McHenry County Blog

This year, State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) followed up on an idea that my former legislative assistant Pete Castillo originated while working for the Illinois Department of Employment Security getting jobs for homeless and other unemployed veterans:


Pete's idea was a veterans court, similar to the mental health court instituted by McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi and Judge Charles Weech.

It's over two years old now.

And, here's an idea that is only slightly ahead of its time in Illinois:


Illinois is going to have a lot of problems with people being addicted. Even with a casino down the Fox River in Elgin, I remember a story about a McHenry County Sheriff's deputy having been arrested for stealing from the department's evidence room.

Labels: Drug Court, Gambling Court, Lou Bianchi, Pete Castillo Mike Tryon, Veterans' Court

Now that Woodstock's Amy Dalby has been sentenced to court supervision by Judge John Condon for having copied computer files from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's office, Bianchi has issued the following statement:

Statement from McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi

June 1, 2009

It is a shame that sabotage by some overzealous political opponents created the result reached in court today and continues to fuel untrue and overreaching statements in the public.

The crime pled to today was the theft of approximately 5,100 sensitive law enforcement documents from the State's Attorney's Office - documents taken for political purposes, according to the special prosecutor.

Those who hatched the plot or aligned with them are trying to characterize this as something else. The facts undermine that allegation.

The computer information was peddled to the news media in the middle of a contested election instead of to law enforcement, where such matters should have been referred if a true "whistle blowing" issue existed.

When we first learned that an office computer may have been compromised, and thus a crime committed, we immediately acted, with an understanding that the content of the computer may become public.

We first confirmed, through a computer forensics expert, that indeed content had been removed from an office computer, without authority. Our office computers contain extremely sensitive material, including information on confidential informants, undisclosed investigative material and privileged communications between attorney and client.

In the wrong hands, such information could impede important law enforcement investigations, diminish public safety, and jeopardize pending civil litigation involving the county.

The State's Attorney's Office then petitioned the court to appoint a special prosecutor, David O'Connor, to investigate this matter and to take action as he deemed appropriate.

My acquaintance with Mr. O'Connor is by reputation alone. He is known throughout Illinois as a thorough, vigilant, and fair prosecutor and has served as a special prosecutor in other cases.

We have never met or spoken to each other and his communications with this office were limited to discussions about the logistics of grand jury and court proceedings in this county.

Today, Ms. Dalby has been sentenced by the Court pursuant to her plea of guilty.

I would note that we always had a good relationship with Ms. Dalby and indeed she made numerous social visits to our office, volunteered to work in the future, and exchanged pleasant and supportive letters all after her departure as an employee.

She said she left with a positive impression of the State's Attorney’s Office and we had the same opinion of her work. I wish her well in the future.

As to the allegations made by Ms. Dalby's attorney and others, they are false.

As I have previously stated, my re-election campaign was run outside of the State’s Attorney’s Office.

My annual fundraiser was planned, organized and executed by my committee chairman who is not employed by the State’s Attorney’s Office. The banquet room for my annual fundraiser was prepared and the event catered by employees of the Turnberry Country Club.

All of my campaign meetings were held at a conference room at Panera Bread Restaurant or at a private home of a campaign volunteer not employed by this office.

Further, all campaign literature was designed, printed and mailed by a private mail order house.

More than 100 campaign volunteers, not employed by this office, assembled election signs and organized campaign literature and materials at a local warehouse.

Those same volunteers distributed campaign materials door to door throughout the county. Some of our employees, on their own time, freely volunteered for the campaign.

Others in the office chose not to participate. There was never any pressure to get involved in my campaign.

Even though the distinction gets blurry at times, I was careful not to cross the line between government and politics.

My statement today probably will not stop the politically charged statements by those who opposed my election and re-election.

The public needs to understand that these same people have made many false charges in the past and will no doubt level equally false diatribes in the future.

My focus is and will always be to keep the people of McHenry County safe and secure and to administer justice fairly.

There is an earlier statement Bianchi issued in March.

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In the upper and lower right, you see photos of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

In the middle is a sign party to which he refers.

To the left of Bianchi's head shot are photos of his GOP primary opponent, Dan Regna, and Tom Cynor, the man that McHenry County Democrats slated to run against Bianchi when Regna lost.

Labels: Amy Dalby, Dan Regna, Joe Condon, Lou Bianchi

McHenry County State’s Attorney, Louis A. Bianchi announces that on May 21, 2009, Defendant Luis Zarate was sentenced to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Zarate was convicted of the offense of DUI, a class X felony.

This was Zarate’s 9th DUI since 1996. In 2000 he served 3 years for a DUI conviction.

Labels: Drucg Driver, DUI, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

I was there to take photos, but I'll allow a press release from the man who nominated Laine for the 2009 Law Enforcement Award, McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi, explain it.


Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that Algonquin Police Chief Russell Laine received the 2009 Law Enforcement Award presented by the Illinois State Bar Association.

State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi nominated Chief Laine for this award recognizing his truly outstanding service which brings honor and respect to the criminal justice system.

This award is an acknowledgment of Chief Laine’s many accomplishments and tireless efforts to promote a positive working relationship between law enforcement and the legal profession.

In addition to being Police Chief, Chief Laine is a licensed attorney and is currently serving as President of the International Association of Chiefs’ of Police.

He has previously served as President of the McHenry County Chiefs’ of Police Association as well as the Illinois Association of Chiefs’ of Police.

The Illinois State Bar Association Law Enforcement Award is presented to Chief Laine as recognition that the law enforcement community and legal profession share the ultimate goal of serving the public and ensuring justice through fair and partial enforcement of the law.

The Illinois State Bar Association web site explains the award like this:

"The Law Enforcement Award was created to recognize sworn law enforcement officers for conduct that promotes justice and to distinguish those individuals whose service to the public brings honor and respect to the entire criminal justice system. The award is given sparingly to recognize those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement."

Chief Laine epitomizes this goal.

Congratulations!

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Algonquin Police Chief Russ Laine receives an award from Illinois State Bar Association President-Elect Don O'Brien of Arlington Heights. Below, on the left, you see McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi, his wife Jean and First Assistant State's Attorney Tom Carroll.

Labels: Algonquin, Algonquin Police Department, Don O'Brien, Illinois State Bar Association, Jean Bianchi, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Russ Laine, Tom Carroll

Just in case you are a public official who wants to obey the laws about Freedom of Information and Open Meetings and, maybe, especially, if you are one who doesn't, a free seminar will be conducted by McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi and the Illinois Attorney General's Office Thursday night at 7.

Citizens can come, too, of course. You can learn how few rights you have and how hard it is to pry information out of a tax district that says,

"Tough break.

"We won't tell you.

"Sue us."

Some even pay an attorney to write such a letter.

The free meeting will be held at McHenry County College's auditorium and this year does not conflict with a meeting of the MCC Board, whose members most assuredly need to be reminded they don't have to keep things like why they decided to build a minor league baseball stadium and why they think they got the best price on land they sold for a mega-broadcast aerial top secret, hush, hush.

Those of us who think the public is smart enough to deal with just about anything a local taxing district does can only hope the current Illinois General Assembly places some personal penalties on those who violate the two transparency laws.

But, won't hold my breath waiting.

Bianchi's press release is below:

STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SPONSORS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT SEMINAR

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, wishes to remind Elected or Appointed Public Officials that a free seminar will be conducted May 14, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the McHenry County College Auditorium. This seminar is sponsored by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and McHenry County College and will include speakers from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office to provide information regarding the Illinois Open Meetings Act as well as the Freedom of Information Act.

This seminar will provide particularly useful information for both newly elected officials, incumbents and appointed public servants as it will encompass the requirements of these Acts on public bodies as well as recent updates in this important Legislation that works to provide transparency in Government.

Labels: Freedom of Information Act, Illinois Attorney General, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Open Meetings Act, Transparency

The last time such a briefing was held by the McHenry County State's Attorney Office, the board most in need of hearing the advice, not to mention following the law, the McHenry County College Board board was meeting at the same time.

When State's Attorney Lou Bianchi sued the MCC board for violating the Open Meetings Act, the board, after spending an amount it refuses to reveal, settled out of court.

Well, at least former President Walt Packard is not going to be around to send me threatening letters. But, he's been given over a $250,000 going away present by being kept on the payroll from his resignation to June 30, 2010.


STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SPONSORS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT SEMINAR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney is pleased to announce a seminar for Elected and Appointed Officials to be conducted May 14, 2009 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the McHenry County College Auditorium.

This seminar is sponsored by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and McHenry County College and the seminar will include speakers from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office to provide information regarding the Illinois Open Meetings Act as well as the Freedom of Information Act.

This seminar will provide particularly useful information for both newly elected officials and incumbents as it will encompass the requirements of these Acts as well as recent updates in this important Legislation that works to provide transparency in Government.

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The woman taking notes in the photo on top is Iris Bryan. Jane Collins can be seen in the background in the first picture. MCC security officer William Schultz reparing the evict those legally standing outside the late February 2008 meeting where John Maguire of BMB Communications Management made his first pitch to buy college property to build a mega-tower.

The editorial is from the late, lamented Algonquin Countryside and Cary-Grove Countryside, weekly newspapers that stopped publication last December.

Click to enlarge any image.

Labels: Algonquin Countryside, Cary-Grove Countryside, Freedom of Information Act, Illinois Attorney General, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County, McHenry County College, Open Meetings Act, Walt Packard

I didn't get this posted last night. Still recovering from my early Wednesday morning election coverage...which still is not completed.

Here's a sentencing that you might find of interest:

STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE CRACKS DOWN ON ANOTHER DUI DRIVER INVOLVED IN A FATALITY

McHenry County State’s Attorney, Louis A. Bianchi, is pleased to announce that on April 8, 2009, Defendant Eulalio Haro was sentenced to twenty years, Illinois Department of Corrections for the June 24, 2006 crash that killed Dean Knospe. Haro was convicted of the offenses of Aggravated DUI, Reckless Homicide, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Personal Injury or Death.

Haro’s Chevrolet Cavalier struck a Harley Davidson Ultra Classic driven by Dean Knospe, 71, about 4 p.m., June 24, 2006 and dragged Knospe several hundred feet without stopping. Haro told investigators that he left the scene because he did not have a driver’s license.

At the trial, Haro’s attorney disputed estimates that his blood-alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit at the time of the accident. The analysis was based on the small amount of alcohol remaining in Haro’s system about 20 hours after the crash.

Haro was previously deported to Mexico in March 1995 after serving a four-year prison sentence for a drunk-driving accident that killed his brother.

Since then, he was deported a second time. He was also was convicted of driving drunk twice in McHenry County in 1998.

Haro will be required to serve 85% of the Aggravated DUI sentence. He will once again face deportation proceedings upon his release.

This is the second DUI fatality case in less than a week that has drawn a double-digit prison term in McHenry County. On April 3, 2009, Defendant Antonio Escorza was sentenced to ten years, Illinois Department of Corrections for a DUI fatality.

And, you want some irony?

The Northwest Herald's Julian Duchnowski reports that the man killed was active in the Illinois Minutemen.

I haven't seen so many comments under an article on illegal aliens since the Illinois Minutemen Project hosted Ohio's Allen County Sheriff Daniel Beck at McHenry County College during the fall of 2007. The moderator, Rosanna Pulido, went on to run as the Republican candidate in the 5th Congressional district against Mike Quigley.

Bianchi wrote that Mick Combs was the attorney on the case.

"He is the same prosecutor that got the conviction on the re-trial of Smith. (Few lawyers could accomplish this with all the inconsistencies from the witnesses). I am proud to work with him and all the other outstanding attorneys in our office."

Labels: Dean Knospe, Eulalio Haro, Illinois Minuteman Project, Lou Bianchi

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi has issued the following press release about the sentence of Antonio Escorza the drunken snow truck driver who killed Christopher Foat in December of 2007:

STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE CRACKS DOWN ON ANOTHER DUI FATALITY

Antonio Escorza, who killed a 23 year old Woodstock man in a drunk-driving incident in December 2007, was sentenced to 10 years in prison April 3, 2009.

Antionio Escorza, 38, of Woodstock, will face deportation proceedings after serving that sentence. Escorza has been in the country illegally for about 20 years.

A jury convicted him in February of two counts of driving under the influence and a single count of failing to stop after an accident. Escorza’s blood alcohol level was 0.134 percent more than two and a half hours after the accident that killed Christopher Foat.

Foat and a friend had been walking home from a birthday celebration in the street near a curb because of snowy streets.

The snowplow threw or dragged Foat approximately 30 feet with such force that it knocked Foat’s shoes off of his feet. Escorza failed to stop and was chased down and detained by Foat’s friends who were walking with him.

Foat’s fiancé testified at the sentencing hearing that she discovered she was pregnant a week after the accident. Their daughter is 8 months old.

Prosecutors asked Judge Sharon Prather to sentence Escorza to 14 years in prison. Defense attorneys requested probation pointing out that the Defendant had no criminal history.

Labels: Antonio Escorza, Christopher Foat, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Sharon Prather

Daily Herald reporter Chuck Keeshan is reporting today that former McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's secretary, now NIU student Amy Dalby, stole office computer files to be able to defend herself, “should anyone later claim she was part of a crime.”

Dalby is due in court today to answer for her indictments for official misconduct, theft and theft and computer tampering. The indictments came after a 16-month on and off probe.

Dalby told Keeshan that she did fund raising campaign work, including typing campaign checks and invitations requested by Bianchi, while at work from the beginning of 2005 until the summer of 2006.

She showed the reporter copies of what she did and said she had set up tables for a mid-day campaign fundraiser while being paid by the taxpayers.

She said she told former co-worker Kristen Foley, a former Gary Pack hire. Foley apparently told Bianchi's Republican primary election opponent Dan Regna. And, somebody told Bianchi's subsequent slated Democratic Party opponent Tom Cynor.

Foley was chief accuser of Bianchi's use of office expense money improperly.

The accusations were investigated by the office of Attorney General Lisa Madigan, which “found no basis for opening a criminal investigation against” Bianchi.

Foley was no casual supporter. Now working in Naperville, she obtained 35 signatures for Regna on petitions notarized by then-McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman Bill LeFew.

She also threw a Christmas party for former assistant state's attorneys. Regna was a special guest.

In the fall of 2007 Illinois State Police investigators interviewed Dalby about her taking the computer files. She talked to them without asking for an attorney.

She told the Daily Herald that the state policemen did not ask about the content of the files she took.

After the primary and general elections, the state police came back, requested and got video interviews. Again nothing was asked about the content of the computer files.

“They're slaying the messenger, not dealing with the message,” Dalby's attorney, Wes Pribla, told the Herald.

So far, neither the Daily Herald nor the Northwest Herald has delved into the connection Bianchi's Democratic Party opponent Tom Cynor with the information. Former Democratic Party coroner candidate Dave Bachmann released emails last week from Cynor indicating he was prvy to the charges as well.

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The picture of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi was taken at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee candidates' night.

The room photo is from Bianchi's announcement of his intention to run for re-election. It was held in the second floor courtroom of the Old McHenry County Courthouse on the Woodstock Square, the room in which I was sworn in as McHenry County Treasurer in 1996.

Labels: Amy Dalby, Dan Regna, Dave Bachmann, Illinois State Police, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Tom Cynor

Juvenile Delinquency and Felony Review Divisions have a new boss, according to a press release from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi. He has promoted 10-year veteran Bill Stanton to head those divisions. The details are below:

Assistant State’s Attorney Bill Stanton Appointed to Dual Supervisor Role of Juvenile Delinquency and Felony Review Divisions

State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi announces that Assistant State’s Attorney Bill Stanton has been appointed to a dual supervisor role of the Juvenile Delinquency and Felony Review Divisions.

Assistant State’s Attorney Stanton will supervise the authorization and prosecution of all juvenile criminal charges as well as the review, authorization, and indictment of all adult felony charges.

Last year the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office charged 1,469 criminal felonies and 421 cases involving juveniles as criminal defendants.

