaths again. McHenry County Blog did, though.

In the raw data Lantz provided, the dates of all deaths at the home, no pattern was readily apparent. A pattern began to emerge, though, when the daily deaths were combined into a running 12-month total.

From what had been a three-year steady baseline the number of deaths at the Woodstock Residence began to rise at the beginning of 2006 although not much. (Click to enlarge the graphic.)

In April, however, there was a marked increase.

That's the month investigators claim their chief suspect began overdosing patients with morphine.

The deaths continued to mount through the summer until a pause in October when police began interviewing witnesses.

The chief suspect, apparently Lake in the Hills LPN Marty Himebaugh, was suspended at the end of that month. Himebaugh was indicted this year on charges of abusing patients at the home by overdosing them with morphine and other drugs.

The next month, though, with Himebaugh gone, the deaths reached a new peak and remained at high levels for the rest of the year and throughout the next as well.

Only when the Woodstock Residence was sold this past January to new management did the number of deaths fall back again.

In fact, death rates at the home may have been even worse than the raw number of deaths indicated. The Woodstock Residence has been customarily described as a 115-bed facility.

However, according to Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melanie Arnold only 81 of those beds were occupied when the investigation began in October, 2006. By April of this year there were only 71 residents at the home, she said.

In other words, although the number of deaths at the home fell somewhat in late 2006 and 2007, the rate of deaths per resident probably stayed about the same as it had been in early 2006 when investigators claim six people were drugged to death.

The fragments of the still-secret State Police reports incorporated in the Illinois Department of Public Health report on the home seem to indicate investigators zeroed in on Himebaugh as prime suspect almost immediately. There's no indication whether they looked for any others or examined records of deaths at the home.

Chief investigator Sergeant Keith Owano refused to discuss the case referring all questions to the McHenry County State's Attorney's office.

State's Attorney Louis Bianchi declined an on-the-record interview citing pending criminal proceedings against Himebaugh.

Sources close to the case report, however, that Bianchi's involvement in the investigation only extended to securing orders for exhumations requested by Owano's team.

Coroner Marlene Lantz has no knowledge of the investigation. She's been complaining for more than a year that Bianchi stonewalled her when she tried to find out about it, saying they involved "cold cases." That phrasing is another indication investigators may not have looked for victims other than those named by nursing staff at the home. Lantz has said State Police provided her no information, either.

The numbers indicating increased deaths at the Woodstock Residence don't prove there were more killings that everybody missed.

They don't, in fact, prove there were any killings at all.

A report requested from Lantz of the past few years' deaths at all 12 McHenry County nursing homes shows, for example, an unexplained 25 to 33 percent increase in deaths at the county's own Valley Hi nursing home in 2003 and 2004. Likewise, for the past six years the number of deaths at the giant Alden Terrace home has bobbed up and down apparently at random.

The death numbers at Woodstock Residence show only two things:

• One is that for two years something caused deaths there to double.


• The other is that after October, 2006, whatever it was, it can't have been Marty Himebaugh.

Tomorrow: Who's supposed to be minding the store? Another surprising answer.

Labels: Angel of Death, Dan Rozek, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois State Police, Keith Owano, Lou Bianchi, Marlene Lantz, Marty Himebaugh, Valley Hi, Woodstcok Residence

By Pete Gonigam

After 2 years, 3 exhumations, 13 indictments and 2 civil suits there's still no official word on whether a 2006 series of deaths at the Woodstock Residence nursing home were mercy killings. According to the original investigation, however, portions of which McHenry County Blog has obtained, mercy was not part of six deaths at the home. Quite the opposite.

Nurses told police they thought one of their co-workers at the Woodstock home had killed six residents with morphine overdoses to make her job easier. The six included a Cary woman whose existence was until now unknown.

The first official notice of irregularities at the facility came Oct. 12, 2006, according to Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melanie Arnold. An as-yet publicly unidentified nurse at the home complained about mysterious injuries to patients and a nurse who was drugging patients without authorization. Arnold said IDPH sent investigators to the nursing home the following day but recalled them at the request of the Illinois State Police, whom they had alerted.

During the next two weeks State Police investigators interviewed nursing home staff and administrators, issuing a working report Oct. 30. That and a final report Dec. 12, 2006, remain secret, but portions of them found their way into IDPH's investigation of the matter, concluded this past April 7.

All names in IDPH's report were encoded but the victims can be identified from the dates of their deaths and several nurses and administrators can be identified from criminal indictments or civil complaints connected with the case.

The IDPH report said State Police investigators blamed six deaths between April 2 and Sept. 19, 2006, on "Nurse E14." That appears to have been Lake in the Hills LPN Marty Himebaugh, indicted April 3 in connection with deaths and injuries at the home.

One nurse identified as E12 told investigators she had noticed it was patients "who were trouble with behavior and extra work always seemed to be the ones dying," at the nursing home. It's a theme that recurs throughout the report.

Three different nurses independently told investigators that patients who would normally be restless and agitated would be found uncharacteristically quiet and sedated after E14's shift.

