Early voting underway; it’s not too late to apply to vote by mail that day, only a couple of voters were waiting outside the conference room and the wait was only a few minutes. For now, early voting is allowed only at the Administrative Building. Any McHenry County voter can cast a ballot there, regardless of residence. On Oct. 19, those 11 other sites will open, also for any voters. For now, voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours will expand starting Oct. 19, and Saturday and Sunday hours are planned before Election Day.
By Larry Lough
LARRY@THE WOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM
With less than four weeks before the Nov. 3 election, you can still apply for a vote-by-mail ballot. But you better hurry. As County Clerk Joe Tirio has pointed out, having that ballot gives a voter options. With that ballot, a voter may: n Put the ballot in the mail. “If you plan to vote by mail, plan ahead,” according to a postcard sent recently by the U.S. Postal Service. “... We recommend you mail your ballot at least 7 days before Election Day.” n Drop the ballot into a secure ballot box. The only one in Woodstock is in the parking lot at the McHenry County Administrative Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. n Surrender the ballot in person at the polls – either an early voting location or at the polls on Election Day. That ballot will be voided, and you can vote in person. As of last Friday, more than 60,000 applications had been received by the clerk’s office. Applications for the ballot can be made through the clerk’s website at mchenrycountyil.gov.
Early turnout heavy
Turnout at the Administrative Building was heavier than usual the morning of Sept. 24, the first day for early voting in the Nov. 3 presidential election. Eleven other early-voting sites – all of them outside of Woodstock – will be open starting Oct. 19. While first-day voting in the clerk’s
Changes in voting sites
If you have a vote-by-mail ballot, you may deposit it in the secure drop box in the parking lot of the McHenry County Administrative Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. office at the Administrative Building normally has no more than a few dozen voters, more than 350 ballots were cast this year. The voting site for this election is set up in a second-floor conference room. Some of the earliest voters hit a snag shortly after the poll opened at 8:30 a.m. A couple from Greenwood reported they, and others, were told they already had voted.
County Clerk Joe Tirio explained some voting data that had been entered to test the system had not been purged. The problem, which didn’t affect all voters, was solved within a couple of hours, he said. The line of eager voters early on that first morning stretched down the hallway to a second-floor elevator, which caused a wait of about 30 minutes. But when The Independent visited at 2 p.m.
Woodstock North High School will no longer be the county’s universal voting site on Nov. 3. Tirio reported that site has been moved to the Administrative Building. Four precincts in Greenwood Township will, however, vote at WNHS on Election Day. Those are Greenwood precincts 2, 4, 6, and 7, which polls previously had been located at the Administrative Building. Some other Woodstock-area polling sites have also been changed for Nov. 3. n Dorr Township precincts 7 and 9 will vote at Dean Street Elementary School, 600 Dean St. Those precincts previously voted at Redeemer Lutheran Church, which will close after deciding to discontinue its ministry. n Hartland Township precinct 1 will vote at the McHenry County Department of Transportation, 16111 Nelson Road. That polling site had been at Valley Hi Nursing Home. Voting hours on Election Day will be 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
VOTERS GUIDE
Voters still have options available
Oct. 7-13, 2020
The Woodstock Independent emailed short questionnaires to candidates in contested local races to solicit information that might help voters. Candidates who responded have their replies and photos printed in this voters guide. Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 200 words for each question. Some responses have been edited for length.
15 THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
VOTERS GUIDE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
VOTERS GUIDE
Oct. 7-13, 2020
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U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 14TH DISTRICT
State Sen. Oberweis emerged from field of seven Republicans to face first-term incumbent Democrat Lauren Underwood Q: What do you believe are the three defining issues in the 14th District race for Congress this year? Underwood: My immediate priority is keeping our community safe during the coronavirus pandemic. We must implement a national COVID-19 strategy to provide testing and treatment, limit community spread, prevent health disparities, and support a robust economic recovery. My responsibility in Congress is to send federal resources to northern Illinois as we navigate this crisis. Second, COVID-19 has only underscored how desperately we need highquality, affordable health care for our families. We’ve made a lot of progress to secure free COVID testing for our community, but we must also ensure free COVID treatment for those who have been infected. Out-of-pocket health care costs remain too high for many of our families. Additionally, we’re seeing the importance of a national paid family and medical leave policy as we navigate this crisis. My third priority is cleaning up Washington. The overt corruption of the Trump Administration has degraded public trust in our government. One of the first pieces of legislation I supported as a member of Congress was the most sweeping anticorruption reform bill since Watergate, to reduce the role of money in politics, strengthen ethics rules to make certain that politicians actually serve the public interest, and make it easier for Americans to vote. Oberweis: The issues I hear about the most on the campaign trail are crime, taxes, healthcare, and jobs. One of the reasons I am running for Congress is the fact that I do not want Illinois to become the example for the rest of the nation. Illinois is an example of the tremendous
Home: Naperville Age: 34 Vocation: Registered nurse, public health expert who worked in Obama administration
Lauren Underwood damage out-of-control spending and high taxes can do. We have thousands of people leaving Illinois each year because of the high taxes and outrageous spending. Illinois should serve as a reminder that sound fiscal policies and fair – not punitive – taxation is the best way to improve our economy. People want access to affordable, quality healthcare. There are free market solutions that will enable us to achieve these goals. We can lower costs, increase access all while protecting pre-existing conditions. Allowing more competition, increasing price transparency, and allowing portability of healthcare coverage are just some of the ways we can improve healthcare. When it comes to jobs, I have been a job creator for decades. I have built and run three successful businesses. I have an MBA from the University of Chicago. I understand economics, and I have created thousands of jobs in the last 10 years. Finally, while we have all witnessed some horrific mistakes by a few police officers, such mistakes do not mean we should “defund the police.” I believe we all have the right to protest wrongs that we see. I have done so myself. That should not be a political issue. But when we see people destroying businesses, rioting, and looting to protest wrongs, that is absolutely unacceptable.