Stanton has been employed as a McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney for ten years, fulfilling multiple functions and serving in various capacities within the office, including:

• Misdemeanor Division Supervisor;
• Lead Attorney for Domestic Violence Prosecutions;
• Felony Review; and
• Juvenile Delinquency.

Stanton has been a licensed attorney since 1978, having practiced law in the private sector before continuing his career as a prosecutor in the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. He is licensed to practice law in both federal and state court. He obtained his law degree from John Marshall Law School and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University, Chicago.

In his role as supervisor of the Felony Review Division, Stanton will work closely with the Major Investigation Assistance Team (commonly referred to as MIAT). MIAT is comprised of experienced investigators from the Illinois State Police and various police departments in McHenry County.

MIAT investigators respond to and investigate major criminal cases including

• murders,
• sexual assaults, and
• DUI death cases.

Stanton will assist these investigations by responding to crime scenes, providing immediate on-site legal advice to investigators, and thereafter present any resulting charges to the grand jury for indictment.

Labels: Bill Stanton, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

If he did, he might have noticed the new information about the missing computer data from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's Office.

In his Sunday column, which popped up on a Google subject matter search engine unrelated to the name “Chris Krug,” the Northwest Herald's General Manager and Executive Editor talks about the connection between Bianchi primary opponent Dan Regna and former Bianchi secretary Amy Dalby.

What he writes is interesting, but it does miss the fourth party in this mystery—Democratic Party candidate—Tom Cynor.

McHenry County Blog put that connection on the internet last Thursday.

Labels: Amy Dalby, Chris Krug, Dan Regna, Lou Bianchi, Northwest Herald, Tom Cynor

After reading the following emails below from the 2008 McHenry County Democratic Party's candidate for coroner, Dave Bachmann, I'm beginning to wonder.

You may remember that Cynor poured $35,000 into his campaign fund in mid-October.

If I had been Cynor's opponent, I'd have figured out that he could mount a countywide mailing, plus have some money left over for radio and cable TV.

With the indictment of former Lou Bianchi secretary Amy Dalby by special prosecutor and former primary opponent Dan Regna jumping into the fray with both feet, Bachmann sent me the emails from Tom Cynor, along with a statement.

Although Bachmann no longer lives in the area, he thought the copied emails that Cynor sent to him in the final days of the 2008 Campaign season might be of interest.

Bachmann's statement:

"It was clear in the waning months of the campaign that many in both parties had been trying to link my campaign as a "Puppet" of Mr. Bianchi's campaign.

"I had stated in the past, and will state one final time:

I do not now, nor have I ever known Mr. Bianchi with the single exception of a chance meeting in June of 2008 at the Pro Life Pig Roast.

"Mr. Bianchi was very polite and was gracious enough to shake my hand and we visited for perhaps a sum total of 5 minutes. This was the first, and last time Mr. Bianchi and I have ever spoken. I had gone on record in one of my writings to McHenry County Blog stating that I had a deep respect for Mr. Bianchi with regards to the way he had handled himself during the brutal primary campaign against Dan Regna. Other than this, I have never had any personal contact with Mr. Bianchi whatsoever.

"Mr. Cynor and I rarely if ever spoke beyond our initial meeting and a lunch in September of 2007. I did not believe he was a qualified candidate for States Attorney. I did NOT support the Democratic Party's decisions to load up the ballot AFTER my successful primary season had ended. I believe I may have attended a total of 3 McHenry County Democratic events from the time the primary season ended, up to election day. Mr. Cynor and I had very little contact, if any, from Sept 2007 thru election day.

"I therefore found the attached emails from Mr Cynor, that he had sent to my Campaign at the very last minute of the campaign season, to be suspect.

"From reading the emails, it appears Mr. Cynor, while perhaps under some misguided belief that my campaign and the campaign of Mr. Bianchi's were somehow linked, in fact sent me these deeply troubling emails with one intent. I believe his intent was to have me pass these along to the Bianchi Campaign in a child like attempt to emotionally extort Mr. Bianchi's campaign.

"I found Mr. Cynor's behavior to be reprehensible at the least. Indeed, I did pass this along to Mr. Bianchi via a forwarded email. After reading the content, I was concerned there may be some legal issues of a criminal nature that needed investigating. I wanted no part in what I believed was a misguided use of my campaign by Mr. Cynor and his campaign team.

"After reading Mr. Cynor's emails to me, then reading the email his campaign manager Laura Asbury had immediately followed up with, I believe the motive and intent was clear. Ms. Asbury was either unaware of her candidate's previous emails to my campaign, or she is a liar. I won't speculate, I believe the contents of the emails speak for themselves.

"I am proud I acted in accordance with the law. I was suspect of the content and the intent of Cynor's emails to my campaign.

"Sincerely,

"David J. Bachmann"

The emails follow:

--- On Wed, 3/11/09, david bachmann wrote:

From: david bachmann
Subject:
To: mtnmortician@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 3:37 PM


Wednesday, October 22, 2008 10:32 PM
From: "Thomas J. Cynor"
Add sender to Contacts
To: "'david bachmann'" mtnmortician@yahoo.com

Dave:

Speaking of Bianchi and Lantz, I just got a number of very interesting e-mails from supporters. I have information about a young lady by the name of Amy Dalby who worked in the SA’s office for some time. Turns out there are some very serious allegations about someone working on the Bianchi campaign while being on county time. The information I have been given claims that this person worked on the campaign at least 10 hours a week on average with the approval and knowledge of the office manager and Lou himself. If true this is obviously criminal activity.

I have about $35,000.00 budgeted for a final county mailer. I can hit about 75,000 homes and about 100,000 voters with info. Info should hit the mail boxes right before the election on Saturday and Monday with press release to accompany. Just an FYI. You may want to keep an arm’s length distance from Bianchi.


Friday, October 24, 2008 11:31 PM
From: "Thomas J. Cynor"
View contact details
To: "'david bachmann'"

Information was independently verified. Mailers already printed and in process of mailing. Thanks for the concern, however. Don’t overly concern yourself with the coverage in the NWH – relatively limited penetration among MC voters. Turnout should be around 125,000 - 130,000 voters. Should be interesting to see what happens. Good luck.


Thursday, October 30, 2008 6:22 PM
From: "Thomas J. Cynor"
View contact details
To: "'david bachmann'"

Dave:

Good work on the signs, I see them everywhere. Saw Lou B last night at Lou Czarny’s retirement dinner. He didn’t look too good – very concerned, as well he should be. Next week should be very interesting. Got calls from the papers today, looking for information on “smear” campaign. Certainly didn’t give them anything to use.


Saturday, November 1, 2008 3:53 PM
From: "Thomas J. Cynor"
View contact details
To: "'david bachmann'"

Did you see the mailer yet? Some in Algonquin, Cary and Fox River Grove have received it in the mail today and already getting positive feed back. I suspect the bulk will be received on Monday – timing couldn’t be better. Things looking good. I just laughed at the money Lou is spending. No amount of money can save him now


Citizens for Cynor] Bianchi fabricates "last minute smear campaign"
Monday, November 3, 2008 10:09 PM
From: "Laura Asbury"
To: undisclosed-recipients

-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

To Whom It May Concern:

I have just returned from a long day campaigning. I checked my phone messages and noticed a number of telephone calls from supporters asking about this "last minute smear campaign" referenced in Lou Bianchi's press release, Cal Skinner's blog and multiple robo calls. I honestly don't have the faintest idea what the Bianchi Campaign is referring to, as there is no "last minute smear campaign". But I do know this: to play the victim card is an all too common political ploy employed only by the most desperate of candidates. Clearly Mr. Bianchi is desperate, paranoid or confused, or perhaps a bit of all of the above.

Shame on Lou Bianchi for this lowest of political tricks the day before an election. The people of McHenry County deserve better from its public servants. This is certainly an indication of all that is wrong with the State's Attorney's office today. Win at any cost, regardless of ethics or integrity.
--
Laura Asbury

Citizens for Cynor
P.O. Box 1816
Woodstock, Illinois 60098

(815) 861-1198

Bachmann also tells me he is writing a book.

He provided a copy of his first draft of his book, "UN-WANTED," which is based on his four-year federal investigative work. He states he is meeting in Boston next week with a major publisher. You can see his suggested cover above.

All images may be enlarged by clicking on them.

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

The two daily Heralds, both of which have courthouse reporters, have been covering a reprise of the Republican primary election campaign for McHenry County State's Attorney between incumbent Lou Bianchi and challenger Dan Regna.

Bianchi got 56.7%.

Among other charges brought forth by Regna and his proxies McHenry County Treasurer Bill LaFew and Daily Herald ex-columnist Amy Mack, then and now in charge of interviewing McHenry County candidates, was that Bianchi used office resources in his re-election campaign.

From what I have read, any evidence obtained came from within Bianchi's office and the indictment of former secretary Amy Dalby, who is now a student at Northern Illinois University, is the latest act in the ongoing play.

The indictment, not brought by Bianchi's office, but by a special prosecutor, charges official misconduct twice, the second of which is quoted below:

“That between June and July, 2006, in McHenry County, State of Illinois, Amy Dalby committed the offense of OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT (emphasis in the original) in that she, in her official capacity as an employee of the McHenry County State's Attorney’s Office, with the intent to obtain a personal advantage for herself or another, she performed an act in excess of her lawful authority, to wit: the removal of computer files or data without the authority of the McHenry County State's Attorney’s Office of the County of McHenry, in violation of Chapter 720 ILCS 5/333(e)."

In addition, she is charged with one count of theft and two counts of computer tampering.

Saturday afternoon, Bianchi offered the following statement:

STATEMENT from LOUIS BIANCHI UPON READING INDICTMENT OF AMY DALBY

“Our office computers contain extremely sensitive material, including information on confidential informants, undisclosed investigative material and privileged communication between attorney and client.

"In the wrong hands, such information could impede important law enforcement investigations, degrade public safety, and jeopardize pending civil litigation involving the County.

“When our office learned that a computer may have been compromised, we immediately acted.

"We confirmed, through a forensics computer expert that indeed content had been removed from an office computer.

"The State’s Attorney’s Office then petitioned the court to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate this matter and to take action as he deemed appropriate.

“We will not comment further because the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office was not involved in the investigation of this matter or any indictments.

“We do, however, reject the notion that this investigation was politically motivated.

"The investigation was initiated upon learning of a potential crime and acting upon that knowledge. That is what we do on a daily basis in the State’s Attorney’s Office in order to protect the citizens of McHenry County.”

The investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police.

Labels: Dan Regna, Illinois State Police, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

Below are the details, contained in a press release from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's office:

BIANCHI’S OFFICE CONVICTS ANOTHER DRUNK DRIVER OF AGGRAVATED DUI

A jury returned three guilty verdicts against Defendant Antonio Escorza on February 13, 2009, following a week-long trial. Escorza was convicted of the offenses of Aggravated DUI (2 counts) and Failure to Report an Accident Involving Personal Injury or Death.

Now convicted, Escorza faces up to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with a requirement that he serve 85% of his sentence.

The charges arose 12/2/07 when Escorza, driving a pick-up truck with a snow plow, collided with Christopher Foat, age 23, as he walked with friends alongside Clay Street in Woodstock.

Escorza struck Foat with the snow plow, catapulting him thirty feet into the roadway and completely severing Foat’s brain stem.

Escorza failed to stop and was later apprehended by the Woodstock Police Department. Two and a half hours after the crash, Escorza’s blood alcohol content was a .134.

Bianchi’s office called eighteen witnesses during the week-long trial. Members of Foat’s family attended the proceedings in their entirety and tearfully hugged one another when the verdicts were read. Together, they visited Christopher Foat’s gravesite after the verdicts were returned.

The case was prosecuted by Nichole Owens, Chief of the Criminal Division and Donna Kelly, Special Prosecutions Assistant State’s Attorney.

State’s Attorney Bianchi initiated the Special Prosecutions Division to ensure that serious cases were handled by experienced prosecutors. Both Owens and Kelly are certified to prosecute capital cases as lead counsel. Only four attorneys in McHenry County are so certified, three are employed by Bianchi’s office.

Escorza will be sentenced on April 3, 2009 before the Honorable Judge Sharon Prather, courtroom 304. Members of Foat’s family are expected to present victim impact statements.

= = = = =
The photograph of Nichole Owens and her boss Lou Bianchi was taken at Bianchi's re-election party.

Labels: Antonio Escorza, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Nichole Owens

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi and McHenry County Board member Virginia Peschke have endorsed John Rossi for Grafton Township supervisor.

This despite multiple reports that Rossi, the immediate past Grafton Township Republican Central Committee Chairman endorsed pro-choice Democrat Paula Yensen over pro-life Republican John Jung for the McHenry County Board. Jensen won the election.

The two county officials, neither of whom live in Grafton Township, also endorse Mike Romanelli, who is running against incumbent Township Road Commissioner Jack Freund.

Below is the endorsement letter:

Huntley resident Linda Moore is mounting a challenge to Rossi in the February 24th GOP primary election, which, in effect, is the general election because there are no Democrats or independents running.

She is saying that Rossi should not have led the effort to put township taxpayers in debt to build new township offices for $3.5 million without asking voters permission in a referendum.

Labels: Grafton Township Road Commissioner, Jack Freund, John Rossi, Linda Moore, Lou Bianchi, Mike Romanelli, Paula Yensen, Virginia Peschke

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi, along with the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council 22nd Judicial Circuit, announces that a Domestic Violence Mock Trial training will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at the McHenry County Government Center at 1:30 pm in Courtroom 204.

The training, open to all police departments in McHenry County and the Illinois State Police, will be presented by Demetrios Tsilimigras, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and Patrick Kenneally, specially assigned Domestic Violence prosecutor.

In addition, on Friday, February 20th, Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally will provide law enforcement training on Evidenced Based Prosecution, will be held at the State’s Attorney’s Office in the Grand Jury Room at 8:15 am and again at 2:00 pm. It is open to all police department dispatchers in McHenry County and the Illinois State Police

Labels: Demetrios Tsilimigras, Domestic Violence, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Patrick Kenneally

A story I planned to write fell through the Rod Blagojevich arrest day crack.

Jane Farmer, Executive Director of Turning Point wrote a letter which I'd like to share with you. It follows:

Congratulations on the recent conviction regarding the 911 domestic violence call with (the) Harvard Police Department. Assistant State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally did an outstanding job of prosecuting this case.

I am impressed with the work Patrick did as well as your stand on holding domestic violence perpetrators accountable for their actions.

This certainly proves once again that evidence based prosecution not only can work, it truly does work.

As you well know, domestic violence cases are difficult to handle, often having a victim recant or flee based on fear or lack of options.

This was an amazing case and will help keep our county that much safer.

Thank you again for the work you and your staff do and I applaud your office's efforts to continue assisting Turning Point in our mission to “Confront Violence Against Women and Children in McHenry County.”

= = = = =
Click to enlarge the image.

Labels: Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Agency, Jane Farmer, Lou Bianchi, Turning Point

McHenry County State's Attorney Criminal Division Chief Nichole Owens will train police personnel on videotaped statements at 1:30 Friday, January 30th in the Grand Jury Room, according to a press release from Lou Bianchi's office.

Assisting her will be Special Prosecutor Donna Kelly.

The training is open to all McHenry County police departments and the Illinois State Police.

Labels: Donna Kelly, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Nichole Owens

In his successful campaign for re-election during the last six months of 2008, McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi raised $77,000 and spent $52,526.

He's got $25,438.86 left.

Details of who gave what up to a month before the election can be found here.

Contributions after October 6th follow:

• $100 – Joseph Algers, Crystal Lake, 10/14/2008
• $100 – Sharon Chewning, Bull Valley, 10/27/2008

• $200 – Richard Allan, Crystal Lake, 11/19/2008

• $250 – Sheldon Sorosky, Chicago, 10/30/2008

• $300 – John Barleycorn at Clark Street, Chicago, 11/13/2008
• $300 – Law Offices of James E. Sullivan, Chicago, 11/13/2008

• $500 – Sandra Santoni, Woodstock, 11/13/2008
• $500 – Thomas Rakowski & Associates, Chicago, 11/13/2008

• $2,500 – William Rinn, III, Crystal Lake, 11/13/2008

Democratic Party opponent Tom Cynor has not yet filed his campaign disclosure report.

