Saturday, February 02, 2008

Saturday mailer fest - Kane County Board: Karen McConnaughay


16 comments:

Anonymous,  2:45 PM  

Why don't you ask this politician how she and her buddies manuevered an endorsement from the NRA without interviewing THREE candidates that are MEMBERS OF THE NRA.

This "politician" has no scruples. Is is because the lobbyist for the union that gave her $12,000 and the NRA lobbyist are one and the same?

This is fraud but nothing new to these folks.

Anonymous,  2:48 PM  

Is that our absentee congressmen costing us a million dollars in a photo with her?

Just wondering.

Anonymous,  2:52 PM  

For the record and accuracy.

Terry Hunt, Drew Frasz and Jim MacRunnels are all members of the NRA.

They will be letting all their fellow members and gun owners know about the lack of respect shown them in this process.

Perhaps one of the people in the photo in the mailing above can answer why he intervened in the endorsement process involving candidates that are not NRA members
by placing an out of state call to Virginia?

Anonymous,  4:00 PM  

Is this the congressman that Crain's Business just reported as being nominated to a board of directors seat possibly worth over $400,000 while his constituents have no representation in Washington D.C?

Anonymous,  4:17 PM  

Is this the county board chairwoman who will hand McRunnels a crushing defeat on Tuesday?

Anonymous,  4:32 PM  

A few of the politician "endorsers" are those that now have county appointed paid positions.

Not surprising.

Anonymous,  4:34 PM  

A crushing defeat that cost her over $100,000 plus a couple new possible promises?

Another $250,000 last election?

For such a popular politician she sure has to spend a lot of $$$.

But of course we taxpayers know she is really good at that.

Anonymous,  4:38 PM  

Might not be "crushing" after all.

What would the good ole boys define as "crushing?"

Those that are telling her they are voting for her already did not.

Check out most of the county employees Madam Chairman. If you could do a vote count out of the government center you would be SHOCKED.

Anonymous,  7:28 PM  

Kane Co. has strong leadership
Beacon News Endorsement

January 24, 2008

It's rare for a newspaper to offer a ringing endorsement of any political candidate. It's in our nature and mission to be a watchdog of government and look at its operation with critical eyes.

But that's what we must give to incumbent Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay.

In less than four years, McConnaughay has transformed Kane County government and kept her campaign promise to prepare the county for inevitable growth. As a Republican, she been true to the tenets of her party by holding the line on the tax rate while producing real results in the essential elements of government: infrastructure, jail facilities and services.

She and the County Board have actually been able to lower the tax rate. How many other units of government can say the same? The board has done so with innovating thinking, smart reorganization and by finding new sources of revenue from the state and federal government.

Perhaps McConnaughay's greatest achievements are those you don't see on a balance sheet. She has quietly been able to build consensus among leaders of municipal government and other counties to achieve common goals.

If the state of Illinois were run half as well as Kane County, we would not see the gridlock and frustration we have had to put up with in Springfield.

McConnaughay's opponent in the GOP primary, Jim MacRunnels, has pointed to increases in county spending, particularly in the category of consultant fees. But again, the county's tax rate has not gone up, and a look at the results most often points to money well spent.

MacRunnels and others, including the citizens group STOP, say the new jail facility will be at capacity as soon as it is built. But we have to point out that no previous administration had been able to make a new jail facility happen -- in spite of critical need for almost two decades. The new facility is designed to allow future additions, as it should, and it is fiscally responsible for the county not to overbuild.

MacRunnels is a good man who cares about keeping taxes in check, but he offers few solutions and has no track record or experience in elected office.

Anonymous,  7:32 PM  

County board chairman: McConnaughay

For Kane County Board chairman, incumbent Karen McConnaughay is facing a primary challenge from Jim MacRunnels.

We are endorsing McConnaughay.

Since becoming board chairman in 2004, McConnaughay has provided strong, tough leadership.

Under McConnaughay’s stewardship, the $56 million county jail project has commenced, a $2.1 million animal control building was completed, and the County Board decided to spend $8.4 million to purchase the old Montgomery Ward building on Randall Road as a temporary home for the circuit clerk’s office.