Q: In a sharply divided Washington,
Home: Sugar Grove Age: 74 Vocation: Chairman of Oberweis Dairy
best interest not to talk about presidential candidates in the Democratic Party. She recognizes that the 14th Congressional District is not anywhere near as radical as so many in her party (Underwood included) seem to be. Underwood cannot be honest with her constituents about her positions on the issues because she knows they are not in line with the majority of people in the 14th.
how will you approach the challenge of being an effective member of Congress for the 14th District?
Underwood: I’m proud that I’ve been able to identify, even amongst these most contentious issues, like immigration policy, COVID-19, and health care, opportunities for bipartisan cooperation. President Trump has signed three pieces of my legislation into law. The first was the Lower Insulin Costs Now Act, which makes generic insulin available on the marketplace sooner for the families who rely on it. I wrote that legislation in direct response to the letters and emails and conversations I’ve had across the 14th district, describing how insulin costs have risen beyond reach. Next, I passed bipartisan legislation to fund an electronic health record system to prevent children from dying of preventable illnesses while in federal custody on the U.S.-Mexico border. This March, President Trump signed a piece of legislation I wrote to examine our reliance on a foreign-based medical supply chain, which really threatens our national security – particularly during a pandemic. At the end of September, the Senate passed my legislation, the Veteran’s Care Quality Transparency Act, to ensure our veterans receive highquality mental health and suicide prevention services. I’m hopeful the president will sign that legislation into law in the coming days. I’m really proud of the way my team has been able to deliver for our community.
Jim Oberweis
Oberweis: Ronald Reagan said, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” I have served 7 years in the Illinois Senate and currently serve as the minority whip. I know how to work across the aisle to get things done. My opponent is one of the most partisan legislators in Congress. She does not seem interested in working with Republicans on much of anything and has voted with Nancy Pelosi 100 percent of the time this year. I will be a leader for the whole district – Democrats and Republicans. I will work with Democrats just as I did with the legislation to increase the speed limit on interstate highways from 65 mph to 70 mph. I am interested in solutions – not partisan rhetoric. We have serious challenges facing our nation. We need serious solutions, and we need people in office who will put the country ahead of partisan politics. Finally, residents of the 14th District know exactly who I am and where I stand. ... I can and will be honest with the people of this district because that kind of honesty and integrity is what voters need and deserve. My opponent told the City Club of Chicago that it was probably in her
ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 63
Two-term Republican Rep. Steven Reick is being challenged by Democrat Brian Sager, four-term mayor of Woodstock Q: What reforms do you see as necessary to restore public trust in the Illinois General Assembly and its leadership? Sager: In order to restore public trust in the Illinois General Assembly and its leadership, we must do several things: A) strengthen the
revolving-door policy so that it would prohibit retiring legislators from becoming lobbyists immediately upon leaving office and for a minimum of 10 years following their legislative careers; B) place the General Assembly, its officers and agencies under the office of the attorney general for ethics
oversight and review, rather than under the self-policing approach of a Legislative Inspector General, which is not truly independent and currently under too much political influence; and C) have mandatory face-toface training and routine follow-up sessions for all legislators and staff
conducted by the office of the Executive Inspector General rather than relying on the current basic online training module. I strongly support all of these changes.
Reick: The House has been under one-party rule for so long that people
See District 63, Page 17
Continued from page 16
Home: Woodstock Age: 67 Vocation: Retired tax attorney; fulltime legislator
Brian Sager
office when they learn, too late, that loyalty and adherence to the party line is the only thing that matters.
Q: What three issues specific to District 63 would you address as its state representative over the next two years?
at the local level, accountability to the community that’s being served. Guided by my experience with the DCFS working group and inspired by Patrick’s letter, I introduced H.B. 4886, which would create a 5-year countywide pilot program in McHenry County, paid for with state funds, to replace the local office of DCFS with the McHenry County Children and Family Services Agency. It would be responsible for investigating instances of abuse and neglect here in McHenry County, and would be responsible to the people of McHenry County. The bill has received wide bipartisan support and will be my top legislative priority in the next session. I realize that changing an entire agency from a one-size-fits-all model to one where the buck stops at the County line will be a heavy lift, but it has to be done. A little boy consigned to an anonymous grave alongside a back road deserves nothing less from us.