A nurse identified as E13 told police E14 regularly used "medication cocktails" to control troublesome residents "to have a quiet shift."

The report says Tony Hodges was a troublesome resident. A nurse identified as E9 told investigators another nurse had reported hearing E14 say she had given Hodges a mixture of drugs "and that he would not be bothering her during her shift." The report says Hodges was so sedated he fell out his wheelchair onto his face and had to be hospitalized with unstable vital signs. Himebaugh was indicted for that incident.

A nurse identified as E6 remembered the death of resident Virginia Cole, a dementia victim who "was easily agitated" and "would often hit people." She said E14 predicted during a smoke break that "(Virginia Cole) is going to die in half an hour." It took longer than that and the nurse said E14 complained, "I can't believe (Cole) is still alive with all the morphine I've given her." Himebaugh was indicted for that incident.

The report also recounts the death of Derek Magnus, a 56 year-old Down Syndrome victim who also suffered a degenerative disease that left him "totally dependent on staff for all activities of daily living."

Nurse E6 told police E14 said,

"Those people aren't meant to live that long. They are meant to die in their teens and I'm going to help him along."

E6 said she found a massive amount of morphine missing from Magnus' morphine bottle after E14 left his room and Magnus expired later that night. Himebaugh was indicted for that incident.

A nurse called E13 said she had complained to Director of Nursing Penny Whitlock about E14's behavior. The nurse told investigators Whitlock "giggled" and said to E14, "I don't care if you play the Angel of Death, just don't let me know about it."

E13 claimed she tried three different times to call the attention of residence administrators to E14's actions but said she was ignored.

The IDPH report said after State Police began investigating, at their recommendation E14 was suspended from working at the home. The date of her departure was gruesomely ironic given the allegations, Oct. 31, 2006.

Morphine in overdose or inappropriate administration was alleged in the deaths of all six victims listed in the State Police report. However three of them had been cremated so only three were available for examination. Exhumations were ordered in March and April, 2007, and tissue samples were taken for analysis at a Pennsylvania laboratory.

Six months ago Himebaugh was finally indicted, not for murder or manslaughter, but for much lesser offenses ranging from criminal neglect of patients to unauthorized possession of morphine. Whitlock was also indicted on relatively innocuous charges, mostly not reporting Himebaugh's alleged offenses.

States Attorney Louis Bianchi told reporters at a news conference, "We brought the charges we thought we could prove." He declined to elaborate on what that actually meant, though.

What it probably meant is that the toxicology reports on the tissue samples didn't prove death by morphine. Two of the reports obtained by McHenry County Blog concluded that morphine was, indeed, present.

Because of uncertainties in post-mortem conditions and due to embalming procedures, however, the laboratory reported it couldn't tell conclusively if there was enough morphine present to cause death.

State Police and the McHenry County State's Attorney both declined to discuss the investigation citing the still-open criminal cases.

Himebaugh and Whitlock have both pleaded not guilty to all charges against them.

The six alleged victims are still dead.

Labels: Angel of Death, Dementia, Derek Magnus, Down Syndrome, Lou Bianchi, Marty Himebaugh, Penny Whitlock, Tony Hodges, Virginia Cole, Woodstock Residence

Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County State's Attorney has issued a press release announcing again his Stage Left Cafe fund raiser on Tuesday with a new twist. He promises not to accept donations from McHenry County government contractors or vendors.

Besides attacking his opponent incumbent Lou Bianchi, Cynor takes on McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler.

CYNOR REFUSES GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR CONTRIBUTIONS; CALLS FOR END TO PAY TO PLAY POLITICS IN THE COUNTY

WOODSTOCK IL. - The committee, Citizens for Cynor, announced a fundraising event today for McHenry County State's Attorney Candidate, Thomas J. Cynor (D-Woodstock, Illinois). The event is scheduled for September 23, 2008 (7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.) at the Stage Left Café in downtown Woodstock. "The fund raising event is typical in most regards," said campaign coordinator, Laura Asbury, "except for one very important detail. Mr. Cynor has pledged both privately and publically that he will not accept government contractor or vendor contributions – not now, not ever."

Illinois State Board of Elections records reveal that Cynor's opponent, Louis Bianchi (R-Crystal Lake, Illinois) however, has accepted thousands of dollars from various county contractors and other special interests. Those same records indicate that Bianchi even went as far as accepting thousands of dollars from the very same contractors who where awarded a multimillion dollar deal to remodel the government center and Bianchi's own governmental office. Cynor stated, "When you take money from government contractors and then those same contractors get multimillion dollar county contracts, eyebrows raise. The State's Attorney is the people's lawyer, they should never have reason to question the loyalty of their own legal representation. If Bianchi were called upon to represent the county in a contract dispute against his major political contributors, whose interests would he be representing?"