The County Board also approved a road impact fee plan that should pay for road improvements for years to come.

Granted, there was criticism of some of the projects and decisions listed above.

For example, this newspaper was critical of the Montgomery Ward building purchase.

However, their is no denying that McConnaughay is a leader who gets things done. The county jail project and the animal control building are projects that were talked about for years. On her watch, they finally proceeded.

McConnaughay is not afraid to make decisions or to take the lead on controversial issues.

Also, despite facing growth and increased demands for new services, the County Board’s operational budget has been balanced.

The county property tax rate makes up only a tiny portion of the property tax bill of Kane County residents, and that portion actually has shrunk in the last 10 years.

Anonymous,  7:38 PM  

chicagotribune.com
Editorial: TRIBUNE ENDORSEMENTS
KANE COUNTY

County Board Chairman: An enthusiastic endorsement for Republican incumbent Karen McConnaughay of St. Charles. She gets credit for shaking up a go-along-to-get-along attitude and making some tough decisions. She has ruffled feathers in driving several crucial projects to completion, including a new county jail. She has pushed some significant road improvements, worked to build more bridge crossings and shepherded the county's first comprehensive strategic plan. That's extremely important for a county that has exceeded its population projections.

McConnaughay's opponent is James A. MacRunnels, a financial management adviser from Elburn.

Anonymous,  7:40 PM  

Karen McConnaughay is an easy choice over challenger Jim MacRunnels in the race for the GOP nomination for Kane County Board chairman. The winner will face Democratic challenger Sandy Kaczmarski in November.

Incumbent McConnaughay, of St. Charles, has had a firm hand on the helm of that rare government body these days that can actually tout sound accomplishment along with fiscal responsibility.

Under her leadership the county will open a new jail this year and move its sheriff's department into the same facility. It built an animal shelter, created a transportation plan and an impact fee to help fund it and moved forward on the Stearns Road and Bolz/Longmeadow Parkway bridge projects. The county is a leader in studying water supply issues and making it a regional topic of debate. And all was accomplished without any tax hike beyond a 2-cent-per-gallon gas tax increase, the revenue from which goes to help fund transportation projects county residents have said should be a priority.

MacRunnels, of Elburn, rightly is concerned about the county's growing dependence on consultants but he is far too quick to impugn the integrity of others without proper factual support. He also is more inclined to fault others than present fresh ideas of his own.

Given the accomplishments of this county board and McConnaughay's hands-on leadership of it, she gets our hearty endorsement.

Anonymous,  8:49 PM  

Kind of says that the $70,000 she spends of OUR money on press suck ups pays off.

That is what it says.

Too many people can see through this crap but we appreciate the consultants that are paid to suck up to her.

$300,000 spent to save her ***?

Priceless.

It's expensive to pay to play in Kane County and it will even get more expensive if voters are stupid enough to believe to re-elect these selfish taxers.

Anonymous,  8:51 PM  

5 Dogs in the 2,000,000.00 plus animal control center.

Priceless.

Another great use of our money.

She sure is a "can do" spender and is getting it done at our expense.

Anonymous,  5:37 AM  

Steve Lord of the Aurora Beacon News wrote an "last minute impossible to respond to" column yesterday where Karen Mc. was quoted and rebutted information gathered and given to the press from public record over five months ago. In that entire time Mr. Lord never contacted Mr. MacRunnels in regard to the facts contained in his mention of "pay to play."

For Mr. Lord's information pay to play has no legal definition but merely refers to actions taken after political contributions are given to either give a contract to a contributor or continue to use them after a contribution is given.

What is documented is that more than two local reporters have received employment after one sided biased articles have been written about county leadership and have moved on to far greener pastures.

Mr. Lord's future could POSSIBLY be a bright one.

Anonymous,  10:15 AM  

There are also 11 cats in the animal control center. The director makes over $90,000.

Those five dogs are sure living the life in the $2,000,000.00 shelter.

The only dog doing better than a Kane County Dog is Snoop Dog!!!

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