MCHENRY COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN
Incumbent Democrat Jack Franks, seeking a second four-year term as chairman, is challenged by Republican Mike Buehler Q: As the County Board membership is reduced from 24 members to 18, do you believe that will increase or decrease the board’s effectiveness? Is 18 members too few or too many? Franks: Reducing the County Board’s size by 25 percent will increase efficiency. In fact, I wanted to cut the size in half to 12 members – we compromised and reached a consensus of 18 members. I would like to see the County Board’s size reduced further. Voters who elected me chairman in 2016 also overwhelmingly approved an advisory referendum to reduce the size of the County Board. I made this a priority when I took office, and immediately set to work with the County Board to make it happen. We further streamlined county government by reducing the number of standing committees from 11 to six. I strongly believe that the next vital
Home: Marengo Age: 57 Vocation: Attorney, former state legislator
Home: Crystal Lake Age: 51 Vocation: Owner, construction company for 25 years
Jack Franks reform regarding County Board structure must be moving to single-member districts, rather than the fourmember districts we have now. As County Board chairman, I am directly accountable to the people. However, four-member districts allow board members to avoid accountability and hard decisions. We are represented in the General Assembly and the US House of Representatives by single-member districts.
Mike Buehler There is no reason why the County Board should be any different. If reelected, I will make this vital reform a top priority.
Buehler: At 18 members, I think the board will be just as effective as it has been in the past. I would, however, be cautious about reducing the size of the board to such a level that concentration of power into the hands of just a few becomes a problem. The best
route may be to let the board operate at 18 members for a few terms, observe the operation, and to then decide whether to reduce it further. The cost reduction of a smaller board is an obvious benefit but not the only factor to be considered.
Q: How can the County Board address high property taxes in McHenry County – both those the board controls and those controlled by other units of local government? Buehler: Reducing spending is the key to successfully reducing taxes. You can lower taxes all you want, but without reducing the spending commensurately you’ll be doing nothing more than repeating the mistakes of Springfield. This is going to be the No. 1 issue facing this board in the coming See Chairman, Page 18
VOTERS GUIDE
Reick: I’m going to focus on one, which is the issue of the total dysfunction at DCFS, which contributed to the tragic death of 5 year-old A.J. Freund here in McHenry County. After his death, I served on a legislative working group that took a deep dive into the operations of DCFS and came to the inescapable conclusion that the agency is incapable of substantive reform. Last October I received a letter from Patrick Kenneally, the McHenry County state’s attorney, in which he said the primary responsibility for protecting children in a community should belong to the community, not the state. The child welfare system will not work unless there is accountability
Steven Reick
Sager: First, District 63 residents are concerned about rising property taxes and their ability to live and work in Illinois. They want lawmakers to take specific, permanent steps to reduce the burdensome reliance on property taxes to cover costs of education. Progress was made with the recent “evidence-based funding” legislation and the state’s pledge to direct another $350 million annually to fund education. The biggest challenge remains, however; that is, the heavy reliance on local property taxes to fund education because the state has not met its statutory funding obligation. Illinois must increase its commitment to education and the graduated tax would provide that opportunity. Second is the concern for affordable health care and pharmaceuticals. This is especially true for seniors and families. The state must ensure a stable Illinois Medicare and Medicaid system with affordable healthcare alternatives. Further, Illinois must reinvest in mental health and addiction prevention and treatment programs for all ages. Third is the lingering concern over COVID-19 and future potential for similar pandemics. We must recognize future possibilities, acknowledge lessons learned, and plan for a consistent statewide response and communication plan addressing health, safety and welfare while supporting businesses, schools and families in a proactive, equitable manner.
Oct. 7-13, 2020
just assume that corruption in our legislative process is a feature and not a bug. As the ongoing federal investigation of Com Ed shows, those who control the agenda in Springfield are involved up to their necks. While Republicans have succeeded in launching a House committee investigation of the Com Ed deferred prosecution agreement and its identification of the speaker as the subject of bribery attempts, the Democrats on the committee are doing their utmost to slowwalk the process beyond Election Day. Republican members have proposed numerous reform measures to bring transparency to the operation of the House and to curb the authority of the majority to control the legislative agenda for their own purposes, but those measures never see the light of day because they get stalled in the Rules Committee, which operates under the thumb of the speaker. Ethics reform needs the cooperation of the majority party in the House, and until it begins to demand accountability from its own leadership, up to and including a thorough house-cleaning, we’ll get nothing. What the Legislature does need is more members who will be vocal opponents to the status quo when it matters. instead of those who run for office saying that they’re all in favor of conversation and consensus-building, but then fall in line with the speaker’s
Home: Woodstock Age: 67 Vocation: Retired college professor and administrator; McHenry County Representative on Chicago Regional Transportation Authority Board
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CHAIRMAN
Continued from page 17
years. Especially with the large revenue shortfalls expected due to COVID19. Encouraging other units of government to follow the same path and looking into cost-saving intergovernmental agreements for overlapping areas may be one way to work together to reduce the burden on the already overtaxed citizens.