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

The following press release has been received from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

If you owe Circuit Clerk Kathy Keefe money, your next call could be from the new bill collector.

STATE’S ATTORNEY’S PURSUIT OF SCOFFLAWS TO HELP AID BUDGET DEFICIT

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that, with the support of McHenry County Board Chairman, Ken Koehler, and McHenry County Circuit Clerk, Kathy M. Keefe, he has entered into a contract with Alliance One Receivable Management, Inc. to recover outstanding fines and fees owed by traffic and criminal offenders, due to McHenry County.

In light of ongoing pressures facing taxpayers and units of local government, the State’s Attorney is undertaking this collection program in order to ease that financial pressure by vigorously pursuing offenders who have outstanding fines to comply with their Court ordered payments.

In addition, there will be no costs to the taxpayers to institute this program since all costs of collection shall be attributed to the delinquent offender.

Labels: Alliance One Receivable Management, Collections, Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, Kathy Keefe, Ken Koehler, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, McHnery County Circuit Clerk

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi has sent a press release announcing a new attorney in the Felony Division. His name is Simeon Kim.

Previously, he worked for the Kane and Cole County State's Attorneys, the Illinois Attorney General and the DuPage County Public Defenders' Office.

The press release follows:

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that Simeon Kim has joined the Felony Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office. Simeon Kim is a 1997 Graduate from Southern Illinois University College of Law where he was a published member of the Law Review. He obtained his LLM in taxation from DePaul College of Law in 2007.

Simeon was most recently employed by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in Chicago where he prosecuted multi-jurisdictional felony drug cases statewide.

He was previously employed by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office where he first-chaired felony jury trials and was also in charge of the felony review unit. Simeon was also employed by DuPage County Public Defenders’s Office and the Cole County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted and defended a wide range of criminal cases.

In addition, he is a veteran of the United States Army.

Labels: Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Simeon Kim

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi says Cynthia Schaupp's "hiring was to help fulfill his promise to do whatever he could legally to improve our roads and highways in McHenry County," according to an email I received.

The following press release about the hiring of a new assistant has been received from Bianchi's office:

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that he has hired Cynthia A. Schaupp as an Assistant State’s Attorney.

She will be assigned to the Civil Division and will be working on projects involving the McHenry County Department of Transportation.

Cynthia Schaupp received her Juris Doctorate in 1997 from The John Marshall Law School and her B.A. from the University of Iowa.

She previously worked as an associate attorney in Chicago with Parrillo, Weiss & O’Halloran as well as at Campion, Curran, Rausch, Gummerson & Dunlap in Crystal Lake and Caldwell, Berner & Caldwell in Woodstock.

Most recently she has had her own private practice participating in real estate closings for both residential and corporate clients, contracts, wills and powers of attorney.

Cynthia’s work experience includes conducting numerous civil bench and jury trials. She resides in Algonquin with her husband and two children.

Labels: Cynthia Schaupp, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

The following press release was received from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi:

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi announces that a jury returned a guilty verdict against Defendant Carlton Maynor for the offense of Drug Induced Homicide, after deliberating a little more than 2 hours.

On March 3, 2008, Maynor delivered 1 gram or more of a substance containing heroin to Laura Johnson. Laura Johnson later ingested the heroin, and died of a drug overdose.

Maynor will be sentenced to a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in the Department of Corrections on 2/4/09 in Courtroom 304 at 1:30pm.

I learned later that Mick Combs and Phil Hiscock were the prosecuting attorneys. The case was investigated by the Sheriff's Department.

Labels: Carlton Maynor, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's AttorneyMick Combs, Phil Hiscock

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

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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

Democratic Party candidate for State's Attorney Tom Cynor has called for the end of a program that helps the McHenry County business community.

His suggested alternative is to send businessmen back to civil court, which, of course, would require the hiring of an attorney.

I have some comments below from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's office and my assistant's experience of helping collect bad checks while I was state representative, but here is the press release:

CYNOR CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE END
TO COSTLY COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM

WOODSTOCK IL. - Thomas J. Cynor, McHenry County Democratic candidate for State's Attorney, called for an immediate end to the McHenry County State's Attorney's costly bad check program and promised to refocus the priorities of the Office of State's Attorney on essential legal functions under his administration today.

Under the current county government bad check program the State's Attorney's Office, through employed Assistant State's Attorneys and other government staff, attempt to collect on NSF and other passed bad checks on behalf of McHenry County merchants exclusively.

State's Attorney Bianchi created the in-house government program on February 19, 2007, which has since serviced only about 100 clients in a county of over 300,000 residents.

"In an environment of raising property taxes and increased burdens on McHenry County taxpayers, it is counter-productive that State's Attorney Louis Bianchi would be supporting a government program which winds up costing the taxpayers of the county thousands and thousands of dollars and provides a legal remedy to a select few. . . " Cynor said.

"While the taxpayers are paying for ASA's salaries, staff and administrative costs of the program, it is only McHenry County merchants who are eligible to use the special government services." Sadly, even these few exclusive clients aren't even realizing a benefit. Big picture - this really is a lose, lose situation"

There is an alternative to the government bad check program. The Illinois Criminal Code provides a civil remedy for anyone who fails victim to a bounced or returned check. "This civil law alternative to the government bad check program is clearly the superior choice for both the merchants and residents of the county." Cynor added.

Under Illinois civil law, any payee who receives a bad check can file suit and collect not only the face value of the check, treble damages and court costs but also attorney's fees. Accordingly, it is the people who pass bad checks who pay for the collection costs when proceeding in the civil courts. Under the current government program run by SA Bianchi, fees and collection costs are severely capped by statute and ultimately the bulk of collection fees are paid by county tax payers.

"This really is a business or corporate welfare program where the government through the State's Attorney's office acts like a glorified collection agency," said Cynor, "the problem is this is supposed to help McHenry County merchants, and in reality is leaving thousands and thousands of dollars uncollected from the people actually writing the bad checks."

SA Bianchi has repeatedly distributed press releases expressing his satisfaction with his government program and boasting about the amount of money collected to date. All the information released to date, however, fails to make mention of the administrative costs of the program or the amount of attorney's fees and treble damages left uncollected from offenders.

"In an era where more and more people are using debit and credit cards and more and more merchants are using check verification services, it simply doesn't make fiscal and or legal sense to continue with a costly county government check cashing program." Cynor said. "It's time the State's Attorney returned to basics and focused on prosecuting serious crimes and providing legal services to county officials."

McHenry County State's Attorney replied with the following press release:

The statutory duty of a State's Attorney is "to commence and prosecute all actions, suits, indictments and prosecutions, civil and criminal..."

Passing a bad check is a crime.

The State's Attorney's Office is mandated to pursue criminal activity in the criminal courts and not leave crime victims to merely pursue civil remedies on their own.

The State's Attorney's Check Enforcement Program efficiently holds those who pass bad checks accountable for their conduct at a minimal cost, most of which is borne by the offender themselves.

It is absurd to assert that because there is a civil remedy available to crime victims that the State's Attorney should not perform his statutory obligation to prosecute crime.

Virtually every case has a civil remedy available to crime victims.

For example, a victim's family in a murder or reckless homicide case could pursue a wrongful death action; however, that does not relieve the State's Attorney of his statutory mandate to prosecute the case in criminal court.

The Check Enforcement Program has operated in McHenry County with great success, collecting more than $100,000.00 for local businesses. Over 200 prosecutors offices across the country have have similar programs, including Cook and DuPage counties.

= = = = =
When I was state representative in the late 1990's, my assistant Pete Castillo found people walking in the door with NSF check problems. Most of them were men who spoke Spanish.

Pete discovered that the office of State's Attorney Gary Pack was useless as far as bad check collection went.

But, he knew that other people didn't know that.

So, he would call up the person who passed the bad check and tell them, if the $2,500 (or whatever the amount) wasn't in our office “by Friday,” we're going to refer it to the state's attorney's office.

You would be amazed how often that worked.

Having that threat, whether real or imaged, was the key to collection.

That's not to say that Pack's office didn't do some things right.

Reviewing my memory with Pete, he remembered, “The state's attorney's office faithfully prosecuted above and beyond the call of duty all of the evaders of child support we sent him.'

He particularly remembered one assistant state's attorney who, for instance, collected from a guy driving a Mercedes. Unfortunately, Pete couldn't remember his name or I'd be happy to put it here.

Labels: Gary Pack, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Pete Castillo, Tom Cynor

In another post tomorrow about former Crystal Lake reporter Sandra Brewer, I note that I missed out on about six weeks of email sent to McHenry County Blog. So, if you sent a message and didn't get a reply or have a story idea I didn't follow up on, please send another email.

There is a backlog of information that will now appear that may seem a bit out of date, but I figure it should be capable of being found on the internet, so I am publishing it.

Here is a press release from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi:

Conviction Obtained for Mother
Driving Under the Influence with Daughter in Car

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney is pleased to announce that Sharon M. Wlezien, after being found guilty by a jury of her peers, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, 60 of which are stayed pending compliance with the additional terms of the sentence, for the offense of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.

The defendant’s 9 year old daughter was in the car with the defendant at the time of her arrest. In addition to jail, the defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,750, complete a remedial alcohol or substance abuse program, perform 140 hours of community service and attend a victim impact panel.

The defendant was also sentenced to a one year period of conditional discharge, to run concurrently with the probation, for the offenses of Endangering the Life or Health of a Minor and Reckless Conduct.

Lastly, as a further consequence of the defendant’s arrest and prosecution, the defendant’s driving privileges have been revoked by the Secretary of State.

The State’s Attorney’s Office hopes that this sentence and others like it will send a message to those who would drink and drive that there are substantial penalties for this type of criminal behavior. It was fortunate that no one was hurt as a result of the defendant’s conduct in view of the fact that driving under the influence so often leads to tragic results.

Labels: Child Endangerment, DUI, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

McHenry County State's Attorney and the Chief of his Criminal Division Nicole Owens got what they and relatives of two of serial murderer Mark Smith wanted.

The infamous Woodstock criminal will not see the light of day for at least another three years.

Smith is eligible to apply for parole every three years. Smith entered a guilty plea in order to avoid the death penalty.

"The inmate agreed to his sentence, but he has yet to serve even 10 per cent of it.

"Allowing the release of this inmate would deprecate the seriousness of his offenses, endanger the community, and serve as an outrageous injustice to the families of the victims who continue to suffer 38 years after the deaths of their loved ones."

If you are too new to know what this case is all about, here's where you can find some details:

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi Opposes Murderer's Release

Nichole Owens' Statement Opposing Serial Killer Mark Smith's Parole – Part 1

Nichole Owens' Opposition to McHenry County Serial Killer Mark Smith's Parole – Part 2

Part 1 – Tom Lingenfelter Tells Why Mark Smith, His Sister’s Murderer, Should Remain in Jail

Part 2– Tom Lingenfelter Tells Why Mark Smith, His Sister’s Murderer, Should Remain in Jail

Part 3 – Tom Lingenfelter Tells Why Mark Smith, His Sister’s Murderer, Should Remain in Jail

Part 4 – Tom Lingenfelter Tells Why Mark Smith, His Sister’s Murderer, Should Remain in Jail

Part 1 - Shannon Lingenfelter’s Reasons for Keeping Serial Killer Mark Smith Behind Bars

Part 2 - Shannon Lingenfelter’s Reasons for Keeping Serial Killer Mark Smith Behind Bars

Part 3 - Shannon Lingenfelter’s Reasons for Keeping Serial Killer Mark Smith Behind Bars

Labels: Lou Bianchi, Mark Smith, Nichole Owens, Shannon Lingenfelter, Tom Lingenfelter

The following press release has been received from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi:

State's Attorney Hires Jameika Mangum and Re-Hires Jessica Carrier

McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that he has hired Jameika W. Mangum and rehired Jessica Carrier as Assistant State’s Attorneys.

Jessica Carrier previously served for 4 1/2 years in the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office in the Juvenile Division as an Assistant State’s Attorney and left several years ago when her family moved out of state. They recently returned to the area and she has been hired once again and will now serve in the Misdemeanor Division as an Assistant State’s Attorney. Jessica is a 2001 Juris Doctorate graduate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Jameika W. Mangum is a 2003 Juris Doctorate graduate from Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, California. She previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for the State of New Mexico. Jameika will be working in the Misdemeanor Division. Jameika lives with her husband in McHenry County.

Labels: Jameika W. Mangum, Jessica Carrier, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

The following press release was received from the office of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi:

$100,000 in Bad Checks Collected

State’s Attorney Louis A. Bianchi is very pleased to announce that the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Check Enforcement Program has now collected over $100,000 for business owners in McHenry County.

State’s Attorney Bianchi created the in-house Check Enforcement Program on February 19, 2007 for a two-fold purpose.

• He wanted to assist McHenry County businesses in the collection of bad checks they have received that have such a damaging effect on the abilities of small business owners in particular, to operate successfully.


• Additionally, State’s Attorney Bianchi wanted to assist law enforcement in the detection and effective prosecution of this criminal activity.

The Check Enforcement Program offers offenders a one-time chance to make good on bad checks they have passed to merchants and requires that they complete an at-home course designed to both teach better fiscal responsibility and to discourage further criminal violations.

In the event restitution and compliance is not received promptly, the matter is turned over to the police. Law enforcement’s job is easier because the crime is still relatively fresh and evidence is more easily obtained. As a result, the Check Enforcement Program also acts as a deterrent to those who would commit a criminal act by passing a bad check which again helps businesses in the long run remain viable.

“While we wish that there were no bad checks to collect at all in this County, the fact that we have been successfully able to collect over a $100,000 for local businesses is a significant benefit to local business owners who have monies they might not have otherwise recovered., Bianchi said.

To date, about 100 McHenry County businesses have benefited from this program.

Labels: Bad Checks, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

That’s what WBBM-Radio reported Friday.

About a month ago, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi decided that his employees could work four days a week.

Longer days, of course.

Or maybe it was Bianchi copying what Will County Auditor Steve Weber has been doing for two months.

WBBM-AM said Weber was going to report to the Will County Board next week that the new schedule is a hit. His employees like working an extra two hours a day and having Monday or Friday off.

In addition, sick days are down and productivity is up.

The State of Utah has recently put most of its employees on a four day work week.

Labels: Four Day Work Week, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County, McHenry County State's Attorney, Steve Weber, Will County, Will County Auditor

While we were vacationing in southern Missouri, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi announced his staff would be able to work four day weeks.

Longer days, of course.

Hard to believe, but Mother Jones Blog picked up on the story on its web site.

Some schools are doing that, too, the article reports.

Labels: Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Mother Jones

McHenry County Republicans have traditionally liked secrecy.

I have talked to previous central committee treasurers who were never shown more than anyone could pick off the internet at the Illinois State Board of Elections web site.

When Jack Schaffer took office, he formed the McHenry County Republican Foundation Committee with Gary Peacock as Treasurer.

I asked if that person had read what he attested to on the campaign disclosure form.

My guess is that was an attempt to follow in Lake County’s footsteps. There the big money folks didn’t trust the precinct committeemen.

If they were going to raise or donate the money, they would dole out most of the money through the Lake County Republican Foundation.

Bill LeFew used the vehicle after he beat back the challenge by the non-establishment Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller to succeed Schaffer.

People could combine central committee and foundation committee resources and get an idea of what LeFew was doing, but, aside from an article or two published on McHenry County Blog, I don’t think anyone did.

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The photo of McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Tryon was taken at the grand opening of the new Crystal Lake headquarters on July 26, 2008. Volunteers are being sought to man it mornings and all day Wednesday. Note the soap boxes on the platform from which the speech is being given.

Part 2 tomorrow.

