The Heretic, Rebel a Thing to Flout Illinois General Election Endorsements--Part IV State Legislative Races

Parts of McHenry County are included in four Illinois State Senate Districts and five State House districts.

McHenry County is sliced and dice into so many different Illinois State Legislative districts that many voters have no idea which ones the reside in or who represents them.  We sort things out.

State Representative Races

State Rep District 52

Maria Peterson, a first-generation Mexican-American, witnessed firsthand how her immigrant parents transformed their American Dream into reality through hard work and perseverance. As an attorney, Maria became a trusted advocate for Latino families facing discrimination, and served with the U.S. Department of Labor, where she litigated workplace safety and health violations and stood up for Black Lung victims who were being denied benefits by the coal mining companies they had dedicated their lives to serving. She came within 47 votes of winning election last time out against Republican incumbent Martin McLaughlin in one of the most competitive races in the state.

State Rep District 64

Representative A.J. Johnson is from a large Biloxi, Mississippi family with a long military tradition, AJ Johnson enlisted in the army at the first opportunity, finishing his career as a top recruiter. Since retiring from our armed services, he’s brought his leadership skills to teaching ROTC in Lake County high schools.  "Moving past the division of modern politics, he aims to champion practical, high-integrity policies that support education, improve public safety, expand economic opportunities, and enhance veterans' services, ultimately scaling his decades of dedication from the classroom to the entire district." He is challenging incumbent Tom Weber.

State Rep District 66

Suzanne Ness, Democratic incumbent, was first elected to the Illinois House in 2020, and is now running for her fourth term. Previously she served as a McHenry County Board Member. As a State Representative, Suzanne has brought more than $34 million to the district and has passed 14 bills, including funding for the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge, eliminating the need for tolling. She advocates for the needs of her constituents and supports legislation that has made Illinois a leader in environmental sustainability, voting rights, and access to reproductive healthcare. A very popular candidate and daughter of legendary activist and former McHenry County Board member Lou Ness.  She faces Republican Laurie Parman

 State Rep District 69

Pete Janko is the elected Democratic State Central Committeeman for Illinois’s 11th Congressional District, He is known for turning advocacy into results, including helping secure funding for Rockford passenger rail and paving the way for the repeal of Illinois’s grocery tax. He’s focused on Illinois Care, a real-world transition plan for universal healthcare in Illinois and continuing to use his strong relationships with state and federal lawmakers to deliver real benefits for Illinois families.  As a German-born child refugee, his is acutely aware of Trumpian anti-immigrant hysteria, ICE sweeps, internments, and deportations. Janko has a progressive, independent spirit that is sometimes at odds with regular party leadership.  He challenges entrenched Republican Joe Sosnowski

 State Rep District 70

Veronica Garcia-Martinez is a mother of three teenagers, a 5th-grade teacher, a small business owner, and a long-time resident of DeKalb County. Born in Chicago and raised in the Pilsen neighborhood, she grew up in an immigrant household where she learned the true meaning of community. She spent 17 years in the nonprofit sector and six years as a bilingual and dual language teacher, dedicating herself to students and families. Her platform reflects the values she lives every day - dignity and respect for all, responsible development, strong communities, and fair democracy. She is running against two term incumbent Jeff Keicher.

State Senate Races

State Senate District 25

Nabeela Syed is State Representative from the 51st district, making history in 2022 as one of the youngest members ever elected to the Illinois legislature. Now she wants to step up into the state Senate.  She is now running to continue delivering bold, compassionate and common-sense leadership and has built a strong record of fighting for working families, focusing on lowering costs, protecting access to healthcare and delivering real results. She’s passed legislation to cap prescription drug costs, expand breast cancer screening, secure paid leave for organ donors and make voting more accessible to young people.  Syed was born and raised in Illinois. Her Muslim parents immigrated to Palatine from India  in the 1980s.  Suburban and exurban Senate races were typically strictly local, but Syed was out-of-the-gate early with extensive advertising in broader Chicago-area ads running on cable and streaming platforms.  She is running against incumbent State Senator Darby Hills.

State Senate District 32

Karen Battaglia is a longtime emergency and trauma nurse, healthcare leader, and advocate for working families. She is the incoming President of the Illinois Emergency Nurses Association and has served for more than a decade on the Illinois ENA Government Affairs Committee, advocating for nursing and healthcare policy at both the state and federal levels. She is running for State Senate to fight for affordable and accessible healthcare at every stage of life, an economy that works for working families, and safe communities and workplaces.  She has a heavy social media presence and is strongly supported in the medical community.   She faces incumbent Craig Wilcox who has been flooding the district with Direct Mail for months.  A high-profile race that has received wide interest.

State Senate District 33

Michele Clark is well-known in McHenry County as the proud owner of a large early child learning center, Michele later served as Chief Operating Officer of the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township during the COVID-19 pandemic— overseeing a multimillion-dollar budget and leading through a most difficult time for families and kids in our community. Today she serves as Director of Development for the District 300 Food Pantry, working to ensure that no children in our district go hungry. She brings nonprofit experience, business background, and passion for service—all in support of the next generation.  She is running against first-time candidate Danielle Penman.