FRANKS: I ran in 2016 on a
promise to cut county government’s tax levy by 10 percent. We exceeded that goal, and have cut more than 14 percent. We’ve reduced the levy for three consecutive years, most recently turning those reductions into permanent tax cuts. We also rebated more than $8.2 million from Valley Hi Nursing Home to eligible homeowners. We did all this without cutting a single service, and there’s no reason why
other governments can’t follow our example. Two years ago, I brought together representatives from our school districts – which make up the largest share of property tax bills by far – to discuss the need to reduce their levies. Unfortunately, we can’t compel other governments to follow our lead. Homeowners and our businesses are voting with their feet and taking their
tax dollars, intellectual capital, and jobs, with them. As long as I am chairman, I will continue to fight to find every penny of savings we can through streamlining and thinking outside the box. Other local governments need to realize that we are in crisis, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, and that inaction is the worst option when people are leaving for tax-friendlier places to live.
MCHENRY COUNTY CORONER
VOTERS GUIDE
With no Democratic candidate on the ballot, Libertarian Kelly Liebmann petitioned to challenge Republican Michael Rein Q: If you win the election and the
office remains an elective position, what changes in organization and operation of the office do you envision?
Rein: Top priorities would be upgrading our current computer system and taking all the old paper files and digitizing them would help with efficiency. Along with giving iPads, instead of paper notes, to deputy coroners I would require that the coroner’s office update to a bar code system for specimens and personal belongings. This system would streamline paperwork and help coordinate with local law enforcement and state’s attorney’s office. As coroner I would make sure that deputies continue advanced training/classes and updating their skills. This would include our deputies be ABMDI certified (that is national accreditation). With the increased use of opioids, fentanyl, heroin-laced drugs, and even vaping, we must try to curb these senseless deaths in our community. Having worked with the McHenry County drug coordinator on numerous occasions regarding drug deaths by examining trends both locally and nationally. I will help find ways to combat these deaths by working with our local law enforcement and state’s attorney. Suicides among veterans are over 60,000 since 2008. As a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and having worked with our County Mental Health coordinator and VAC director, helping veterans find resources in a troubled time is of utmost importance.
Home: Woodstock Age: 56 Vocation: Doctor of chiropractic; former County Board member
Home: Wonder Lake Age: 43 Vocation: Director, North American Logistics
Michael Rein
Liebmann: If I am elected, resi-
dents will have a coroner who will be on duty full time to take calls from residents and support the office and its staff. Unlike my chiropractor opponent or the previous coroner, I do not have a private practice to run while also trying to maintain the position of coroner. The coroner’s office must plan and prepare for a significant increase in deaths from the long-term effects of the coronavirus, closure of businesses, and an impending economic depression. I will work toward a solution for the ever-increasing pressures of growing caseload forced upon our deputy coroners. Residents deserve a more transparent coroner’s office than the administration is currently providing. I will ensure annual death statistics are available to the public and maintained on the coroner’s webpage. I will also make public my contact information so that residents can reach out to me directly. Currently, the information on the website the administration provides to contact the coroner’s office is for a retired employee.
Kelly Liebmann If the county cannot maintain simple duties such as these right now, can voters really expect an appointed coroner to be superior to an elected coroner?
Q: State law requires no professional qualifications for a coroner. What makes you the better candidate in this race for the position McHenry County coroner? Liebmann: Both my opponent and I are capable of performing the duties of coroner in very different and unique ways. When you read or listen to me discussing the coroner’s position, you will notice I talk about others and why the coroner has a duty to residents; this stems from my training in police science and desire to serve. My education in criminal and civil law differentiates me from my opponent. Some of the major deficiencies exposed during the 2019 audit of the coroner’s office stem from the coroner having insufficient knowledge of criminal law. I pledge not to join IMRF (pension plan), potentially saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands in future benefit payments to my opponent or an
appointed coroner. My opponent joined IMRF when he was a part-time county board member; any claims or promises from him regarding not taking pension benefits are disingenuous.
Rein: I am the only candidate who holds two medicolegal and forensics death investigation certifications that are held by coroners and medical examiners. A bachelor’s degree in human biology and Doctor of Chiropractic. I have over 6,000 hours of academic and clinical training. This is including but not limited to human anatomy/diseases/pathologies, to properly diagnose and give successful treatment outcomes. I have studied thousands of X-rays/MRI’s over my medical career. Having almost 20 years of experience in the medical field, I passed multiple National boards to become licensed in the state of Illinois. Under the Medical Practice Act of Illinois I am held to the same standards as an M.D. and a D.O. I have the critical thinking skills it takes to determine the best course of action during suspicious and difficult scenarios regarding death. I served four years as a McHenry County Board member, and I am familiar with the budget process. This is a large and critical undertaking every year and the allocations that go along with the coroner’s office. Having worked with human resources, purchasing department and the county administrator gave me a great understanding on the rules and laws that govern the coroner’s office and county.