Labels: Bill LeFew, Blake Hobson, Bob Miller, Brent Smith, Dan Regna, Jack Schaffer, Ken Koehler, Lake County Republcan Federation, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Republican Foundation, Mike Tryon

While what is printed below was written by Dave Brady, chair of the McHenry County Libertarian Party, it has content.

I want you to think of the last time the local power parties presented anything on their web sites advancing much more than slogans. (Corrections from partisans welcomed. I have not studied either power party site.)

If you are one who thinks issues matter in politics, the re-emergence of a local Libertarian Party might prove interesting.

The following is from the party’s blog (as usual, I have inserted a lot more paragraphs than in the original to make it easirer to read):

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Part 1 of 2: United States - Highest Incarceration Rate

Two studies have come out recently:

1. “The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate and total documented prison population in the world.” &

1. “The United States has the most restrictive and unequal ballot access laws in the world.” Though funny enough most people barely give notice.

The answer is easy for the first one. Justice has been turned into a baseball game.

The higher my conviction ratio the better chance I have to get promoted or elected / re-elected.

It’s the batting average that counts, not justice.

So what’s it take to get the judicial batting up, making sure non-violent offenders are convicted and jailed as well as pushing things to trial that shouldn’t even be there such as iffy or false evidence?

Jailed?

Yes jailed!

They can keep the batting average high by pleading out all the time but then they will be called cowards to court rooms or soft so yes we MUST put in jail that shows “I’m” a serious prosecutor.

McHenry County knows this game well.

Whatever it takes to get promoted or elected / re-elected is what we’ll do.

Is justice really what’s on the mind as they work at 2200 North Seminary Avenue?

As you pass the jail ask yourself this:

How many people are in there to increase someone’s judicial batting average? (Btw, multiply that by every county in the US).

Dave Brady
Chair
McHenry County Libertarian Party

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I would note how impressed I was when former McHenry County State's Attorney Tom Baker gave his first talk about taking office. He told the McHenry County Republican Women's Club that his goal was not convictions, but justice. He was defeated by Gary Pack, a state's attorney whom I'd bet kept score.

Current State's Attorney Lou Bianchi is surely more in Baker's than Pack's tradition. I have never heard Bianchi brag about conviction rates. One of the reasons he engenders such opposition in the Republican primary and now in the general is because he refused to cut the kind of plea agreements his predecessor Pack did.

Labels: Dave Brady, Gary Pack, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Libertarian Party, Tom Baker

Since yesterday was the deadline for filing campaign disclosure information, I decided to take a look at what happened in the Republican primary election for McHenry County State’s Attorney.

Incumbent Lou Bianchi outspent challenger Dan Regna by 1.8 to 1.

Bianchi spent $79,556 during the first six months of this year, while Regna laid out $47,048.

Coincidentally enough, Regna had $48,250 in outstanding loans.

$8,250 was from Regna himself, while Woodstock-based Woodford Development ponied up a whopping $30,000.

McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew and McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz both contributed $1,000 to Regna during the six-month period.

Regna has $78.27 left in his campaign fund.

Bianchi started July with $3,949.

Bianchi’s Democratic Party opponent Tom Cynor has $11,220.

He raised $16,080 since the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee slated him after the primary election. Only $100 of that amount seems to have come from someone other than the candidate himself.

Cynor spent $3,930, most--$2,410—on sign printing at Mt. Prospect’s Minuteman Press.

Labels: Campaign Disclosure, Dan Rega, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Thomas Cynor, Woodford Development

Traffic congestion will only get worse in McHenry County regardless of what local and state governments do.

There is no way that lane growth can keep up with population growth in a county where developers are primary sources of political cash for local officials—partisan and non-partisan, city and county.

Even so, the McHenry County Board seems to be moving toward the logical use of the quarter of one percent sales tax imposed by the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Rod Blagojevich in the RTA bailout deal.

The Daily Herald’s Chuck Keeshan reports the county board’s Transportation Committee recommends it all be spend on improving county roads.

The article quotes Transportation Committee Chairman Dan Shea to that effect.

I called Finance Committee Chairman Marc Munaretto seeking his committee’s take.

“Finance and Transportation are of one mind that the RTA sales tax money should be devoted to mitigating traffic congestion in McHenry County,” the Algonquin county board member told me."

Instead of just passing what the Regional Transportation and Chicago Transit Authority folks said they needed, the RTA tax hike was doubled for the collar counties.

And, thanks to DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett and DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and three GOP state senators from their county, the bill passed after an amendment was added to allow diversion of the county sales tax money to pay for law enforcement expenses.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna delivered a verbal slap at Schillerstrom for his promotion of passage of the RTA sales tax at the Decatur state convention.

But, McHenry County’s board members are promoting using the money for the purpose originally intended to mute the opposition of suburban county Republicans—roads.

Good for them!

It will be interesting to see if McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and/or McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nystom seek a piece of the pie.

The pie, by the way, costs McHenry County taxpayers about $9 million per year.

Labels: Bob Schillerstrom, Joe Birkett, Keith Nygren, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Board, McHenry County Roads, RTA Sales Tax

This is a continuation of Nichole Owens' statement in opposition to paroling McHenry County serial killer Mark Smith. (You can find the first part here. ) Owens serves as Chief of the Criminal Division.

On the evening of the murder, Jean Ann’s parents became worried when she didn’t return home from studying for finals at a friend’s house.

Like Jean, the search for Jean Ann began that night.

Inmate Smith feigned concern for Jean Ann and assisted law enforcement with their search for her.

Inmate Smith found Jean Ann’s body floating near the shore of a small lake. He knew where to find her because that is where he discarded her corpse.

Jean Ann had been viciously beaten and strangled with her own bra.

Her nose and jaw were broken. Her liver was lacerated. Her vagina was violently torn with the neck of a beer bottle.

Inmate Smith readily admitted these disturbing facts without compassion for Jean Ann or remorse for his actions.

Actions which have affected the lives of so many…today Jean Ann’s niece, a young lady who never knew her, appears today, speaking on her behalf.

These horrific facts are difficult to hear; however, it is necessary that none of us forget how dangerous this confessed serial killer truly is and it is important that we realize that this cold-blooded killer is completely and utterly incapable of rehabilitation.

He is devoid of remorse or compassion, callously stating to a former State’s Attorney, that “everyone has to die sometime.”

It is particularly difficult for the family members of these two lovely women, every three years, to revisit the horror and grief that Inmate Smith reaped upon them.

He has outlived many of those who cared for and loved his innocent victims.

But as difficult as it is for them, they are here, once again, protesting his release and heart-felt letters by family members who have passed remain, attached to our petition, for your consideration.

As Jean Bianchi’s deceased mother pointed out in one of her letters,

“I speak from experience when I say a family of the victim is NEVER the same after such a death of a loved one. Emotional, mental suffering still continues for each one of us.

"The sentence of grief for the families of the murder victim is a life sentence.

"It cannot be commuted and parole is not possible.”

Jean Bianchi and Jean Ann Lingenfelter were but two of at least twelve victims Inmate Smith admitted to raping and murdering.

His victims were not human beings to him.

Abducting them, raping them, murdering them, that was sport to Inmate Smith.

We have attached a copy of the book "Legally Sane" to our petition for your consideration. On page 63, Smith states,

“It was sort of like the so-called ecstasy of the hunt must be for animals, only I’m just a little bit above the hunt in snatching girls.”

Dr. Joseph Wepman, a psychologist who examined Inmate Smith years ago stated,

“Mark Alan Smith is always adapting, changing his story or his coloration to suit the circumstances. He will, no doubt, come up for parole within our lifetime, and he will look and sound like a repentant and rehabilitated sinner.

"That would be like giving a driver’s license to somebody who is blind and I don’t want to be on the road when he’s driving the car.

"Don’t let him out. He should remain in Stateville for the rest of his life.”

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office vehemently opposes the release of Mark Smith from the Illinois Department of Corrections.

In support of our petition, an addendum is attached containing 18 pages of protests to the inmate’s release from the families of his victim; 50 pages of letters and petitions from citizens opposing parole; 12 pages of crime scene photos of the Bianchi and Lingenfelter murders; 25 pages of autopsy reports of Jean Bianchi and Jean Ann Lingenfelter; and a copy of the book "Legally Sane."

The inmate has been sentenced consecutively to a total of 500 years in the Department of Corrections for his horrific crimes against three innocent, unsuspecting, and defenseless women.

The inmate agreed to this sentence.

He has yet to serve even 10% of it.

Allowing the release of this inmate would deprecate the seriousness of his offenses, endanger the community, and serve as an outrageous injustice to the families of the victims who continue to suffer, thirty-eight years after the deaths of their loved ones.

= = = = =
The photograph is of Nichole Owens, the Chief of the Criminal Division of the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office. You see the cover of the book "Legally Sane" next. Finally, what Mark Smith looks like now.

For those wishing to communicate to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board should send letters about inmate Mark Smith, the address is 319 E. Madison, Suite A, Springfield, IL 62701. Be sure to include Smith’s inmate number: C10587.

Labels: Illinois Parole Board, Jean Ann Lingenfelter, Jean Bianchi, Joseph Wepman, Lou Bianchi, Mark Smith, McHenry County State's Attorney, Nichole Owens, Serial Killer

I'm a bit late on publishing this statement, but since has appeared no where else and since Nichole Owens did such a splendid job arguing why mass murder Mark Smith should not be let out on the street, I'm putting it up anyway.

I remember Mark Smith as the laundromat murderer.

But he was much more.

McHenry County State's Attorney Chief of the Criminal Division Nichole Owens refreshes our and the Illinois Parole Board's members' minds in her statement below. I have added some paragraphing to make it easier to read.

INMATE MARK SMITH
PAROLE HEARING ARGUMENT
PRESENTED BY NICHOLE D. OWENS,
McHENRY COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
JUNE 18, 2008

On January 27, 1970, at approximately 9:30 pm, Jean Bianchi, a young wife and mother of two small children, drove to a laundry mat in the town of McHenry.

She called her husband about an hour later to tell him that the family laundry was almost done and that she would be home soon.

Jean never returned home again.

She never saw her husband again.

She never saw her children again.

Her vehicle was found near the laundry mat by the police.

Her laundry was found at the laundry mat with a half-written letter to a friend nearby.

For three days, Jean’s family frantically searched for her.

On January 30th, their worst nightmare came true.

Her body was found partially clothed, floating under an icy ledge in a small creek not from the laundry mat where she was abducted.

Jean’s face was unrecognizable.

Her teeth were knocked out, her face badly distorted from the vicious beating she endured.

An autopsy revealed that Jean had been stabbed 17 times in the neck, back, and chest. Her liver was lacerated.

Her vagina was traumatically lacerated.

Sand and grass were discovered in her throat.

Inmate Smith admitted that he abducted Jean Bianchi at the laundry mat at knife point.

He confessed to forcing her into his car.

He described how he raped her in the back seat, attempted to strangle her, beat her, threw her from a bridge, attempted to drown her in the shallow icy creek, and ultimately stabbed her to death.

And then, as Jean Bianchi lay dead or dieing, Inmate Smith still wasn’t finished with her.

He then sexually assaulted her with his fist.

Jean Bianchi’s family missed her right away.

The desperate search for her began that very night.

And as she lay alone in her watery grave while her family frantically searched, Inmate Smith went home, cleaned off his knife, and went to sleep in his bed, without a second thought.

Jean Bianchi’s family still suffers to this very day, thirty-eight long years later.

This is her sister, Betty Portlander’s 11th appearance before this parole board protesting Inmate Smith’s release from prison.

Exactly four months after murdering Jean Bianchi, on May 27, 1970, Inmate Smith viciously raped and murdered a seventeen-year-old high school senior named Jean Ann Lingenfelter.

Jean Ann was about to graduate from high school. She had her entire future ahead of her.

More tomorrow.

= = = = =
The head shot is of Nichole Owens, Chief of the Criminal Division, McHenry County State's Attorney.

Labels: Illinois Parole Board, Jean Ann Lingenfelter, Jean Bianchi, Joseph Wepman, Lou Bianchi, Mark Smith, McHenry County State's Attorney, Nichole Owens, Serial Killer

The reply to the suit filed against the McHenry County College Board for violating the Open Meetings Act by McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi is fascinating.

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

"The Defendant admits...

15 times the college attorney says Bianchi's charges were "right on."

Bianchi did conclude that the violation was "not intentional." He also praises college personnel for their cooperation in his investigation.

Considering what happened earlier that night, I find the following exculpatory sentence from the college intriguing:

"The members of the Board of Trustees had no knowledge that the security guards were instructing people to leave the building based upon the policy which had been in effect for years."

I wonder if the trustees and everyone else in the secret meeting would be willing to swear the following:

"The members of the Board of Trustees had no knowledge that the security guards were instructing people to leave the building."

Labels: Lou Bianchi, MCC, McHenry County College, McHenry County State's Attorney, Open Meetings Act

The most interesting political development at the Resurrection Center Pro-Life Victory PAC Pig Roast was the appearance of Dave Bachmann, Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County Coroner.

Bachmann was even allowed to give a speech like the other statewide (actual and potential), legislative and countywide candidates.

The others were all Republicans.

Bachmann's was the last speech and a lot of people had left, but my impression was that it was well received.

Bachmann repeated the personal story that was first published here on McHenry County Blog.

For those of you who have not followed the details of Bachmann's campaign, here are articles (most of which contain content from his keyboard):

October 20, 2007 Dave Bachmann Running for County Coroner as a Democrat

October 21, 2007 Dave Bachmann, Democratic Party Candidate for Coroner, Gives Personal Background, Goals for Office

October 31, 2007 Dave Backmann Files to Oppose Coroner Marlene Lantzz

February 07, 2008 Republican Marlene Lantz Got Less Primary Votes Than Democrat Dave Bachmann

February 08, 2008 Something Marlene Lantz Does Not Understand

February 20, 2008 Part 1 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

February 21, 2008 Part 2 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

February 22, 2008 Part 3 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

February 24, 2008 Part 4 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

February 24, 2008 Part 5 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

April 12, 2008 So What Does a Coroner Do?

April 13, 2008 Dem Coroner Candidate Dave Bachmann Questions Incumbent Marlene Lantz Lack of Role in “Angel of Death” Nursing Home Deaths and More Prosaic Questions

April 14, 2008 Democrat Dave Bachmann Questions Marlene Lantz' Role in Woodstock Residence Nursing Home Death Probe

April 20, 2008 Marlene Lantz Called in “Angel of Death” Case

May 01, 2008 McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz Employees Want a Union

May 11, 2008 Part 1 - Some Internet Campaigning for McHenry County Coroner

May 12, 2008 Part 2 - Some Internet Campaigning for McHenry County Coroner

May 13, 2008 Part 3 - Some Internet Campaigning for McHenry County Coroner

May 30, 2008 Dave Bachmann Issues Statement in Coroner's Race Against Marlene Lantz

June 12, 2008 Dave Bachmann Re-Emphasizes Early Plank in Coroner's Run

28-year GOP incumbent coroner Marlene Lantz did not attend the pro-life event.

As I have stated periodically, McHenry County Blog will publish any candidate's press release or statement.

That's what the Crystal Lake Herald, Woodstock Sentinel, McHenry Plain Dealer, Marengo Republican, Harvard Herald, River Valley Clarion, Richardson's Publications, etc., did in the past.

My goal is to allow candidates to speak directly to voters...the way they used to be able to in newspapers.
= = = = =
In the photograph on top, Dave Bachmann can be seen conversing with McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi, McHenry County pro-life godmother Irene Napier and Lake County's 59th district GOP candidate for state representative, Dan Sugrue.

The head shot is of Dave Bachmann speaking.

The next group shot is similar to the one on top, except from a different angle. From front left to right around the circle are Bonnie Quirke, Dan Sugrue, Lou Bianchi, Dave Bachmann, Fred Wickham, Lynn Wickham and, with her back to the camera, Irene Napier.