State Senate District 35

Sarah Mertens is one of six kids from a working-class union household, Sarah acquired her work ethic early on, babysitting from a young age, working from the moment she turned 16, putting herself through college via jobs and loans. Holding a degree in education, with a specialization in teaching German, she’s taught English as a second language. She has also worked in health care administration and on the rollout of the Affordable Care Act. A working mom, in Springfield she plans to be a strong advocate for affordable housing and protecting our civil rights.  She faces incumbent Dave Syverson.  

Also on the Ballot

Vote NO on the four judges up for “judicial retention”:  They’re all deep Red.  It’s time for some competitive elections.

Vote NO on the two referendums:  They’re just “advisory”, but we want a resounding No to both. One of them asks whether McHenry County should become a “Home Rule” county.  Which among other things would remove the requirement that limits the degree to which property taxes can be raised.  Cynics would say that the only reason the R’s put this one on the ballot, would be to gin up the turnout of their base.  Whatever.  It’s a terrible idea. The other asks whether state laws should be repealed that restrict the ability of county governments to say no to renewable energy installations such as solar, wind and battery storage.  Conveniently forgetting that the only reason such state laws were passed in the first place, is because of reactionary Republican county governments never approving any such facility.  Why would they do that?  "Because Emperor Don is in league with the oil companies and will do anything to kill renewable energy."

The Heretic, Rebel a Thing to Flout Illinois General Election Endorsements--Part III County Wide and County Board

County Wide and McHenry County Board Races

Voting at the McHenry Township building open for early voting and on Election Day. 

County Wide Races

To save time and effort, we are adapting this from the Democratic Party of McHenry County web site with occasional personal observations.

McHenry County Clerk 

Bill McNeese is a father of three, a U.S. Navy veteran, and a small business owner, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on Economics and an MBA In small business. He brings a record of service, accountability, and hands-on leadership along with a commitment to running an efficient, transparent Clerk’s Office that makes county services more accessible to every resident.   In an important race for clean and legal elections he is running against a proven incompetent Republican incumbent Joe Tirio who refuses to commit to following Illinois state law over Donald Trump's U.S. Postal Service not to deliver mail-in ballots post marked after Election Day or use voter identification demanded by the Justice Department that would widely disenfranchise many voters including those with Latinx last names and people who have changed names since original registration including married women and others who have legally changed their names.  

County Regional Superintendent of Schools

For 32 years, Dr. Bridget Belcastro has dedicated her career to ensuring every student has access to quality education. As a 24-year McHenry County resident and the 2024 Illinois Elementary Principal of the Year, she has the experience, expertise, and commitment to lead the Regional Office of Education into the future and will support our schools, empower our educators, and advocate for the resources our children deserve.   She has already launched an effective campaign with social media posts and early signage and has strong support for legislators.  The office oversees credentials for educators, paraprofessionals, and substitutes, license renewal, and certifying life-safety of schools.  She would also be and important bulwark against Maga influenced curricula elimination or dumbing down scientific information, history, and diversity protections.  

McHenry County Treasurer

Amin Karim of Crystal Lake for the past 22 years, and a proud father of four and grandfather of three is is an engineer by profession with an MBA in Finance and a 30-year career in corporate management, including a proven track record of leading and executing Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Projects.  Few candidates for Treasurer have ever had his breadth of experience and ability to audit county finances.  He ran for Treasurer four years ago and made a strong showing, leading the ticket for McHenry County Dems.  He is a strong and dedicated campaigner who is a non-partisan technocrat running against long-time incumbent Donna Kurtz.  He is a personal friend of the proprietor of the Blog and although a devout Muslim is a regular attendee at Tree of Life UU Congregation Men's Group breakfasts and dinners.  The editor admires him for his open curiosity and his unshakable personal integrity.  Highly Recommended.

There is no Democratic candidate for Sheriff this time.

                                                        McHenry County Board Races

Deanna "Dee" Darling is currently serving as a Cary District 26 School Board Member. She is focused on advocating for social services, championing public education, affordable housing availability, protecting natural resources, and transparency and accessibility.  She has been active in the progressive community and is the Founder and driving force behind the annual Planet Palooza festivals that connect organization, services, and agencies to each other and the public.  The proprietor has worked with her on various projects, and he admires her boundless energy.

County Board District 2

 

Gloria Van Hof is an incumbent District 2 County Board Member and a 50-year resident of McHenry County. A mom, teacher, writer, previous business owner, licensed Nursing Home Administrator, an Underground Railroad researcher and lecturer, and a volunteer and board member of numerous groups. Dedicated to improving communication, transparency, economic vitality, community identity and effective management of our resources.  She is a human dynamo and has perhaps the widest circle of friends and contacts in the county.  After her first election when she led all Democrats for Conty Board, she not only balanced a heavy board load and continuing commitments, Van Hof started and completed her PhD on line.  She often worked into the small hours of the mornings. Gloria and your humble scribe have cooperated and worked together on social justice issue and at public events for well over 30 years from co-hosting the Diversity Day Festival on Woodstock Square to founding the McHenry County Juneteenth Celebration.  Proud to endorse her continued service on the Board.