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Democrats Yensen (incumbent) and Gray run against Republicans Hill and Skala (incumbent) – vote for two
Home: Woodstock Age: 42 Vocation: Software consulting (customer experience, A.I and machine learning solutions)
Q: As the County Board membership is reduced from 24 to 18, do you believe that will increase or decrease the board’s effectiveness? Are 18 members too few or too many? Yensen: The number of board members is less important than having good, dedicated members who are willing and able to do the work. However, I do believe the board can be more effective with fewer members if we can get back to using the board for oversight and setting high-level policy rather than micro-managing. Right now, many of the committee meetings last for three or more hours, which is a sign that the board has lost focus on its original mission. I don’t think we want a full-time board that encroaches on the duties of the professional staff. We simply want diverse representation from across the county to ensure that all citizens get a seat at the table. Eighteen is a reasonable number if we also redraw the board into more, smaller districts, so that all parts of the county are adequately represented on the board. I’m personally in favor of drawing nine two-member districts or 18 singlemember districts so that each district is smaller and easier for board members to represent. I think that would also encourage more people to consider running for the board, because it would be less expensive and time-consuming to mount a campaign. Hill: In general I am a supporter of smaller – and more local – government. From my years in the business world, I also know that 24 is too many members for any committee to be efficient. The concerns and rights
Michael Skala
Home: Huntley Age: 49 Vocation: Self-employed
Jim Kearns government consists in the art of being honest.
Please Vote for Jim Kearns on the March 17th Republican Primary I am a lifelong resident of McHenry County. I and My wife (Dacia) of 34 years, have raised three children and are proud Grandparents of two Grandchildren (soon to be three), all residing within McHenry County. My children and I were County 4-H members and proudly showed Beef and Swine at the McHenry County Fair for many years. My wife and I own and operate a successful pet food company within McHenry County with distribution in 30 States. In 2015, to memorialize our late daughter, Jennifer, we created Lovey’s Foundation to provide help to various pet rescues and shelters. McHenry County is a great place to live, work, andReick. raise a family. Paid for by Citizens to Elect Steven A copy of our report is or will be filed I with am the an independent thinker who places the priorities State Board of Elections in Springfield, Illinois. of the people over my own. I currently hold the position of Chairman of the McHenry County Transportation Committee and Chairman of the Storm Water Commission of McHenry County. I am not afraid to stand for what is good for the County Residents and will not bow to threats and pressure placed upon County Board members by self-serving politicians. As a county board member, I will continue to lead with honesty and integrity by working in a transparent manner with all government bodies to increase business/ economic growth and infrastructure with attention to lowering taxes. McHenry County must alleviate property flooding. My efforts will include jointly working with the Farm Bureau; Conservation District, and Municipalities to reactivate drainage districts to eliminate drainage problems by clearing clogged waterways thus improving our home values and increase agriculture production. McHenry County must support all Mental Health organizations while addressing the needs of our growing Senior population and also continue to lower the opioid crisis and focus on other mental health issues. I find great satisfaction in working on behalf of the citizens of McHenry County and in creating an effective, cost efficient form of government that serves the people Please Votetofor Jim Kearns onCounty the March 17th Republican Primary while aiming permantly lower the Tax Levy. This is why I am running for re-election to McHenry CountyI am Board district 6. a lifelong resident of McHenry County. I and My
- Thomas Jefferson
of citizens of McHenry County can be adequately represented with 18 board members. Anyone who tells you 18 is the magic number is being disingenuous, since there is no way to determine effectiveness until we actually pursue that route. Regardless, doing so would help decrease the burden on the taxpayers of McHenry County – and that is a step in the right direction.
Skala: The board will operate more efficiently with 18 members, but I support reducing the size of the board even further. Whereas today we have four people serving in each of six different districts for a total of 24 members, I have been a vocal advocate of re-drawing the districts to reflect 12 single-member districts. I believe single-member districts would allow each member to have a smaller constituent base, making them more effective and responsive to the needs of the people they represent. Q: How can the County Board address high property tax rates in McHenry County – both those the board controls and those controlled by other units of government in the county? Skala: The board has done a great job reducing the property taxes of the county’s taxpayers from a level close to $80 million a few years ago to a levy of $69 million this past year. At the county level, we have found ways to reduce spending without cutting any services. The board can lead by example, share our best practices with other local taxing bodies, and ask them to look at how they offer services. We See Board 5, Page 20
McHenry County Board Candidate District 6
Jim Kearns
(Dacia) of 34 years, raised three Primary. children and I ask for your vote wife in the March 17thhave Republican are proud Grandparents of two Grandchildren (soon to be
three), all residing within McHenry County. My children and I were County 4-H members and proudly showed Beef and Swine at the McHenry County Fair for many years. My wife and I own and operate a successful pet food company within McHenry County with distribution in 30 States. In 2015, to memorialize our late daughter, Jennifer, we created Lovey’s Foundation to provide help to various pet rescues and shelters. McHenry County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I am an independent thinker who places the priorities of the people over my own. I currently hold the position of Chairman of the McHenry County Transportation Committee and Chairman of the Storm Water Commission of McHenry County. I am not afraid to stand for what is good for the County Residents and will not bow to threats and pressure placed upon County Board members by self-serving politicians. As a county board member, I will continue to lead with honesty and integrity by working in a transparent manner with all government bodies to increase business/ economic growth and infrastructure with attention to lowering taxes. McHenry County must alleviate property flooding. My efforts will include jointly working with the Farm Bureau; Conservation District, and Municipalities to reactivate drainage districts to eliminate drainage problems by clearing clogged waterways thus improving our home values and increase agriculture production. McHenry County must support all Mental
VOTERS GUIDE
Home: Lake in the Hills Age: 71 Vocation: Retired United Way executive director
Damon Hill
Oct. 7-13, 2020
Paula Yensen
McHenry County Board Candidate 6 The whole artDistrict of
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BOARD 5 Continued from page 19
can also work with them through joint purchasing agreements to save costs. The county has many inter-governmental agreements in place that share services, goods and equipment to make each unit of government more efficient and cost effective.