Dave Bachmann met Paul Weyna, a high school classmate from Crystal Lake Community High School, who was taking pictures, too. Paul's father, Phil, was there, too.

As the Republican speakers gave their pitches, Bachmann sat listening, as can be seen in the next photo.

Dr. Steve Sauerberg, the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate against Dick Durbin spoke, as did Joe Birkett, the man in the next photograph. He is thinking about running for statewide office for a third time.

State Rep. McHenry County Republican County Chairman Mike Tryon spoke, as did McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi and 8th congressional district candidate Steve Greenberg. You can see Greenberg pointing proudly to his family, who appear at the bottom of this explanation of the pictures.

Next is Dan Duffy, who is running for an open state senate seat being vacated by State Senator Bill Peterson.

Finally, Dan Sugrue can be seen with his daughter Vivian at his side. I missed getting a photo of a great leg hug.

All photographs can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Dan Duffy, Dan Sugrue, Dave Bachmann, Irene Napier, Joe Birkett, Lou Bianchi, Steve Greenberg, Steve Sauerberg

The following press release was received from the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office:

PEOPLE v. JOHNCOURS

Louis Bianchi, the State’s Attorney of McHenry County, announces today Defendant Edward Johncours, Sr. pleaded guilty to the Class X felony offense of Attempted Murder and was sentenced to 31 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The defendant must serve 85% of his sentence under Illinois Truth In Sentencing Guidelines. An enhanced statutory 25-year penalty was added to the sentence because the defendant personally discharged a firearm during the course of the attempted murder, causing great bodily harm to the victim, Gloria Johncours, the ex-wife of the defendant.

On the afternoon of April 2, 2007, Gloria Johncours was employed as a real estate agent. After showing a home to a prospective buyer, the defendant pursued Gloria Johncours in his motor vehicle, opening fire with a semi-automatic handgun. Gloria Johncours attempted to call 911, reporting that the defendant was shooting at her. The defendant shot Gloria Johncours in the head as she disclosed her location to the 911 operator. Fortunately, law enforcement responded promptly and Gloria Johncour’s life was spared.

Because of the defendant’s age, this sentence, in effect, serves as a life sentence. Thankfully, the defendant will never be in a position to endanger the safety or life of Gloria Johncours again.

The State’s Attorney’s Office extends its condolences to Gloria Johncours for the life-threatening injuries she suffered at the hands of the defendant.

In addition, State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi thanks the Lake in the Hills and Huntley Police Departments for their thorough investigation of this serious and important case. Finally, thank you to Turning Point for the unending support they provided Gloria Johncours through the lengthy court process.

Labels: Edward Johncours, Gloria Johncour, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Turning Point

One of the work horses of the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office is retiring.

Here's the press release announcing his retirement:

"Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney and his office extend their sincere best wishes to Assistant State’s Attorney David Stone, who retires today after almost thirty years of service to the County.

"Dave’s many years of service to the County Board, Appointed and Elected Officials, Department Heads, the State’s Attorney’s Office and the citizens of McHenry County is greatly appreciated.

"We wish him and his wife Jill many years of good health and continued happiness together."

Labels: David Stone, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

Since I first learned about Huntley School District 158's thinking that its bookkeeper made off with some money (what was it, two years ago?), I have been following the case.

The Daily Herald found someone who said $8-10,000 was missing. As in probably stolen.

First, the district did not want to hand over the information to the Algonquin police until the feeble forensic audit was completed.

Then, in his March, 2007, report to the board, Mark Warner, the feeble forensic auditor from Jefferson Wells, said he found no fraud.

Board member Tony Quagliano was bound and determined to get the guy to comment on the payroll irregularities.

One of his final inquiries was about "the individual who left."

Quagliano asked,

“Did you verify what we had was accurate?

“Did you see the police report?”

Wagner, who seemed to be in charge of the payroll auditing, replied,

“The document appears to be correct.

“Now, it's up to the prosecutors to make the determination.”

The school district employee, so far unnamed, had been investigated by the Algonquin Police, but the report had been held at the request of school officials pending the completion of the forensic audit, Superintendent John Burkey said.

Asked after the meeting, I inquired when the school district would ask that the police report be forwarded to the state’s attorney’s office.

Burkey replied,

“As soon as this is done. The reason we waited was because we wanted that done before we turned it in.”

Burkey indicated that time was then, March of 2007.

Recently, McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's office announced that there would be no criminal prosecution.

Through a Freedom of Information request, I had previously sought the underlying documents from which the school board concluded wrong doing had occurred by filing. It was denied.

Since the “end of investigation with no criminal charges to be filed” announcement from the state's attorney's office, I filed another Freedom of Information request with the school district.

My new request was denied under the 5ILCS140/7(c) [plus (a)] exception, that is,

“records compiled by any public body for administrative enforcement proceedings and any law enforcement or correctional agency for law enforcement purposes or for internal matters of a public body.”

Except there were these intriguing two words added to explain the denial: So, is the Huntley School District preparing to file a civil suit to recover the money it seems to think has been stolen?

If I am interpreting the reply to my latest Freedom of Information requests correctly, that is the case.

If so, it will be interesting to see what evidence is offered.

= = = = =
Feeble Jefferson Wells forensic auditor Mark Warner can be seen on the right. Tony Quagliano is on the left.

Labels: 5ILCS140/7(c), Freedom of Information Act, Huntley School District 158, Jefferson Wells, John Burkey, Lou Bianchi, Mark Warner, McHenry County State's Attorney, Tony Quagliano

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi and Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine have similar problems:

Reluctant victim witnesses.

The now grown up 13-year old that began R. Kelly's case is even said to be willing to testify for Kelly.

The woman in Les Lunsmann's case didn't show up yesterday in court.

A key difference in the two cases seems to be the level of patience the judge has for delay.

The R.Kelly case seems to have been going on forever.

When the victim didn't show up in court yesterday, Judge Sharon Prather gave Bianchi's office one day to find her.

Prather said she would grant no more continuances.

Prather previously refused to appoint a special prosecutor, which I'm told would have allowed the witness to have more protection.

Labels: Dick Devine, Les Lunsmann, Lou Bianchi, R. Kelly

As readers of McHenry County Blog know, McHenry County State's yours truly, Attorney Lou Bianchi sued the McHenry County College Board for kicking four citizens, including from out of its building while the trustees were meeting in top secret, hush, hush, about what shall we do about leasing land to or from, I assume, a radio station.

President Walt Packard was so desperate to keep any information about what John Maguire was proposing that he rushed to cover the window through which I took the second, more revealing slide (the one below with his head blocking part of the slide) with the American flag. That's his head behind the American flag above, too.

Although the meeting went on until after midnight and several other top secret, hush, hush meetings have considered John Maguire's radio tower proposal, all that has leaked out has been two photographs seen above taken through the windows of the McHenry County College board room.

But, another source provided this information about what Maguire wants. If this is correct, wouldn't you think the public ought to know about it?

But, there's no paper trail at McHenry County College, except what Trustee Scott Summers took home. And, the college said that was top secret, hush, hush, as well...even after Summers had drawn all those black lines through it.

After the big cover-up, I got this warning letter from Packard.

Then, I found this article about getting permission to put towers on land in Will County. Don't know if it is related, but I believe the radio station next to MCC's campus is owned by the same corporation.

While the college board instructed its security officers to cover up the windows the night I took the photos of the broadcast tower slides and, not coincidentally, in my opinion, the night we four were kicked out, now there is a more efficient method.

Newly-installed Venetian blinds prevent us prying taxpayers from seeing inside the board room named after former board members Herb Lutter and Bill Ryan. (Somehow, I don't think the two, both of whom I knew fairly well, would have approved of all the secrecy.)

I know their names because they are on a plaque right next to the sign informing people outside the room that a secret meeting is going on and right next to the sign saying flash photography is prohibited.

Since one can no longer see the top secret, hush, hush, meetings, all one has to look at now that the college secrecy advocates have installed Venetian blinds to, well, keep prying eyes and cameras from seeing what goes on in a top secret, hush, hush, college board meeting.

I asked some friends who might be attending last Thursday's meeting to let me know what happened. Here's one response from a friend of McHenry County Blog:

You missed a lot of interesting information at the MCC Trustees meeting(s) tonight. Here are some highlights:

In response to a citizen question about why Friends of MCC Foundation Director Joe Like is included in closed sessions, when he is employed by the Foundation itself, Dr. Packard stated that Mr. Like is a paid employee of the college and a member of the President’s cabinet.

The decision to buy the $2600 Apple notebook computers instead of the $8-900 PC's was "curriculum driven."

Maybe, I dunno.

When the slate of new officers was presented it turned out that Donna Kurtz was not contacted and did not have any input into the process, nor could she get Mary Miller who was the nominating chair (and slated for Vice President) to commit when asked to affirm that the new leadership team would be open minded and willing to consider the ideas and views of ALL the Trustees.

Ms. Miller just deflected, by asserting that the whole board was already pretty open and had made some good progress toward being more so. Mr. Lowe (slated President) deflected by keeping his head down.

When she was distracted from an agenda item by a side discussion with Carol Larson, George Lowe impatiently reprimanded Donna Kurtz that she should pay attention sometimes.

When newly seated (literally five minutes before) Student Trustee Tom Kendzie voted “abstain” from a roll call vote on reappointment of the Board Attorney Sandra Kerrick, he was told he couldn’t do that. He voted affirmative on that and the rest of the agenda. (His vote either way did not change the outcome.)

George Lowe prefaced his comments on the same agenda item with comments that it was too late to make any desired changes at this meeting; that they should work on that and get it ready for next year if they wanted to change attorneys.

Oh, and they watered down Donna Kurtz's idea to have OM training for the board, into a request for the State's Attorney to schedule one of their trainings on an MCC Trustees "off-night" so those who wanted to attend could attend and those who did not want to... well you get the drift.

But nothing quite says it all like the irony of going into closed session to discuss the State's Attorney’s filing an Open Meetings violation against them.

On a more positive note, they did a nice job of presenting Katie Claypool with a plaque and her parents were there to celebrate with her. They swore in the new student trustee and senate officers. And they finished all three agenda's by 9 p.m. Not a word about a cell tower.

Anonymous

And, a post script:

I forgot to tell you that there were no barricades as Packard had mentioned in the Herald article that there would be. We were very disappointed.

The new student trustee needs to know that he can abstain on anything he wants to, regardless of what anyone says, unless there is something in the board rules specifically saying abstentions are not allowed. It won't take long for him to see that anti-bullying rules do not apply to board meetings.

Except for the two pictures of the new Venetian blinds, one open from the inside next to Trustee Donna Kurtz and one closed from the outside, the other photos of efforts to cover up the windows occurred at the meeting before the four of us were illegally kicked out of the MCC building.

Labels: Donna Kurtz, George Lowe, Joe LIke, John Maguire, Katie Claypool, Lou Bianchi, Mary Miller, MCC, McHenry County College, Sandy Kerrick, Tom Kendzie, Walt Packard

This is the second article on this suit. Here is the one published yesterday:For the first time while Lou Bianchi has been McHenry County State's Attorney, he has filed suit against a local governmental entity for breaking the Open Meetings Act.

On February 28th four people, myself, Kim Willis, Jane Collins and Iris Bryan, were evicted from the building prior to the end of the meeting, which lasted until well after midnight.

The flow of events cited in the complaint are as follows:

The board went into secret session about 9:30.

“...a short time later, security officers were called to the boardroom where said meeting was taking place to assist in talking with an individual, Cal Skinner, about not taking photographs through the windows of the boardroom while the proceedings were in closed session.

“...shortly thereafter, McHenry County College President (Walt) Packard, called the head of security, Harriet Johnson, and asked her to send a security officer to the boardroom to cover windows for the closed session because Cal Skinner continued to take flash photographs through the window of the proceedings which was purportedly causing a disruption to the closed session. Security then assisted in covering the windows of the boardroom.

“...around approximately 10:00 p.m. Security Officer Daniel Wrobleski and Security Officer William Schultz advised the four citizen, Kimberly Willis, Jane Collins, Cal Skinner, and Iris Bryan, who had been attending the meeting and were standing outside the boardroom waiting for the closed session to end, that it was after 10:00 p.m. And the college was closed to the public, and they would need to leave the building.

“...the four citizens explained to the security officers that a public meeting was in session and they should be allowed to remain. However, the security officers told them that they were following standard operating procedures for security.

“...Officer Schultz stated to the individuals that if they did not leave they would be issued trespassing violations.

“Thereafter, the four individuals were escorted to the exit doors and forced to leave the building...

“As a result of the conduct set forth above, these four individuals and any other member of the public, were denied the right to be in attendance for the duration of the public portion of the meeting after the closed session and until adjournment.

“The MCC Board violated Section 2.01 of the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/.01) which states

'all meetings required by this act to be public shall be held at specified times and places which are convenient and open to the public.'”

The civil complaint asks that the college board “has violated the Open Meetings Act” and be “enjoin(ed) from future similar violations of the Open Meetings Act” and “order Defendants to make their public meetings open and convenient until the adjournment of the public meeting.”

The assistant state's attorney on the case is Mamie M. Rein

Sounds like a slam dunk to me.

Jane Collins, one of those evicted filed a complaint with the state's attorney's office. I asked her to comment on the suit and here is what she wrote:

"I continue to believe that the selective expulsion of 4 constituent taxpayers from a publicly owned property was not done for security purposes, but to shield the broadcast tower proponents from any further public scrutiny and photographing by Cal Skinner after the closed session concluded."

Here is the reaction of Iris Bryan, who writes the Town Crier:

It is sad that it was necessary to take the issue to legal heights with the need to go through court proceedings when the situation has been resolved by the College, as evidenced by a Board Policy Revision, to be enacted by the Board at its meeting this evening.

As a long-time member of the Society of Professional Journalists, (36 years) I have always felt the need for governing bodies to conduct the public's business in the open, as much as possible. The Illinois Open Meetings Act does state that certain matters MAY be conducted in closed session. Security is one of those and in view of occurrences in other universities; it is understandable that security is a touchy topic.

I was happy to receive a personal apology from College President, Dr. Walter Packard in response to my letter regarding the February 28 incident. I was also delighted to hear apologies issued publicly by Dr. Packard and Trustee Scott Summers on behalf of the Trustees.

As has been stated, the matter serves as a lesson to other governing bodies regarding how they conduct their meetings.

= = = = =
At the top you can see efforts from inside the board room to keep me from taking pictures of the power point slides that John Maguire was showing the board. You can click on them to see a much bigger image. On the top left is MCC President Walt Packard moving the American flag in front of the window. The head you can see is his. Freedom of Information Officer Pat Kriegermeir can be seen applying opaque plastic to the other window near the American flag. It is the only flash picture I took and, obviously, it did not penetrate the room. You can see other photos in


The photo of the security guards putting up yellow plastic is from that night, as are the two photos of Officer William Schultz telling us we must leave the building. The clock shows the time I walked past it on the way out of the building. The woman taking notes is Iris Bryan. Jane Collins can be seen in the background in the first picture. A head shot of Collins appears next to her comments. Between the two photos of Schultz and Bryan is one of John Maguire, the man making the top secret, hush, hush presentation about radio towers to the MCC Board. The picture would not have been so fuzzy, if I had used a flash. The bottom picture was taken at an early February meeting. It shows Maguire sitting in the center flanked by Mark Saladin and Cindi McDonald. The article from which it was taken is


Articles written about the incident are listed, with links, below:

MCC - One Step Forward, Two Steps Back – Part 1

MCC - One Step Forward, Two Steps Back – Part 2

MCC - One Step Forward, Two Steps Back – Part 3

MCC - One Step Forward, Two Steps Back – Part 4

MCC, the Junior College That Just Keeps on Giving

Labels: Iris Bryan, John McGuire, Lou Bianchi, MCC, McHenry County College, Pat Kriegermeir, Walt Packard, William Schultz

I asked McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi how he answers questions about illegal immigration and his exchange trip to Mexico and the Mexican officials visit to McHenry County.

