Terry Link Asks Help from McHenry County Democrats

by Cal Skinner

Wednesday night Lake County Democratic Party Chairman and State Senator Terry Link went courting McHenry County Democratic Party Chairman and McHenry County Board member Kathy Bergan Schmidt Wednesday night at the McHenry County Farm Bureau building.

Before the above photo, there was a slight bow as Link went up to where Schmidt was putting out goodies for the assembled committeemen and guests. It would have been a classic.

During the meeting Schmidt explained how Link had been helpful to McHenry County Democrats back to when John Bartman chaired the central committeeman.

"I'd like to welcome Cal Skinner.  I never thought I'd live long enough to do that," he said before saying,

"I can actually go back to John McClatchy."

Link explained that he had been Lake County's Democratic Central Committee Chairman for eighteen years.

"We took a very bright red county and made it light blue.  It took a lot of work.  I could not have done it by myself."

Referring to his candidacy for the Democratic Party nomination for lieutenant governor, he said,

"I'm not ready to retire."

He said he would use the position to advance issues across the state the way he had passed the Smoke Free Illinois bill.  He wants the office to advance economic as it does in Indiana.

Link said his re-write of the Workers Compensation law--the first time in 30 years--had pleased both labor and industry so much that both gave him awards for his role of facilitator.

He was extremely proud of getting the Early Voting law passed.  He pointed out that he "carried all election law" bills and had faced House Speaker Mike Madigan down over Early Voting.

"I stood heel to heel with (Madigan).  I told him I wouldn't sign off on (his bills if he wouldn't pass Early Voting)."

Making his pitch to his fellow suburban residents, Link observed,

"We have nobody on this ticket who had announced--and I'm saying 'announced'--who lives outside of Cook County, except me."

Guess Link was referring to the possibility of McHenry County's State Rep. Jack Franks running for governor or some other statewide office.

"I have the experience.  I come from business.  I know what it's like to run a business."

He also pointed out he knew what it was like to live in a rapidly growing county.

"I was born and raised in Lake County.  We have our problems.  We need to have that perspective (at the table).

"I'm asking for your support."

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The photos are of State Senator Terry Link.  In the bottom picture, he is talking to Spring Grove's Jeff Thirtyacre.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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McHenry County Board Sworn In

In these photos you can see Judge Michael J. Sullivan swearing in the eight McHenry County Board members who took office on Monday.

• Randy Donley (R-Union),
• Jim Heisler (R-Crystal Lake),
• John Hammerand (R-Wonder Lake),
  
• Virginia Peschke (R-Bull Valley),
• Bob Bless (R-Fox River Grove),
• Paula Yensen (D-Lake in the Hills),
  
• Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D-Crystal Lake),
• Mary Donner (R-Crystal Lake),
• Ersel Schuster (R-Woodstock),
• Scott Breeden (R-Lakewood),
• Sue Draffkorn (R-Wonder Lake) and Marc Muneratto (R-Algonquin).

In the bottom picture, you can see (if you click on the image) McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler to the right of Munaretto's head awaiting the election of board officers.

Here are the details about the discussion about the contested election before the vote, which resulted in two Crystal Lakers taking control.

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Bill Gentes Reacts to Loss with Humor

Here's the good-natured, after midnight reaction of Bill Gentes, who lost the 26th state senate district race to Dan Duffy:

Ouch!

As you may or may not heard, I lost the election last night quite soundly! I ended up with 39% of the vote, which was surprising however its nearly the exact same result as 4 years ago when this seat was last contested so maybe I should not be that surprised.

I was gratified to see that I carried the Round Lake area precincts quite handily with roughly 57% of the vote, so it does take away some of the sting, that the people who know me best, thought that much of me!

Over the months on this campaign I have met and befriended so many wonderful people who have supported me and been there for me when I needed it, that I am truly richer for the experience!

Thanks to all of you!

Bill

This was a major loss for the pro-abortion Personal PAC, against whom winner Dan Duffy promises legal action.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog, where you can read about the two new Democrats elected to the McHenry County Board, Paula Yensen and Kathy Bergan Schmidt.

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Dems Gather at Stage Left Cafe for Presidential Debate

While my family was playing Bugopoly at the kitchen table, McHenry County Democrats gathered last night in Woodstock's too appropriately named Stage Left Cafe to watch the last presidential debate. To learn more about what they did, you can read the party's press release below.

I wonder if they had “Energized Democrat” tee shirts the way the Republicans do.

ENERGIZED McHENRY COUNTY DEMS PACK WOODSTOCK RALLY

CRYSTAL LAKE—Local Democrats and Barack Obama supporters packed the Stage Left Café in Woodstock to capacity Wednesday evening for an old fashion political rally before The Presidential Debates.

Representative Jack Franks opened the evening with an acknowledgment that Obama had energized the electorate and helped transform the political landscape of McHenry County. He called on the audience to take that energy and apply it to candidates all down the ticket on the local level.

Robert Kaempfe, candidate for the General Assembly from the 64th District pledged to “lead by example” on issues like energy independence. Pointing to the incumbent state’s attorney’s billing of personal expenses to tax payers Auditor candidate Kerry Jullian and State’s Attorney candidate Thomas Cynor each attacked the culture of arrogance and entitlement of entrenched Republican leadership. They pledged fiscal responsibility, transparency and integrity in office.

Candidates for County Board paraded to the microphone to call for diversity of opinion on the Board. James McTague (D-1), Jill Mawhinney and Anita Harmon (D-2), Kathy Bergan Schmidt (D-3), Paula Yensen (D-5), and Bob Ludwig (D-6) hammered away on issues of accountability to tax payers, land use planning, groundwater preservation, and better government.

Meg Murray Bradshaw of Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for Obama called for volunteers to phone bank and travel to battleground states for Obama. Several attendees signed up for trips to Wisconsin.

16th Congressional District Candidate Robert Abboud arrived from a Rockford newspaper endorsement interview just in time to fire up the crowd with an impassioned call to arms. He said that the magnitude of the country’s problems in the face of the current economic emergency truly made this “the most critical election of our lifetimes.” Change, he said, must be secured from the “top of the ticket down t o the most local race.” Abboud told his cheering listeners to each find “at least 16 Republicans or uncommitted independents” and convince them to vote for that change.

A highlight of the rally was a special auction.

Noting the ugly turn of the campaign as John McCain’s fortunes have waned, Cynor, who has coordinated the Democratic Party’s yard sign operation, noted that many of the more than 500 Obama campaign signs placed in the county have been stolen or vandalized. In one case, signs were vandalized three times and the home of the sign host was broken into and defaced. One of those vandalized signs was framed and put up for auction “to show that we cannot be intimidated.” The spirited auction ran up the price to $2,000 and was won by Cynor himself. Proceeds will go to supporting local Democratic candidates.

The crowd stayed to watch the Presidential debate on a big screen TV. They cheered Obama when he landed telling points and hooted at McCain’s perceived misstatements and attacks on Obama.

Members of the crowd departed with unabashed enthusiasm taking with them buttons, bumper stickers, yard signs and a renewed commitment.

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Photos were provided by Patrick Murfin. At the top is State Rep. Jack Franks. Next is 64th District state rep. candidate Robert Kaempfe. Below the crowd seen is 16th District congressional candidate Robert Abboud and state's attorney candidate Tom Cynor.

Published first at McHenry County Blog, where you can find out what is happening in McHenry County and area legislative races, such as Ron Wait's, Mark Beaubien's, Mike Tryon's, the Bill Gentes-Dan Duffy state senate race, the Don Manzullo-Robert Abboud and the Melissa Bean-Steve Greenberg congressional races.

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