Hill: In Illinois, the taxpayer is rarely present at the negotiation table when budgets and taxes are discussed. As a small-business owner, I am painfully aware of the crushing taxes and regulations that are driving Illinois’ record-level population decline for the sixth consecutive year. There
can be no “sacred cows” or “pet programs” that are considered unalterable when budgets are not balanced. These decisions are difficult, but responsible adults have to make hard choices regarding finances, and the government should start acting like responsible adults. The McHenry County Board should take a firm stand on responsible fiscal policies and be a model for other county governmental units.
Yensen: As you know, by far the largest share of property taxes goes to fund our school districts. That’s because the state is not meeting its
constitutional obligation to be the primary source of financial support for public schools. The County Board has no power to change this. Last year the state passed legislation that provides some property tax relief in some school districts. What we can do is put more pressure on the state Legislature to keep this momentum going, to reduce the burden on property owners. The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty over just how much help we can expect from Springfield, but we should still push for increased state funding. We can also continue to lead by
example. I’ve supported measures to reduce the cost of county government, including eliminating fringe benefits for part-time county board members. We can also work with the school districts to try to reduce their administrative and operating costs, as the county has done within its own domain. While I respect the independence of each school district, at some point we have to adopt shared best practices and leverage economies of scale. We can’t just say it’s the state’s fault and do nothing. Democratic candidate Lynn M. Gray did not respond to a questionnire.
VOTERS GUIDE
MCHENRY COUNTY BOARD, DISTRICT 6
Democrats Glissman and Spaeth challenging Republicans Kearns (incumbent) and Von Bergen – vote for two Home: Huntley (Sun City) Age: 60 Vocation: Retired with work experience in both customer service and social service, with a degree in social work.
Home: Harvard Age: 72 Vocation: Retired letter carrier USPS; member of NALC Branch 825
Nancy Glissman
Q: As the County Board membership is reduced from 24 to 18, do you believe that will increase or decrease the board’s effectiveness? Are 18 members too few or too many? Glissman: I have observed scores
of the various County Board meetings since deciding to run for the County Board last September. I believe that paring down the board will not only save the McHenry County taxpayers $126,000 per year in those six salaries, but also any insurance expenses possibly associated with those six additional members. The insurance costs could potentially give the taxpayer a savings of more than an additional $100,000 per year. Paring down the board could also potentially help the group dynamic: a smaller board could possibly communicate more effectively with each other. In addition, competition for the open seats could also increase incentive for board members and/or candidates to both show and convince the public they are making or will make a significant contribution to the County Board. Some believe we should make the County Board even smaller than 18 people, but I think 18 is a great place to
Larry Spaeth start. The number could be revised in the future, but making the board too small, too fast could be disruptive.
Spaeth: The reduction in the num-
ber of board members is absolutely the correct direction to move the board to a more responsive entity. I believe the proper number should be 12 members. They could be set up as two per current district or realign to 12 separate districts. The main issue is the fact that the current structure has the members as part time and many if not all currently own a business or work outside of their responsibility as a board member. It has created a culture where the board members react to issues that challenge the board rather than taking a proactive response to attack these issues with comprehensive solutions.
Kearns: Reducing to 18 members may have no effect for smaller member districts. However, I think reducing the size may lower the representation of the residents of District 6, which makes up over one half of the land mass of McHenry County. Having four members per district gives the residents better coverage, but it can
Home: Hebron Age: 47 Vocation: Farmer, Hebron Township assessor
Home: Huntley Age: 58 Vocation: Business owner, Nutri Life Pet Products
James A. Kearns be effectively accomplished by three members.
Von Bergen: I believe reducing County Board membership to 18 was a good first step in reducing spending. With 18 members, I believe they can still efficiently represent their constituents. Fewer than 18 members, I believe, will result in higher costs in the long run because of a much larger workload. Members may need staff to assist in meeting constituents, county staff, local businesses and organizations. Creating full-time County Board members is not in the best interest of McHenry County. Representation by residents and local business owners will enable our county to thrive. Q: How can the County Board address high property tax rates in McHenry County – both those the board controls and those controlled by other units of government in the county? Von Bergen: Over-taxation continues to be one of the biggest issues faced by residents and businesses of McHenry County. The McHenry County Board should address high
Tracie Von Bergen property taxes by continuing to reduce its levy. They can also ease the tax burden by encouraging the growth of new and existing businesses by addressing excessive fees and regulations. Unfortunately, the County Board can only lead by example to encourage other government bodies to reduce their spending.