Here's is the guts of the letter, which I imagine is individualized, depending on the thrust of letter Bianchi receives:

Thank you for your recent letter addressing the matter of illegal immigration. I share your concerns over this issue. Our legal system here in McHenry County deals with the problems it presents on a daily basis.

Police and county prosecutors have an obligation to uphold the law. Illegal immigrants do not get a free pass. We send them back to Mexico. If they commit a crime they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and then turned over to ICE for deportation.

The second issue which you address is the trips taken by elected and appointed officials to Mexico. For several years the Sheriff’s Department has had an exchange program with the state of Zecatecas. The trips to Mexico are paid for by Zecatecan businessmen. When the Zecatecas police visit McHenry County, they do so at no cost to the taxpayer. They stay in the homes of county deputies and other county elected and appointed official’s homes.

The purpose of the exchange is to build bridges of understanding and to educate law enforcement in Mexico. The city of Woodstock is a sister city to the city of Zecatecas.

Shortly after I was elected, Jean and I were invited to Zecatecas. The trip was paid for by Zecatecan businessmen. It was an educational trip. The Department of Industry met with us to explain what the state is doing to encourage industry and create jobs in Zecatecas to keep their citizens in Mexico. We visited their legislature and their courts. We met with elected and appointed officials including the governor of the state of Zecatecas. Using our legal system as a model, the government is attempting to bring about much needed changes in their state trial courts. While we just made one trip there, we did accept two visits from lawyers and judges who came up to McHenry County to see our democratic process in operation. These judges and lawyers had their lodging and food paid for personally by Jean and I. This was at no expense to the taxpayers.

When we visited Mexico, we learned about a shoot out where 11 policemen were killed or wounded because they had outdated equipment and no bullet proof vests. Upon our return we contacted all of the police departments within McHenry County to ask them to donate their outdated equipment and bullet proof vests for the Zecatecan/Guadalupe Police Departments. We have been receiving this equipment and channeling it through the city if Woodstock, their sister city. As an example, please find attached copy of the recent equipment donated by the Spring Grove Police Department.

This program does not support illegal immigration nor is it paid for by the taxpayers. If I can answer or address any other question or concern, please feel free to contact me by letter or call me at the office at 815.334.4159.

Very Truly Yours,



Louis A. Bianchi
State’s Attorney

Labels: Guadalupe, illegal aliens, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Zecatecas

A press release has been received from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi announcing the Illinois Supreme Court will allow one of his relatively new assistants to participate in death penalty cases.

Making sure that attorneys involved in such cases are qualified was one of the reforms resulting from the Chicago Tribune series on death penalty mistakes in Illinois. The series also led to the moratorium on executions started by former Governor George Ryan, which has been continued by successor Rod Blagojevich.

The release follows:

Louis A. Bianchi, the State’s Attorney of McHenry County, is pleased to announce that Assistant State’s Attorney Philip Hiscock has recently been admitted by the Supreme Court of Illinois as a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar.

The Capital Litigation Trial Bar was created by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2001 to ensure that attorneys who handle capital cases have the ability, knowledge and experience to do so in a competent and professional manner. The Court requires minimum standards of training and experience for attorneys who try capital cases.

Hiscock is a Felony Prosecutor of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

He is a 1996 graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana and a 1999 graduate of DePaul University College of Law in Chicago.

Hiscock has been a prosecutor for seven years having previously served in DuPage County, and he was hired by State’s Attorney Bianchi in 2007.

Labels: Capital Litigation Trial Bar, Death Penalty, George Ryan, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Philip Hiscock, Rod Blagojevich

My wife and son ventured into the Crystal Lake Expo at South High School Saturday.

I asked her if she would take pictures of the political and governmental booths.

She found three governmental booths and one political.

Right at the entrance McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi had his booth. I don't know most of the assistant state's attorneys, but I assume the man in the picture is one.



Next up was the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee booth. That's Karla Dobbeck, head of the township central committee talking to an Expo attendee.

16th congressional district Congressman Don Manzullo's table was next. The sign says he would be there from 1:30 to 2 on Saturday. It's a long trip from his home south of Rockford to Crystal Lake.

Finally, you see a picture of McHenry County Board member Barb Wheeler staffing the joint booth of State Rep. Mike Tryon and State Senator Pam Althoff.

I asked my wife if she saw any Democratic Party booths. She said she didn't.

The Expo will be open again Sunday from 11-3. It is sponsored by the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Labels: 16th Congressional District, Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee, Crystal Lake Expo, Don Manzullo, Karla Dobbeck, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Mike Tryon, Pam Althoff

Forty-some McHenry County Democratic Central Committee members slated Tom Cynor to run for McHenry County State's Attorney against Republican primary victor Lou Bianchi. The meeting was held at the McHenry County Farm Bureau building Wednesday night.

You got a foretaste of that possibility in this February 12th article.

Now, it's official.

"We're the majority in McHenry County," Cynor asserted, as he explained why he wanted to be the candidate for and, "ultimately, state's attorney."

He currently works for McHenry County government answering legal questions from judges in the 22nd Circuit Court. If he worked for the state or the circuit, he would have to resign his job to run for a partisan office. Not so, he explained, as long as he is on county government's payroll.

He has fifteen years as a litigator after graduating from the University of Illinois Law School. He worked for Kemper Insurance as an asbestos litigator, supervising attorneys around the country.

He also has served as Livingston County Public Defender, a Special Prosecutor for that county and prosecutor of Washington Park.

"In a county the size of 300,000, the state's attorneys here no longer try cases," Cynor explained. "They are adminstrators.

They need to "recognize good litigators and hire good folks."

"That, folks, is where the current state's attorney has fallen down mightily."

Cynor said that a reporter in the room had found 125% turnover in three years.

"What kind of efficiency, accountability would you have in your business (if your turnover were that high)?

"Why (the turnover)?

"We have put political patronage first and foremost in a role that should be supremely public service.

"We have not (so far) been able to master a two-party system in McHenry County," Cynor said, clearly indicating that he intended to change that situation.

In addition, the Democrats named Woodstock Farmers Insurance agent Kerry Julian to run against Union resident McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer. Besides selling insurance, Julian also substitute teaches.

Julian has been in the industry for 20 years, opening his own agency in 2002. He lived for 13 years in Crystal Lake and 9 in Woodstock. He earned an MBA while living in Michigan.

He has served on District 200's boundary review committee, is treasurer of his church, is secretary of his Boy Scout troop (I think), and has volunteered at PADS for 3 years.

"My allegiance will be to the people of McHenry County," Julian said.

Two women stepped forward to run for the McHenry County Board against the two Republican men who were unopposed in the February 5th primary election.

Coventry's Anita Harmon and Oriole Tail's Jill Mawhinney will challenge incumbent board member Jim Heisler and former Lakewood Village and Crystal Lake Park Board President Scott Breeden.

Harmon works for American Commercial Realty handling a number of duties, beside her four children. At the office, she is involved in site development, property management, condominium associations, the budget and supporting 17 "very active agents, ten full-time." She has lived in the county eleven years and worked previously for Baxter and Woodman as a project manager coordinator.

She wants to "bring together a political charged climate and a culturally charged climate."

Harmon seeks to have "our board take on foreclosure" by counseling homeowners.

She likes the way the county board has put the budget online and "the minutes online almost on time."

"I'd like to see the county be more conservative.

"If we can have a moderate McCain, we can certainly have a conservative Democrat."

After sitting down, she remembered she had not mentioned her military background. She said that meant she knew how to manage.

Mawhinney said she hadn't prepared a talk, but, by way of background, she had worked at Oakton College before retiring. I think she said she was a student development officer.

"I'm a good listener, a good communicator," she said.

"For over twenty years I've been going to the polls and haven't had a choice.

"I believe people need a choice."

Her husband is Rich Jackson, an attorney who has run for countywide office as a Democrat several times.

= = = = =
All the pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

In the top photo are the candidates slated by McHenry County Democrats on Wednesday night. They are, from left to right, McHenry County Auditor candidate Kerry Julian, McHenry County State's Attorney candidate Tom Cynor and District 2 county board candidates Jill Mawhinney and Anita Harmon.

Below is a head shot of a smiling Cynor, a picture of most of those attending, an acknowledgment of his slating by Cynor, head shots of Julian and Harmon, Mawhinney and Harmon after the four or five District 2 precinct committeemen voted to nominate them for the county board and a head shot of Mawhinney.

Below the line is a photography of Northwest Herald reporter Regan Foster and Daily Herald reporter Chuck Keeshan interviewing Kerry Julian.

Labels: Anita Harmon, District 2, Jill Mawhinney, Kerry Julian, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Auditor, McHenry County Board, McHenry County State's Attorney, Pam Palmer, Tom Cynor

When McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi announces his campaign for re-election, one of the things he was obviously please about was the upcoming establishment of a mental health court.

Now, there are twice-monthly Friday after sessions of the court. There are thirteen such courts in Illinois.

Sixteen people are now in the program, according to the press release.

Now comes a press release from the McHenry County Mental Health Task Force announcing a celebration of its first anniversary is scheduled for Friday, April 4th. It will be held in the grand jury room in the state's attorney’s office at 1:30.

There are all sorts of people and agencies involved in this effort, as you can read in the press release below:

THE MCHENRY COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT TASK FORCE

The McHenry County Mental Health Task Force is pleased to announce that the McHenry County Health Court, which is presided over by the Honorable Judge Charles Weech of the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, is celebrating its one year anniversary on April 4, 2008.

The McHenry County Mental Health Court was created by a community based effort including the

• McHenry County Board,
• McHenry County Mental Health Board,
• Family Services,
• McHenry County Health Department,
• McHenry County 22nd Judicial Circuit Court and the
• McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

As in many jurisdictions around the country, the criminal justice system in McHenry County is experiencing a rapidly growing population of offenders who have mental disorders.

For many individuals with mental health problems circulation in and out of the criminal justice system is a way of life. Jailing individuals whose offenses are related more to the symptoms of their mental illness perpetuates the cycle of offense and incarceration.

This court seeks to provide an alternative way to address non violent criminal conduct, by those with mental illnesses in providing them a support system with which to have their illnesses medically and therapeutically treated.

The Mental Health Court has a

• case worker,
• probation officer and
• nurse

who each monitor the defendant’s compliance with court orders and assists defendants in maintaining their rehabilitating efforts.

In exchange for compliance with court orders and working on maintaining treatment for their mental illnesses defendant will receive a dismissal or reduction of their charges at the completion of the program.

Defendants will be under the careful supervision of the McHenry County Mental Court for a period of 18 to 24 months.

Currently the Mental Health Court has 16 participants who are at various stages of the program, with several more individuals being considered for the program.

Admission into the program occurs upon referral to the program by police officers, probation officers, defense attorneys, prosecutors, jail or Judge. It is anticipated that within the next few months of the program participation will increase to 25 or 30 members involved in the program.

Presently McHenry County’s Mental Health Court is one of only thirteen in the state of Illinois. The Illinois Legislature has passed legislation for Mental Health Courts and the McHenry County Health Court operates its program within those statutory guidelines.

The Mental Health Court’s success is achieved through a community based effort of various providers including mental health professionals and organizations like

• Family Services,
• Pioneer Center,
• Family Alliance,
• Thresholds,
• McHenry County Crisis,
• NAMI and the like.

The fact that this program has been so successful is a testament to the cooperative spirit of these mental health agencies that provide individuals in McHenry County who have mental illness with a network of support opportunities.

The Mental Health Court is conducted on Friday afternoons twice a month at 1:30 p.m. in the McHenry County Court House before the Honorable Judge Charles Weech, who has presided over the Mental Health Court system from its inception.

A reception recognizing this anniversary will be held immediately following the Mental Health Court on April 4, 2008 in the Grand Jury Room of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office. The press is invited.

The Mental Health Court Task Force
Sandra Salgado
Mental Health Court Task Force Chairperson

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All of the photos can be enlarged by clicking on them. The one on top was at the beginning of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's re-election announcement. You can see McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler at the podium and Bianchi to his right, if you click on the photo. The location is the main courtroom in the Old McHenry County Courthouse on the Woodstock Square. It is where I was sworn in as McHenry County Treasurer during the first week of December, 1966. The smiling photograph of Judge Charles Weech was taken at the wedding of Mackenzie Walter to Carlos Garcia on a very, very snowy night. On the bottom is a photograph of McHenry County Board member Sandra Salgado. I've also put in pictures of the Old McHenry County Courthouse, the one I served in, plus the new one.

Labels: 22nd Judicial Circuit, Charles Weech, Family Services, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Mental Health Task Force, McHenry County State's Attorney, Pioneer Center, Sandra Salgado

A press release has been received from the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee promising candidates will be slated for the offices of

• McHenry County State's Attorney,
• McHenry County Auditor and
• McHenry County Board in District 2. (See
  “Dems Ought to Be Gearing Up in McHenry County Board District 2,”written before the press release below was received.)

The Democrats apparently are willing to give State Senator Pam Althoff a free ride just as it appears that Republicans are willing to give State Rep. Jack Franks one.

Democrats are emboldened because they received more primary votes in McHenry County than did Republicans. This has not happened since the GOP party was formed in the mid-1800's.

If the Democratic Party runs a challenger against McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi, who faced a contentious challenge from Dan Regna which he won with almost 57%% of the vote, the Democrats may be doing McHenry County Republicans a favor.

I have speculated that the candidate might be McHenry County court attorney Tom Cynor, the former chairman of party Democrats. Presumably the new father would have to find another source of income.

If he has an opponent it will force Bianchi, who already has the largest grass roots organization in the county, to do even more.

Bianchi might well join forces with Steven Greenberg, who is challenging 8th congressional district Congresswoman Melissa Bean, and 16th district Congressman Don Manzullo, who is being challenged by Barrington Hills Village President Robert Abboud.

That might result in fall precinct activity for the first time in a very, very long time.

The press release follows:

McHENRY COUNTY DEMS MEET TO CAUCUS CANDIDATES

Crystal Lake—When the McHenry County Democratic Central Committee meets on Wednesday, March 19 at the McHenry County Farm Bureau Building, 1102 McConnell Road, Woodstock at 7 p.m. the main order of business will be voting to caucus candidates on to the November general election ballot.

The party’s Executive Board interviewed candidates for a number of offices at its March 12 meeting. The board voted unanimously to make recommendations to the Central Committee for the offices of State’s Attorney and Auditor. It also unanimously recommended two candidates for County Board to the Precinct Representatives of District 2, who will caucus at the meeting.

The names of candidates will be presented at the meeting and each candidate will have an opportunity to speak.

“We are presenting to the Party highly qualified candidates who will give voters a real alternative on November 4th,” said County Chair Kathleen Bergan Schmidt. “This election is going to be about change, and nothing needs changing more than the culture of insider business as usual offered by the Republicans in McHenry County.”

If the nominations are approved, as expected, on Wednesday, McHenry County voters will be presented with Democratic candidates in the 8th and 16th Congressional Districts; the 26th State Senate District; the 52nd, 63rd, and 64th General Assembly Districts; for State’s Attorney, Auditor, and Coroner; and at least one candidate in each of the six County Board districts.

“The days of voters not having a Democratic Party choice in McHenry County are over,” Bergan Schmidt declared.

= = = = =
Of the head shots, on the upper left is State Rep. Jack Franks, on the upper right, State Senator Pam Althoff, on the lower left, 8th congressional challenger Steve Greenberg, on the lower right, McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

Labels: District 2, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Board, McHenry County Democrats, Tom Cynor

But, having won 55% of the primary vote in the primarily Crystal Lake-Lake in the Hills district, you can bet some are thinking about wanting to be slated by the McHenry County Republican Central Committee.

Of the 35 precincts (I'm assuming no new ones have been added from two years ago), only six had Republican majorities.

Democratic Party primary voters out numbered Republicans by 953.

5,018 to 4,065.


No Democrat filed for McHenry County Board in District 2.

After doing well in 2006, retired teacher, union president, former and future Lake in the Hills Trustee Ron Sloan told folk to save his yard signs. And, you can bet he will not be going into such a campaign with his eyes shut, as they are in this, the only picture I could find of him on the internet.

