TUESDAY
Nov e mbe r 4, 2014 • $1 .0 0
GATORS SET TO PLAY HOST Crystal Lake South volleyball has home-court advantage as it begins sectional play / C1
HIGH
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THE ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN McHENRY COUNTY
Voters will decide key county and state races Tuesday – from Illinois governor and U.S. senator to who will lead the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and who will represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois General Assembly and on the McHenry County Board. – Northwest Herald
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ILLINOIS GOVERNOR
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How can I get results tonight? The Northwest Herald will be covering the election with live results at NWHerald.com/ election-central and updates throughout the evening online at NWHerald. com and on Twitter with the hashtag #NWHvote. Add your Election Day experiences, thoughts and comments to our live feed by tweeting with the hashtag #NWHvote. n
Do you need last-minute info before voting? Check NWHerald.com/ election-central for candidate questionnaires on all of the contested races. n
BRUCE RAUNER VS. PAT QUINN
How long are the polls open?
Gov. Pat Quinn and his Democratic Party have been leading a troubled state, but Quinn is facing a strong and well-funded challenge from Republican millionaire Bruce Rauner. Although Democrats are expected to maintain strong control of the legislature, voters in this race will have much to say about the future of Illinois. Neither candidate is likely to be able to fix all of Illinois’ problems, which have been years in the making. But spending from campaign contributors to this race is expected to surpass $100 million, which means many are betting the outcome matters a great deal.
Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you don’t know where your precinct is, McHenry County voters can find it at https:// mchenryil.connect. clarityelections.com/ precinctfinder.aspx. Kane County voters can find the same information at www.kanecounty elections.org/Voter Info/Search.aspx.
U.S. SENATOR
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What if I forgot to register?
BILL PRIM VS. JIM HARRISON For the first time in nearly two decades, McHenry County is getting a new sheriff. Sheriff Keith Nygren chose to retire and his handpicked successor, Undersheriff Andrew Zinke, was beaten narrowly in a primary by Cary resident Bill Prim, a retired Des Plaines police commander. Prim is facing Woodstock lawyer and former McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Harrison, who is running as an independent.
JIM OBERWEIS VS. DICK DURBIN Democrat Dick Durbin has been one of Illinois’ senators since 1997 – an election he won after defeating Pat Quinn in the primary. Durbin faces Republican Jim Oberweis, an Illinois state senator and owner of Oberweis Dairy, who sought a U.S. Senate seat twice before.
New this election, McHenry County voters who have not yet registered to vote can do so at three locations Tuesday: The McHenry County Government building, or at the municipal buildings in Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills or McHenry. Two forms of ID are required including one showing your current address.
Republicans aim to make inroads in Illinois By KERRY LESTER and JOHN O’CONNOR The Associated Press CHICAGO – Republicans are aiming to make serious inroads in Democratic-leaning Illinois on Tuesday, pinning their hopes on a bank-busting campaign for governor that features a multimillionaire first-time office-seeker, frustrations with the state’s stubborn financial crises and the typical falloff in voter turnout for a midterm election. Beyond businessman Bruce Rauner’s challenge to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, the GOP also is looking to retake several congressional seats it lost to Democrats in 2012 and hold off challenges to the two statewide constitutional offices it controls. The tipping of just one seat in the Illinois House would allow the party to wrest away a veto-proof Democratic supermajority in that chamber, a big help to Rauner
ing an increase in the minimum wage and painting Rauner as a ruthless profiteer who belongs to a $140,000 wine Gubernatorial candidates Pat Quinn and club. Bruce Rauner urge supporters to head to Republicans see the race as a chance the polls. PAGE B3 to embarrass President Barack Obama and his party. It’s also critical for organized labor, which has spent millions if he succeeds. to prevent Rauner from trying to cripple government unions the way Gov. GOVERNOR A Rauner victory would help Re- Scott Walker did in Wisconsin. publicans complete a near-sweep of Midwest governorships and put them CONGRESS The GOP spent heavily to try to rein control of the Illinois Executive take at least two congressional seats Mansion for the first time since 2003. The wealthy Winnetka venture cap- they lost to Democrats two years ago. The closest races are a rematch italist has spent more than $25 million of his own money and a total of more north of Chicago between Democratic than $65 million attacking Quinn over U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider and former the state’s massive budget problems GOP Rep. Bob Dold and another conand a proposal to make permanent an test in southern Illinois between Demincome tax increase that was original- ocratic Rep. Bill Enyart and Republily described as temporary. The Chica- can state Rep. Mike Bost. Two other go Democrat has portrayed himself as a defender of the middle class, promotSee ELECTION, page A6
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Fence removal
McHenry tax levy Meet Maddon
Shooting of two sheriff’s deputies raised concern in Holiday Hills / A3
City officials plan to meet again to discuss plans to increase levy / A3
Cubs new manager confident, but unaware what lies ahead / C1
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Rockford man gets 16-year sentence
DECISION DAY
McHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF
LOW
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At a glance: Voting trends
500,000 approximate number of Illinois voters who voted early this year
383,000 number of Illinois voters who voted early during the 2010 gubernatorial election
328,500 approximate number of absentee ballots requested this year
240,700 number of absentee ballots requested during the 2010 gubernatorial election
Pleads guilty to role in Marengo home invasion By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – A Rockford man allegedly armed with a weapon during a McHenry County robbery attempt gone awry was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Joshua C. Johnson, 25, pleaded guilty Monday to home invasion, and remaining armed robbery and weapons charges were dropped. He was immediately remanded into custody o f M c H e n r y Joshua C. Johnson was County Jail. A s s i s t a n t sentenced State’s Attor- to 16 years n e y R o b e r t in prison. Zalud said be- His charge cause no great is eligible for bodily harm oc- day-for-day curred during credit, so the March 2013 he could be incident, John- released in son’s charge is eight years eligible for dayfor-day credit, meaning he could be released in eight years. All but one of Johnson’s co-defendants Nimrod have pleaded Hilliard guilty, but none testified received dou- Johnson was ble-digit prison the only one armed during time. A c c o r d i n g the home t o t e s t i m o n y invasion from Nimrod incident Hilliard at the time of his guilty plea, Johnson was the only one armed with a gun during the incident outside Marengo. Authorities have said Johnson, Hilliard and two others arranged for the female in the group to have sex with a man for money, but instead planned to rob him. But the man was armed himself, and he began firing shots on the group when they entered his trailer. In an attempt to flee, the group struck a snowbank and called for help. The four were arrested and charged with armed robbery, home invasion, prostitution and more. McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather accepted Johnson’s guilty plea. The judge also rejected a request from his defense attorney, Glenn Jazwiec, to delay his prison sentence 30 days so he can spend time with his young child. The case against 30-yearold Justin Mitchell of Rockford is pending. Hilliard, 28, of Belvidere was sentenced to four years in prison. Brittany Rice is serving a nine-year sentence after having previously pleaded guilty last year. Mitchell’s next court date is Thursday.
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