Kearns: I have voted to reduce county taxes each of the past three years. I continue to promote reduced county taxes in a sustainable manner by controlling expenditures. The reduced or flat tax county levy is what we as a board can control as our part of the property tax rates. McHenry County, municipalities, and townships can further reduce their tax levy by promoting intergovernmental agreements to share services such as road maintenance and purchasing to reduce cost. Under current Illinois state laws on school funding, McHenry County has no authority over school districts to reduce school districts tax levy. The state school funding formula needs to be modified to lower property taxes. See Board 6, Page 21
Spaeth: The board has done a reasonable job over the past two years in reducing the board budget, which has saved the county taxpayer money. However, the board portion of the property tax is only 10 percent of the total property tax bill, and the impact on the total bill has been around 1 percent. The real issue with property taxes is school districts. I am a supporter of the Fair Tax Amendment on the November ballot for the simple reason that it will allow the state to put its financial house in order and allow the state to begin supporting school districts statewide at a level which is required of it by the constitution, which would take the pressure off the districts to rely on local property taxes, which amount to 65 to 75 percent of the property tax bill. I would also push for a countywide commission to partner with and assist school districts’ purchasing practices to save money through cooperative efforts in purchasing and contract services. Also, I would advocate for the investment in infrastructure that would attract investment in McHenry County. Business requires fiber-optic infrastructure to be in place as one of
MCHENRY COUNTY AUDITOR
Republican Teresi (incumbent) vs. Libertarian Young Q: What have you done in your tenure as McHenry County auditor to earn another term from voters? Teresi: Master’s and bachelor’s degree in accounting, certified public accountant, certified fraud examiner, certified internal auditor, certified risk management examination. I have been a fighter to reduce taxes and have used my background as a CPA, certified fraud examiner and certified internal auditor to be the “fiscal watchdog” for McHenry County. I have accomplished this by: n Implementing a requisition and purchase order electronic approval process to comply with the auditor statute, which ensures purchases comply with board policies and funds are not wasted. n Instituting a paperless bill approval process for the County’s approximately 400 weekly invoices. n Assisting in the implementation of the County’s new financial system. n Promoting the fraud, waste, and abuse tip hotline, “Be a Hero.”
Home: Crystal Lake Age: 36 Vocation: County auditor since being appointed in 2018
Shannon Teresi n Performing numerous internal
audits including (1) user access rights of new countywide Enterprise Management System, including the vendor management system, which resulted in identifying crucial internal control weaknesses and valued recommended corrective action and (2) the Public Building Commission, which resulted in recommendation of its closure. This will result in a positive economic impact of $147,000 of savings. I am the only candidate with auditing and government experience. Libertarian candidate James “Jim” Young did not respond to a questionnaire.
Home: Harvard Age: 53 Vocation: Lead court specialist – McHenry County circuit clerk’s office
Home: Woodstock Age: 55 Vocation: County clerk of courts since elected in 2009
Renee M. Overlee
Q: What in your personal, professional, and political experience makes you qualified to be clerk of courts of McHenry County? Overlee: I have dedicated 26 years
of my life to public service and the McHenry County circuit clerk’s office. I have trained in almost every facet of the office, so I bring the hands-on experience needed to effectively manage this office. I believe it is essential that management have full working knowledge in all areas they are overseeing. Without this knowledge, how can they effectively make the right decisions for the office and the citizens of this county. I will improve relationships between management and its greatest asset, its employees. This office must be bipartisan; so I will put policies in place that will not allow for any political favors or special treatment. I will analyze the procedures and bridge the gap between all court-related offices to ensure that there is a proactive approach to all state-mandated changes. The county is in need of new ideas and elected officials that are willing to work toward a common goal. It is imperative to ensure that the future needs will be met fiscally as new laws are mandated. It is important that the county does not continue to place the burden on the taxpayers.
NO BAREFOOT VOTERS
Katherine M. Keefe
Q: What have you done in your tenure as McHenry County Circuit Court Clerk to earn another term from voters? Keefe: I have 33 years of experience in the circuit clerk’s office, having worked in some capacity in every division, with 28 of those years in management positions. I have been the elected circuit clerk for 12 years. A few major accomplishments during my 12 years as elected clerk include making court records available online to increase transparency, improved customer service with increased technology, and the elimination of paper court files. These improvements allowed us to not fill 21 vacant positions over 12 years, which currently saves county taxpayers approximately $1.2 million every year. Under my leadership, the McHenry County circuit clerk’s office has developed into one of the most technologically advanced circuit clerks offices in the state, but we have done that while always considering the cost to the taxpayer, working hard to ensure our office is operating as lean and efficiently as possible, so through our fiscal responsibility we can provide some tax relief for McHenry County taxpayers. Better service at a cost savings to the taxpayer is what I believe has earned me another term as circuit clerk.