He certainly has time to knock on doors, which seems to be the way to win elections in McHenry County. District 2 is almost entirely walkable subdivisions.

Lake in the Hills Village President Ed Plaza picked former village trustee Ron Sloan to replace Jim Kennedy when he took Republican Perry Moy's place on the county board.

In one precinct, Algonquin 59, where the Republican precinct committeeman turns out to be Plaza, the Democrats won by 111 votes. The tally in Alg. 59 was 162-124. (The next highest was Alg. 35 with an 88 vote margin. The County Year Book says it has neither GOP nor Dem precinct committeeman.)

Perhaps that is a reflection of Plaza's having served as a Democratic Party precinct committeeman in times past, 1999-2000, to be specific.

I thought maybe someone worked really hard for one of the Democratic Party presidential candidates, but, when I looked, the results pretty well mirrored the county totals of 62% of Barack Obama and 36% for Hillary Clinton. Obama's total in Algonquin 59 was 65%, rounded up.

I remember how surprised I was to meet his Plaza's wife at the Lincoln Day Dinner in 2000, right before the primary election I lost. I think my comment after figuring out who she was was, “

I thought your husband was a Democratic Party precinct committeeman.”

Plaza's precinct was also one of the few locally who support Dan Regna's challenge to McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

Labels: Dan Regna, District 2, District Two, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Board

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi has sent a press release reporting college of back child support from a California guy who owed more than $25,000.

Bianchi reports that his office is after 225 deadbeat parents.

From the work that Pete Castillo did in my legislative office, I can tell you that prying money out of someone living in another state is a real accomplishment.

Here's the press release:

DEAD BEAT DAD HOOKED BY BIANCHI

The McHenry County State’s Attorney, Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that his office’s Child Support Enforcement Unit was recently able to collect child support arrearages in excess of $25,000 from an individual who had failed to pay any child support for three children in over three years.

This father had moved to California and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office pursued the Defendant on behalf of the victim and was subsequently able to successfully collect these arrearages on the mother and her children’s behalf. Continued compliance will be monitored by the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Failure to provide support for a minor child can be charged as a Class A misdemeanor or Class 4 felony depending upon the facts meeting certain statutory requirements.

The State’s Attorney’s Office is currently pursuing approximately 255 parents to require them to fulfill their child support obligations.

Labels: Child Support, Child Support Enforcement, Deadbeat Dad, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Pete Castillo

The following press release has been received from McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi:

Louis A. Bianchi is pleased to announce that in the past week the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office successfully obtained guilty verdicts against three individuals for the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol including one defendant who was charged with a felony offense of DUI.

All three cases were tried by different prosecutors before separate juries who ultimately found each of the defendants guilty.

One of these prosecutions was successful, in part, due to the assistance of the general public involving themselves by a witness reporting to the police the observation of erratic driving. The police responded and ultimately made the arrest.

The assistance of the public in cases like this is vital to law enforcement efforts to combat this crime and it is vital to helping us keep our roads safe from the tragedies that occur all too often when someone chooses to drink and drive.

Labels: Drunk Driver, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi has hired a new assistant.

He is Michael Combs and now serves as top deputy in the office of Bianchi's Ogle County's counterpart.

Here is the press release Bianchi sent out:

Louis A. Bianchi, the State’s Attorney for McHenry County, is pleased to announce that Attorney Michael Combs, the First Assistant to the Ogle County State’s Attorney, will join the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office on March 10, 2008 as a prosecutor handling narcotics and special prosecution cases.

Combs is a 1999 Cum Laude graduate of New York Law School, is certified by the Illinois Supreme Court to try capital cases as lead counsel, and is a Trial Advocacy instructor of prosecutors statewide.

Combs was previously a prosecutor in the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office where he handled murder, reckless homicide, gang, and drug cases. He has successfully prosecuted four first degree murder cases and 75 jury trials throughout his career.

Labels: Lou Bianchi, McHenry County St;ate's Attorney, Michael Combs, Ogle County

In this final of five installments, Democratic Party coroner candidate and cancer survivor Dave Bachmann tells about how he will emphasize cancer awareness education in his campaign.

However as life goes, at times, we get caught up in the day to day things..especially in Politics.

Without making any political statements because I have never personally met Mr. Louis Bianchi, but I need to say this, please.

I watched Mr. Bianchi keep his class and dignity about himself while under political fire these past months.

I was so touched by this "reminder" of how I need to keep perspective in my own race, I sent him a note of thanks for being that "feather" in my life at the right time. We are usually touched by "feathers" as reminders to take a good look at ourselves, BEFORE, the "Hammer" hits us!

I was somehow "touched" to dedicate my campaign and share my very personal story, which I have never revealed in such depth in public.

I now know why I am still alive.

In just one short week of adding my Breast and Cervical Cancer awareness campaign to my blog, I am again, finding a Miracle of love and hope from people I have never met before, nationwide!

What a blessing this journey has been for me and continues to be. I hope I'm flooded with letters from all over the world that I can share, and hold close to my heart.

I lost my mother to breast cancer October 16, 2006.

My sister Paula Muntzenberger just had a double mastectomy, my cousin from McHenry, Mary Beth Ong, fought her fight with Breast Cancer in the past couple of years, she is in her 40's and is doing well.

I just found out this last week, that my cousin's wife from Wheaten, just had a mastectomy from breast cancer at age 39.

My greatest hope is that everybody reading my story, becomes a "hypochondriac" for a day, and gets tested. It just might be the day you can say saved your life!

God Bless and thank you for sharing your stories with me.

Please visit my blog page for important links and information.

David J. Bachmann
www.bachreview.blogspot.com

I am attaching Courtney Lercara's web site Pink Wings for all to see.

Previous stories can be found below:

Part 1 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Part 2 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Part 3 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Part 4 - Democrat Coroner Candidate and Cancer Survivor Dave Bachmann Bases Campaign on Cancer Awareness

Labels: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Dave Bachmann, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Coroner

When a newspaper employee writes political columns and plays a role in candidate endorsement interview sessions, should that be made public?

That's a pertinent question, it seems to me.

McHenry County residents have seen how Daily Herald columnist Amy Mack's column about McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi's office expenditures became the centerpiece of challenger Dan Regna's campaign.

But, not appearing on the reprint sent out anonymously by McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman Bill LeFew was the fact that columnist Mack not only wrote it, but also took part in the State's Attorney’s candidate interview session leading to Regna's endorsement by the paper.

Since the election, Mack has mentioned McHenry County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Thomas Cynor in two consecutive columns.

First, on February 8th, three days after the election, she spotlighted the birth of a Cynor baby girl in the early morning hours the day after election. There is even a picture of the baby on the top of the web site edition of her column.

And, Cyrnor's comments on naming the child under her February 8th column are referred to on February 10th.

Maybe Thursday's column was just a cute connection between the birth of a child of the party chairman and the first time McHenry County Democrats achieved a majority of the primary votes.

But, in view of Democrat honcho Cynor's conversations with McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Bill LeFew about being the Democratic Party candidate against primary victor Bianchi, could this be part of a candidate name identification build up?

Included is the Thursday column is this paragraph:

”At the same time, I wouldn't be gloating over the numbers if I didn't have a challenger on this ballot. It'll be a very different contest in November. In fact, those voters who stayed home this time just might want to consider joining the fun.”

It just so happens that Bianchi does not have a Democratic Party candidate on the ballot.

Yet.

No connection, right?

Labels: Amy Mack, Bill LeFew, Daily Herald, Dan Regna, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Democratic Central Committee, McHenry County Republican Central Commit;tee, McHenry County State's Attorney, Thomas Cynor

You may have wondered why McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman Bill LeFew is so angry at McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

So do I, but today let's explore the depth of LeFew's angry.

How angry is he?

Eventual unsuccessful (57%-43%) challenger Dan Regna was at least his third choice.

Now, a friend of McHenry Blog has confirmed sightings of Republican Party Chairman Bill LeFew and Democratic Party Chairman Tom Cynor yukking it up like old buddies on multiple occasions and recently! (See yesterday's "Message of the Day.")

Does this remind anyone of the Northwest Herald's story about LeFew saying State Rep. Jack Franks had approached him concerning the Democrats not running a candidate against State Rep. Mike Tryon, if Franks did not have an opponent?

Franks denied the contact. (I can't find the story on the Northwest Herald. If anyone can find it, I'll be happy to link to it.)

Franks faced an opponent that year, but, note well, he does not this year and did not two years ago.

And, Tryon didn't have one two years ago, but has a challenger this year.

If it was a "quid pro quo," the "quo" is missing.

For those of you who did not take Latin, the phrase means, "this for that."

But, then again, Tryon backed Bianchi.

Rumor has it that Democrat Cynor applied for, but was denied a position with current States Attorney Bianchi.

Sources also tell me that Regna approached the Democratic Party for support prior for his run against Bianch.

Regna was rejected by the Democratic Party.

With no one running on the Democratic ticket for state's attorney, some have speculated that Chairman Cynor might try to engineer the nomination for himself.

Consider this paragraph from Daily Herald reporter Chuck Keeshan's last Thursday article:

”When Democratic leaders choose a state's attorney candidate next month, party Chairman Thomas Cynor said Wednesday, that person will step into a situation even better than Franks saw in 1998.

"'I think the circumstances are even more favorable than when Jack ran, but it all comes down to the quality of the candidate,' Cynor said. 'We've received a lot of interest from potential candidates.'"

I'm not aware that Cynor has a background as a prosecutor, pretty much a requirement to keep Bianchi from arguing a lack of experience on the part of a Democratic Party challenger.

But he might not be talking about himself.

Cynor now works for McHenry County judges. All of the elected judges ran as Republicans.

Surely there are assistant Cook County State's Attorneys living in McHenry County. I know there was at least one public defender living in McHenry from my dealing with the rape in prison issue.

With Regna and LeFew being so cozy, would a State's Attorney Cynor appoint Regna his chief assistant?

This would continue the LeFew war against Bianchi...using the same game piece.

And, assuming Bianchi rejected an application for employment from Cynor, the Democratic Party Chairman might extract retribution as well.

If Cynor managed to beat Bianchi, what would happen in 2012?

Would a chief assistant Regna run against his boss on the Republican ticket?

Regna did announce in the Northwest Herald that he was running in 2012, didn't he?

And he is still running thank you ads.

There are some new Democratic Party candidates who would be outraged by this double-dealing scenario.

Not to mention Republicans.

But, Republicans interested in the health of the local GOP couldn't be much more disturbed at LeFew than they are now, could they?

Rather than risk their reputations, some Democratic candidates could well abandon their local Democratic Party candidacies in protest.

With Republican Party coroner Marlene Lantz openly criticizing State's Attorney Bianchi after the primary, thereby offering evidence for what had only been rumors about her attitude toward him previously, my guess is that former Crystal Lake funeral director Dave Bachmann might be one of the candidates willing to drop off the ticket.

Bachmann polled more Democratic Party primary votes than Lantz received in the GOP primary.

First time I've seen that happen.

There are about three weeks for the Democrats to decided if they want to run any more candidates.

They are allowed to appoint them to the ballot.

No need to be on a primary ballot and have to answer early media questions.

With Jack Franks having benefited from the Republican Party split between the Establishment, who supported appointed State Rep. Mike Brown of Crystal Lake, and fourth time primary candidate Steve Verr of McCullom Lake, maybe the Dems have a chance of electing a state's attorney.

But it is doubtful they can find someone with as much energy as Franks or with the ability to take as much time off from work.

Most lawyers don't have families as well off as Herb Franks' family.

Would Democrats be able to put together the resources needed to beat an incumbent countrywide officeholder the way Jim Kennedy did for county board?

Multiply six times what Kennedy spent and then add a lot more to counter the grassroots organization Bianchi has.

Somehow I doubt the Democratic Party chairman has as much power as Al Jourdan did when he engineered the appointment of Mike Brown to replace Ann Hughes in the Illinois House.

Appointing oneself would surely make enemies.

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All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Labels: Bill LeFew, Dan Regna, Dave Bachmann, Herb Franks, Jack Franks, Jim Kennedy, Lou Bianchi, Marlene Lantz, McHenry County Coroner, McHenry County State's Attorney, Mike Tryon, Thomas Cynor

I read these incredible comments in Chuck Keeshan’s Daily Herald story Thursday about the Democrats carrying McHenry County:

“Coroner Marlene Lantz, an outspoken critic of the Bianchi administration, said she was skeptical of Bianchi's olive branch and accused him of passing up earlier opportunities to settle their differences.

"’I really don't know what to think of his public display,’ she said. ‘He's had his opportunity to reach out to me, but he blew me off.’”

What Lantz does not seem to understand is that Bianchi now has a tested and dedicated campaign organization.

And, while the Democrats may come up with an opponent, without oodles of money, that opponent cannot be competitive.

Lantz’ supporters are the same ones who supported Roger Naylor for county board in District 6. Naylor ran 1,200 votes behind first place finisher Randy Donley and 500 votes behind Ersel Schuster, who finished second.

In short, having apparently alienated Bianchi himself, Lantz has now allowed Bianchi’s supporters in the most independent area of the county to learn of their dislike for each other.

That is a sure way to lose votes.

My conclusion is that Lantz is the one who is more likely to need to reach out than Bianchi.

After all, she has a former Crystal Laker funeral director with his name still on the door running against her.

Now living in Hebron, Dave Bachmann is also the only Democrat on the countywide ballot.

At least so far.

I still think Lantz has the woman’s five-percentage point advantage, but she also has an aggressive opponent.

What happens if he spends all those long summer days knocking on doors like Jack Franks did?

If so, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lantz ask Bianchi to send out an endorsement mailing.

At least to Republicans.

The question is would Bianchi do it?

Labels: Ersel Schuster, Lou Bianchi, Marlene Lantz, Randy Donley, Roger Naylor

Unfortunately, McHenry County Blog had to get the press release second hand.

Next time, I hope the campaign will email it to me, so I don’t have to re-type it.

Bianchi reaches out to non- supporters

CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi said Wednesday that he will reach out to all McHenry County citizens, including those who didn’t support him Tuesday, in an effort to heal any wounds from a bruising campaign.

Bianchi won re-election convincingly Tuesday by 57-43 percent over Dan Regna.

“We will continue to be State’s Attorney for all the people, not just those who support me politically,” said Bianchi. “It’s time to put the acrimony behind us.”

Bianchi characterized his victory as a “mandate for straightforward leadership” and said he was anxious to fulfill his second term goals. He also thanked the citizens of McHenry County.

“I am humbled and honored to have the support of the people and will continue working hard to live up to the trust they are placing in me,” he said.

The press release was faxed a bit late—3:30ish AM--to get in one of the Heralds yesterday.

Labels: Dan Rega, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

A funny thing happened on the way to the general election.

More Democrats voted in the McHenry County primary elections than Republicans.

As McHenry County Blog pointed out Tuesday night, the Democratic Party presidential candidates got more votes than did the Republicans.

And, as one might expect, that was not the only race where this phenomenon occurred.

It happened in the only countywide office which McHenry County Democrats are contesting—the coroner’s office.

With all the absentee and early votes folded in, Democrat Dave Bachmann is shown getting 25,944.

Republican Marlene Lantz got 24,941.

Lantz, you may have noticed, burned a lot of bridges with victorious McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi by vigorously supporting Dan Regna’s challenge.

A press release from the McHenry County Democratic Party added,

"Lantz also lagged behind her unopposed ticket mates. Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Keefe pulled 25,060 votes and Recorder of Deeds Phyllis Walters won 25,257.

"The results came on a night when Democrats topped the GOP across the board [this is not quite correct, as can be seen here] in the traditionally heavily Republican county.

"In a statement released to the press Bachmann said,

'I don't believe for one moment, last evenings results are as result of a just because! Dem Ballots were pulled for a reason—a yearning for change. A voter who pulled a Democratic ballot, did not have to vote for'

"Bachmann, himself a cancer survivor, pledged to dedicate his campaign to breast awareness awareness.