But Bianchi is not the only county official who has accepted large sums of money from government contractors. Boards of Elections records also reveal that McHenry County Board Chairman and Bianchi supporter, Kenneth Koehler (R-Crystal Lake, Illinois) has also accepted large amounts of money from county contractors and vendors. "The majority of Chairman Koehler's campaign contributors are entities that have contracts with the county. It seems that every time the county enters into a new contract with a consultant or contractor, there is a corresponding political contribution to Chairman Koehler's campaign account." Like Mr. Bianchi, is Mr. Koehler putting the interests of the people of McHenry first, or is he beholden to his well funded contributors?"

Not only has Cynor pledged to personally refuse government contractor money, but has also indicated a desire to draft and support local ordinances putting an end to the practice in its entirety. "It's time to put an end to the pay to play politics of local government here in the county once and for all," Cynor said. "We'll reform this broken system by first leading by example, but after the election, if our local representatives continue to pursue these questionable donations, it will be time for restrictive ordinances. The people of McHenry County deserve public servants that put their interests first."

The Citizens for Cynor fundraiser will be held on September 23, 2008 at the Stage Left Café, 125 Van Buren, Woodstock, Illinois starting at 7:30 p.m. The fundraiser is open to the public and RSVP's can be made at www.CitizensforCynor.com or by telephone at (815) 861-1198. Suggested donation is $20.00, accepted at the door or mailed c/o Citizens for Cynor, PO Box 1816, Woodstock, Illinois. All individual donations are voluntarily capped at $250.00 and no donation will be accepted from McHenry County vendors or contractors.

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The photo is of Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County State's Attorney Tom Cynor acknowledging his having been nominated by the McHenry County Democratic Party Central Committee to fill the empty slot after the February 5th primary election.

Labels: Ken Koehler, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Pay to Play, Tom Cynor

Re-cycling a campaign theme developed by Daily Herald columnist Amy Mack (who, by the way, does not seem to have a column any more) out of a complaint made by then McHenry County GOP Chairman Bill LeFew, who vigorously opposed the reelection of LouiBianchi for State's Attorney, Democratic Party opponent Tom Cynor has issued the following press release.

What Cynor does not point out is that the Illinois Attorney General's Office investigated. Lisa Madigan's Office's report lead to this headline in Pioneer Press:

CYNOR RENEWS CALL FOR STATE'S ATTORNEY REIMBURSEMENT OF $17,000 IN PERSONAL EXPENSES

WOODSTOCK IL. - Early this week county official revealed that revenue for the upcoming fiscal year would miss budgeted estimates by approximately 2.5 million dollars. County board members were quick to consider budget cuts to make up for the lost revenue. Suggestions included hiring freezes and salary reductions for county employees.

Candidate for McHenry County State's Attorney, Thomas J. Cynor, has suggested, "that county board members first consider recouping some $17,000.00 from the sitting State's Attorney, Louis Bianchi and limiting other wasteful spending by his office before considering reducing county employee wages."

Louis Bianchi has had taxpayers pay for about $17,000 worth of candy, cookies, chocolate, cakes, ice cream, soda pop, doughnuts, bagels, coffee and meals since taking office. McHenry County Auditor, Pam Palmer called the expenses, "excessive" and mentioned she was "dismayed and shocked" when she learned of Lou Bianchi's reimbursed expenditures first hand.

In addition to criticism from various county officials, last fall Cynor spoke before the county board on this very issue. "I went before the county board and asked that they consider withholding any further funding of the State's Attorney's Office until Lou Bianchi personally reimbursed the county for his personal expenses," Cynor said. "They failed to act, and now they are considering reducing county employee wages because of revenue shortfalls. Try telling some county employee making under $25,000 a year they have to take a pay cut because the county's priority is paying for Mr. Bianchi's Dilly Bars at Dairy Queen."

Many of the reimbursed expenses at issue were for meals at various local and out of county restaurants. "I found some of the more offensive expenditures for reimbursed meals," Cynor said. In one instance at a local eatery, Lou Bianchi wined and dined representatives of one of his largest political contributors, Prime Commercial, on the tax payer dime, at a time when Prime Commercial had just completed a remodel of the State's Attorney's Office. "Tax payers paid for the lavish remodel and the appreciation lunch and Lou got to pocket the political donation."

Cynor added that "it is time to stop the nonsense." "The position of State's Attorney pays almost $170,000 a year. At that salary I would hope Lou could afford to buy his own bagel and coffee in the morning and return the people's $17,000."

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Post article publication feedback from McHenry County Blog friends:

People who were at the county board meeting where Tom Cynor made the comments he refers to above tell me it was a daytime meeting. Cynor, of course, is a county employee, so more than one wondered if he had prior approval to take time off

This reply was received from Tom Cynor:

"Prior to the meeting, I requested and was granted time off from work to attend the daytime meeting. You may confirm with Chief Judge Sullivan (815) 334-4385. This, of course, highlights the need to move the second CB Meeting to the evening, so as to allow concerned citizens the opportunity to address the CB. Approximately 2/3rds of all employed residents of the county now work outside the county. Accordingly moving the meeting to the early evening would facilitate greater transparency in county government."

Labels: Amy Mack, Bill LeFew, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Tom Cynor