Rules are clear to enter the McHenry County Administrative Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock, the only early-voting site in the county until Oct. 19, when 11 other sites (all outside Woodstock) will open. Any county voter may cast a ballot at any of the sites, regardless of residence.
VOTERS GUIDE
Glissman: As a taxpayer, I am grateful that the board has put much work and effort into cutting costs in McHenry County over the past few years: this gives a feeling of goodwill and empathy for the taxpayers of McHenry County, and it is appreciated. The work the board has done puts us in a better position right now than we would have otherwise been in, particularly because of the economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. I think the board should continue to be good stewards of the McHenry County taxpayers’ monies. The board obviously cannot force other units of government to follow their lead, but they can continue to lead in a fiscally responsible manner. We live in a stunningly beautiful county, with lots of places to enjoy nature and outdoor activities, quaint towns, excellent restaurants, etc. We should be promoting our county all the time. When we promote our county, we are helping small businesses and our real estate markets. We should be showing off the physical beauty of this county to help drive our local economies and thus keep our taxes down. We should also be highlighting our many environmental groups, and make known to the Chicago metro area that we care about the environment here.
Republican (incumbent) Keefe vs. Democrat Overlee
21
Oct. 7-13, 2020
Continued from page 20
MCHENRY COUNTY CLERK OF COURTS
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
BOARD 6
its top five priorities to relocate to a community.
Oct. 7-13, 2020
THE WOODSTOCK INDEPENDENT
22
At the top of the Nov. 3 ballot ...
BALLOT PROPOSITIONS Yes or No
The first question voters will find on the ballot will be a proposal to amend the Illinois Constitution to authorize the General Assembly to establish a graduated income tax to replace the state’s “flat tax,” which currently is 4.95 percent for all residents, regardless of income. A graduated scale would allow the Legislature to set higher rates for higher incomes.
Proposed amendment to the 1970 Illinois Constitution The proposed amendment grants the State authority to impose higher income tax rates on higher income levels, which is how the federal government and a majority of other states do it. The amendment would remove the portion of the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution that is sometimes referred to as the “flat tax,” that requires all taxes on income to be at the same rate. The amendment does not itself change tax rates. It gives the State the ability to impose higher tax rates on those with higher income levels and lower income tax rates on those with middle or lower income levels. You are asked to decide whether the proposed amendment should become a part of the Illinois Constitution. ___ Yes ___ No
VOTERS GUIDE
McHenry County Binding Referendum
Shall the coroner of McHenry County be eliminated as an Elected Office and be replaced by an appointed Coroner, appointed by a McHenry County Board Committee, to be effective Nov. 30, 2020? ___ Yes ___ No
NOV. 3 CANDIDATES FOR WOODSTOCK AREA President
Illinois House District 63
County Auditor
Joseph R. Biden/Kamala Harris (D) Donald R. Trump/Michael Pence (R) Howie Hawkins/AngelaWalker (G) Gloria La Viva/Leonard Peltier (PSL) Brian Carroll/Amar Patel (SCP) Jo Jorgensen/Jeremy ‘Spike’ Cohen (L)
Brian Sager (D) Steven Reick (R)
No candidate (D) Shannon L. Teresi (R) James “Jim” Young (L)
U.S. Senate Richard J. Durbin (D) Mark C. Curran Jr. (R) Willie L. Wilson (WWP) David F. Black (G) Danny Malouf (L)
Congress, 14th District Lauren Underwood (D) Jim Oberweis (R)
Congress, 6th District Sean Casten (D) Jeanne Ives (R) Bill Redpath (L)
Political parties on ballot
Illinois House District 64 Leslie Armstrong-McLeod (D) Tom Weber (R)
County Coroner
Illinois House District 66
No candidate (D) Michael R. Rein (R) Kelly Liebmann (L)
Suzanne M. Ness (D) Allen Skillicorn (R)
County Board Chairman
Circuit Clerk
Jack D. Franks (D)
Renee M. Overlee (D) Katherine M. Keefe (R)
County Board, District 5
State’s Attorney No candidate (D) Patrick Kenneally (R)
Mike Buehler (R)
(vote for 2)
Paula Yensen (D) Lynn M. Gray (D) Michael Skala (R) Damon Hill (R)
County Board District 6 (vote for 2)
Nancy Glissman (D) Larry Spaeth (D) James A. Kearns (R) Tracie Von Bergen (R)
Judge of the Circuit Court Elizabeth “Beth” Vonau (D) David Gervais (R)
Judge of the Circuit Court Third Subcircuit
Jeannie Ridings (D) Justin Hansen (R)
Judge of the Circuit Court Fourth Subcircuit
Kimberley Crum Klein (D) Mark Gerhardt (R)
(D) Democratic; (R) Republican; (G) Green; (L) Libertarian; (PSL) Party of Socialism and Liberation; (ASP) American Solidarity Party; (WWP) Willie Wilson Party