'I lost my mother last year to breast cancer, my sister Paula is a survivor, as is my cousin MaryBeth Ong of McHenry. I plan to dedicate my 30 years experience as a death care provider, internationally, to raising awareness in McHenry County this fall. Pink will be the color of the Bachmann campaign. It depicts hope, strength and promise for the future.'”

Labels: Dan Regna, Dave Bachmann, Lou Bianchi, Marlene Lantz, McHenry County Coroner, McHenry County State's Attorney

Live voting from two Crystal Lake precincts indicate a blowout for incumbent McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi in his bitter Republican primary fight with Dan Regna.

Based on the two precincts that vote at Crystal Lake’s Main Beach House, Bianchi is running away with the race.

In Algonquin 7, Bianchi leads 61-23, while in Algonquin 19 the tally is 78-15.

139-38.

So, Bianchi got over 78% of the vote.

In the three precincts reporting, undoubtedly located near the government center, Bianchi was tallying 62%

One must remember that this does not count the early voting or the absentee voting.

And, Crystal Lake is Bianchi’s hometown.

But, Regna does practice law here and his people worked my precinct, Algonquin 7, on Saturday with an endorsement letter from Sheriff Keith Nygren.

If the totals hold up, Nygren’s power will certainly be diminished.

Despite his $150,000 war chest, he will not have the influence he had before backing Bianchi's challenger.

I left the precinct at 7:30, the earliest in my forty-some years of experience.

= = = = =
The picture of Lou Bianchi with one figure up (emphasizing the first point of his platform) was taken at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee meeting on January 28th

Labels: Algonquin 19, Algonquin 7, Dan Rega, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

I received my second call on behalf of the Lou Bianchi for State’s Attorney campaign yesterday.

The first was from Carolyn Cox, the woman whose husband bludgeoned her and left her to die in a garage filling with exhaust fumes.

Yesterday’s was from Lou himself.

It was OK.

It’s always nice to hear from the candidate himself.

But the call from Cox was more effective, I think.

"I've worked hard," Bianchi said.

"We've gone after (crime), bringing in experienced prosecutors...stepped up support for victims..."

As you can see, I only got snatches of his message.

I guess the $15,000 that Dan Regna reported receiving in the middle of last week must have gone to pay for the letter from Sheriff Keith Nygren.

I wonder if that means that Nygren's polling indicated that he had coat tails or whether he was just in so deeply he figured he had nothing to lose.

He'll be right, if his candidate wins.

If not, well...at minimum he will lose face.

And, remember, power is a matter of perception.

If others perceive you have power, then you have it.

= = = = =
The pictures of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi and challenger Dan Regna were taken at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee's candidates' night on January 28th. The photo of Sheriff Keith Nygren was taken while standing in line to gain entrance to the inauguration ceremonies of the 22nd Judicial District in early December, 2006.i

Labels: Carolyn Cox, Keith Nygren, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Phone Call

Despite the fact that Democrats “won” the early balloting, getting over 52% of those voting to cast Democratic Party ballots, in visible signs they are way behind.

There is a contested primary contest for president in Illinois, yet I have only seen two signs

Both were in the same yard on McHenry Avenue in Crystal Lake.

Both were for Barack Obama.

On Ackman and Miller Roads in Lake in the Hills on developers’ property I saw signs supporting Robert Abboud for Congress.

Abboud is unchallenged in the primary and will fact 16th district Congressman Don Manzullo.

Undoubtedly there are so few signs because there are no countywide primary elections for the Democrats.

The Republicans have two:

• Lou Bianchi versus Dan Regna for state’s attorney
• Pam Palmer versus Richard Kelly for county auditor

Labels: Barack Obama, Dan Regna, Lou Bianchi, Pam Palmer, Richard Kelly Jr.

I don’t know where Carolyn Cox lives, but I do know that I received a recorded telephone call from her Thursday containing the same supportive message of McHenry County State’s Attorney as was found on a direct mail piece I received late last week.

Her sign supporting Lou Bianchi has been ripped off its backing right in front of her home.

Strangely, a small yard sign for Richard Kelly for McHenry County Auditor remains standing. (Click to enlarge. It is close to the mailbox,)

Pictures have been sent to me of what replaced the Bianchi sign by the Cox driveway.

Its hand lettered message says,


Do you think some supporter of Dan Regna, Bianchi’s opponent, was so disturbed at the Cox support for Bianchi that he or they wanted to deliver a not-so-subliminal message of “We know where you live?”

If so, I hope she has a couple of junk yard dogs roaming around her home.

Well, there may be more signs taken down the night before the election.

That was the threat made, wasn’t it, when property owners took down Regna signs next to Bianchi signs for which Regna supporters did not have posting permission?

And some of us know who made the threat.

Monday night I assume that Sheriff Keith Nygren,

who send an endorsement letter for Regna in the mail last week and another door-to-door in my Algonquin 7 precinct Saturday,

will make certain his patrols are on the lookout for the type of people who might try to violate the Freedom of Speech rights of people to post signs of political support on their own property.

I left the Regna literature at the doors where I found it, by the way. A couple of people said they had no desire to look at it, however, just as I am sure that some homeowners would not want to look at my precinct letter, entitled,



= = = = =
My friend Jim Bishop stopped over to chat about the state's attorney's race when he saw me and my wife out shoveling the driveway. He is a supporter of Regna and gave me his best arguments.

I asked him about the Regna sign that was there and then not. He told me its support posts had been bent over to the ground.

Guess there are unethical folks playing sign games on both sides of the contest.

Labels: Carolyn Cox, Dan Regna, Keith Nygren, Lou Bianchi, Richard Kelly Jr.

Make no mistake.

The Republican Party primary for state’s attorney is a bitter fight.

And I haven't even seen Dan Regna's last $15,000 mailing.

It may end up like the GOP primary fight between Mike Brown and Steve Verr.

That year Brown, who was appointed to the post after State Rep. Ann Hughes (R-Woodstock) resigned, ran against McCullom Lake’s Verr.

It was Verr’s fourth attempt to win the Republican nomination.

Verr lost the bitterly contested fight.

And, Jack Franks won the House seat.

He is so entrenched now that Bill LeFew’s feeble party is not even fielding a challenger.

So, regardless of who wins the nod for McHenry County State’s Attorney, will the loser walk?

And give provide enough votes for a Democratic Party candidate for state’s attorney?

There are some indications that might be the case.

If you want to hear more talk, come to Governors Pub on Randall Road in Lake in the Hills after the polls close and open your ears.

You might even hear the name of the potential optimistic challenger or meet him…or her.

Labels: Ann Hughes, Dan Regna, Jack Franks, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney, Mike Brown, Steve Verr

It doesn’t match the $15,000 last minute contribution that challenger Dan Regna reported yesterday, but McHenry County State’s Attorney reported receiving a $1,000 donation yesterday.

It comes from Marengo resident Charles Ranzino. He lives on Grant Highway.

Labels: Charles Ranzino, Dan Regna, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

Remember Carolyn Cox.

She was the woman about my age who was battered by her husband, the honcho at Exacto on Route 31 between Ringwood and Richmond.

She was left to die in a garage filling up with exhaust fumes.

The case is turning out to be an important piece of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s re-election campaign.

About noon I got a recorded call from Cox, a woman of my generation.

I saw it was from an 800 number and almost hung up, thinking it was a sales or donation solicitation.

She introduced herself and outlined what happened.

I jotted down snatches of what she said:

"…left for dead…My family is safe again….Crime victims need a State’s Attorney who will fight for them all the way…”

There was a pitch for Bianchi, but I didn’t get the exact words.

This is obviously a multi-media campaign.

I have seen an 8½ by 11-inch piece that has a big picture of Cox and Bianchi.

I found it.

As I read it, it sounds exactly like what she said on the phone:

”My name is Carolyn Cox and I was the victim of a horrendous crime.

"I was bludgeoned by my husband, locked in our garage with running cars and left for dead.

"I survived and my husband was successfully prosecuted thanks to Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney.

"Lou Bianchi is the first State’s Attorney to treat my case with the attention it deserved.

"Until Lou was voted into office, I was never convinced that the prior administration was truly working on my behalf.

"Lou Bianchi and his administration convicted my husband and sought the maximum 60 years in prison.

"Crime victims deserve a State’s Attorney who will fight for them every step of the way.

"Lou Bianchi is that man.

"Justice and safety for crime victims is essential!

"I encourage you to vote for LOU BIANCHI, McHenry County State’s Attorney on February 5, 2008."

But, the case is more significant that Cox’ message or Bianchi’s literature indicates.

B.J. Cox had to be re-indicted because Dan Regna apparently erred in preparing the first indictment.

That’s what an attorney in the state’s attorney’s office said.

The Regna version didn’t allege that BJ Cox’ actions were done with “intent to kill.”

Without those words in the indictment, the lawyer pointed out, the charge of attempted murder would not have stuck.

Cox had a good defense attorney, Mark Gummerson. Gummerson is one of Regna’s staunch backers.

Without Bianchi’s re-indictment, the defense lawyer would have let the statute of limitations run out and, then, moved for dismissal of that charge, my source says.

That would have left only a charge of aggravated domestic battery, a charge with a much lower maximum sentence.

Regna left something else out, the lawyer pointed out.

That first indictment did not include Mrs. Cox’ age.

Illinois law says that when you try to kill someone over 60, the penalty is higher.

I’m not sure what makes a life of someone my age more important than one of someone younger, but that’s the law.

Probably because older folks tend to vote in much higher numbers that young folks and the bill’s passage gave members of the General Assembly a chance to pander to those over 60 in their next campaign brochures.

In any event, the maximum sentence for Cox would have been 30 years using Regna’s words. By including her age, which was over 60, Bianchi was able to ask for a 60-year sentence, rather than a maximum of 30 years.

Even so, the judge sentenced BJ Cox to 20 years in prison.

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The picture of Lou Bianchi talking was taken at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee's candidates' night last Tuesday.

Labels: B.J. Cox, Carolyn Cox, Dan Regna, Exacto, Lou Bianchi

Arriving in the mailbox of a precinct committee I know was a January 28th letter from Grafton Township Precinct 20 Committeeman Glenn C. Schmeltzer. His precinct votes at Chesak Elementary School, along with Grafton 12 and 19.

This is the second committeeman to share his dissatisfaction with McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman Bill LeFew.

The first was veteran volunteer Bernie Narusus. He called LeFew "a spineless coward" for trying to hide that his political attack on McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

Here’s what relative newcomer Schmeltzer wrote to his fellow committeemen/committeewomen:

The McHenry County Party is at an obvious crossroads. The antics of Bill LeFew have been front page news for the past several weeks, causing political pundits, neutral observers, and certainly local Democrats to laugh at the infighting and backstabbing within the Republican Party.

The McHenry County Republican Party has been called a “good ol’ boys network,” wherein success within the party is based exclusively on who you know. For years,

When Lou Bianchi ran for State’s Attorney he was backed by Bill LeFew and local party leaders who thought they could control him.

Somewhere during Bianchi’s term, LeFew came to realize that Bianchi’s campaign promises were just that—promises he intended to keep.

When Bianchi held firm to his promise to be tougher on crime, local defense attorneys complained to LeFew.

Largely for that reason, LeFew has orchestrated a smear campaign against Bianchi.

In my opinion, LeFew engineered a complaint to the Attorney General against Bianchi and publicized it before it was even filed, hoping that Bianchi would face this election with an open investigation pending.

His plan backfired when the Attorney General’s Office (run by a Democrat, by the way) announced that the complaint was so spurious that it did not even warrant an investigation.

LeFew then sent an anonymous mailer to 900 households attacking State’s Attorney Bianchi. His plan backfired when his identity as the mailer was revealed by the Daily Herald newspaper.

Thankfully, LeFew will no longer be our Party Chairman; however, that does not mean that his influence is gone.

He has handpicked a candidate to run against Bianchi that he can control, throwing the full weight of his political machine (Union 150, a group of local Democrats) into the race, with an entirely negative campaign.

Given who is backing Bianchi’s opponent, it is perfectly clear that this race is shaping up into a choice between the old guard and the new.

Those

• who want to see the Republican Party move forward,
• who are more concerned about political ideals than political power, and
• who want an independent State’s Attorney beholden to no one,

should vote for Lou Bianchi.

You as precinct committeemen will have to choose the direction of the party.

It’s time to back a “statesman” not just another political good ol’ boy. It’s time to move forward before the democrats move in. It’s time to back Lou Bianchi.

That’s the end of the letter, but there is a P.S.:

A meeting of committeemen and committeewomen has been called several times and has not been rescheduled because “so many committeemen and committeewomen could not make it.” This seems very strange to me. I, for one, would like to see a show of hands whenever the meeting does happen, to see just how many could not make the meetings.

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The picture of McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Bill LeFew was taken December 6, 2006, the day of the big luncheon party at the courthouse after newly elected judges were sworn in. This is the one which was paid from funds intended for court automation. (No article about that in the Daily Herald for LeFew to mail out.)

McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi was one among many candidates who spoke at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee candidates' night on Tuesday night at the Cary Country Club. That's where I took this picture.

His opponent, Dan Regna, spoke, too. That's where I took this picture of him, too.

Labels: Bernard Narusis, Bill LeFew, Glenn Schmeltzer, Grafton 20, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County State's Attorney

In an editorial entitled,


the Chicago Tribune takes more than half the editorial to endorse McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi for re-election.

State's Attorney: Incumbent Republican Louis Bianchi and challenger Daniel Regna have been trading barbs in a race that has split the county Republican establishment. Bianchi has taken some heat since the county auditor questioned several hundred dollars his office spent for candy to pass out to children, along with anti-drug literature, at a parade. That wasn't a smart move by Bianchi; he should send the next candy bill to his campaign fund. But the Illinois attorney general's office found no basis for a criminal investigation.

So let's talk about qualifications: Bianchi of Crystal Lake has a solid record of achievement in the office. One highlight: He helped establish a mental health court that provides help for mentally ill defendants under strict court supervision. He has developed a reputation for being a tough prosecutor and for perturbing some local defense attorneys by insisting on taking cases to trial rather than accept a plea. He has done an effective job of managing the office and working with the County Board.

Regna of Woodstock is a capable challenger. He left the state's attorney's office in 2004 after nearly 10 years there and served in almost every position in the criminal division. He has the endorsement of several Republican Party leaders in the county, as well as Sheriff Keith Nygren and several of the larger police unions. He had a close working relationship with many of the rank-and-file police officers during his stint in the state's attorney's office. But this spat seems to be more about politics than law enforcement. Bianchi is endorsed.

The editorial also endorses Pam Palmer for re-election as County Auditor, asking,


Here's what was said:

Auditor: Why can't McHenry County Republicans all just get along? Who knows, but because of the infighting you have a heated primary for, all of things, county auditor. The Republican incumbent, Pamela Palmer, took over in 2006 when auditor Ruth Rooney retired in midterm. Palmer has strengthened the internal auditing staff and pushed a fraud, waste and abuse hot line. She's doing more departmental auditing than earlier administrations did. And she has a solid working relationship with the County Board. Palmer of Union also is working to develop more easily understood county financial information to be released to the public.

Her opponent, Richard Kelly of Crystal Lake, is an accomplished lawyer who has served on the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals since 1994 and as chairman since 1997. But he doesn't make a case against Palmer. Her experience -- serving in the auditor's office since 1998 -- gives her the edge. She is endorsed.

Labels: Chicago Tribune, Dan Regna, Lou Bianchi, McHenry County Auditor, McHenry County State's Attorney, Pam Palmer, Richard Kelly Jr.

Folks are being called by Opinion Factor out of Rhode Island.

Thy’re being asked questions that lead me to believe that McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren wants to know the length of his coattails.

They begin with just a name.

They do not mention what position the people have or office they are running for.

They say:

"Lou Bianchi. Do you recognize the name?”

If you