County Board District 3 

Carolyn "Lyn" Campbell is current County Board Member for District 3 and long-time advocate for the protection of our natural and agricultural resources, Carolyn has proven her support for our mental health community, for common sense transportation solutions, public safety, and effective senior services. A former local government finance and administration professional, she is an advocate for a strong local economy as a means of reducing the overall tax burden on property owners.  Campbell enjoys close connections with local officials in Crystal Lake and Lakewood help make her an effective voice on the Board.  She is on the Senior Services Grant Commission and as a member of the McHenry County Mental Health Board she is engaged in the McHenry County Sheriff's Office Police Social Worker Program (PSW) which helps law officers integrate social worker in response to calls involving a possible mental health crisis.  A vital, hands-on leader. 

County Board District 4 

Edward "Bud" Bowie is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and former sanitation industry CEO. "Bud will use the analytical and planning skills honed by a long career in both government and private industry to ensure transparent fiscal responsibility, protect our Conservation Districts, preserve agriculture, promote responsible economic growth, and support fair-minded, unbiased County leadership that represents the interests of all residents." No photo was found easily accessible was available--a possible signal of a weak or symbolic candidacy.  Or he might we just lurking in the weeds to make a last minute splash.     

 County Board District 5 

Austin May was born and raised in McHenry County and is a dedicated public servant, his background includes service in AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and currently as a US Army Reserve officer.  He  is focused on lowering property taxes through improving infrastructure, supporting community health, and fiscal responsibility. May is an attractive and charismatic candidate who jumped in early with extensive signage effective use of social media, and being present at events large and small in the district.  He was out front in calling for the rejection of a proposed McHenry County Home Rule referendum that would lead to higher taxes and a loss of local control to a powerful County Executive.

McHenry County Board District 6  

(no photo)

Sheryl Lindenbaum has worked in the health insurance industry for over 40 years. Her focus is on resources and affordability of elder-care, assistance for family caregivers, women’s health, support for local farmers, sustainable growth, and creating an environment where all individuals, regardless of background, can participate fully and equitably in McHenry County. 

County Board District 7

Patrick J. Shea brings a wealth of management experience from a career in the construction industry, including project managing and acting as crew foreman. His vision is to build McHenry County’s future with that practical experience, advocating for responsible growth, and respect for our land and water.  "My career in the construction industry includes plan reviewing, estimating construction costs, project scheduling, project managing and acting as crew foreman.  This experience will be valuable to keep the County fiscally sound. McHenry County has a complex system of highways, rural roads and commuter rail. Transportation maintenance and construction costs have been rising faster than inflation. Population growth is expected and expansion of transportation systems is anticipated." A focused vision for the future.

County Board District 8

Christy "Chris" Stevens is a resident of McHenry County since 1981, and has had a prior career in Information Technology, implementing e-Commerce websites for top 1000 retailers. Her experience also includes a home-building business, giving her insight into the lack of workforce housing in our county, water quality, open land and conservation, maintaining agriculture, property taxes, economic opportunity/development, global warming impacts, and sustainable growth. 

County Board District 9

Christine B. Hamm is a nonprofit executive, community organizer, and advocate for inclusion and community empowerment who has called Huntley and McHenry County home for much of the past seventeen years.  "I believe representation begins with listening....Connection before persuasion. Curiosity before assumption. Relationship before outcome.  I want to listen first and let what I learned shape how I lead."  Hamm has relied heavily on endorsement from heavy weights like Julia Straton and Bill Foster dozens of associates, friends, and neighbors.  And she's out in the communities of her very large district that includes much of the west of the county.

The Heretic, Rebel a Thing to Flout Illinois General Election Endorsements--Part II McHenry Co. Congressional Races

McHenry County Congressional Races 

McHenry County was carved up into four Congressional Districts in the last reapportionment.  Back then Democrats thought dividing the county would weaken traditional the Republican stranglehold.  Since then, due in no small measure to the Trumpist infused party repeatedly shooting itself in the foot on issue important to residents, McHenry County has gone from bright Red to Purple.  This might be the election that finally turns it Blue, like all the other Colar Counties have.

These Districts, including two with veteran Democratic incumbents, between progressive to Democratic Socialist (DSA) and "regular" or "establishment" Dems--the same split that is now being hyped by both right-wing pundits and hand-wringing self-proclaimed moderates and centrists,  There were an array of issues but the flashpoint was over unconditional support for the State of Isreal, the genocide in Gaza, and particularly fealty to AIPAC, the powerful Zionist lobbying and PAC operation that sells itself as the united voice of American Jewery.    But AIPAC was never that broad or representative.   It was the creature of conservative Congregation, especial Ashkenazi ones scarred by the Holocaust, and largely bankrolled and controlled by extremely wealthy individuals and families. They told generations of Democrats that need Jewish votes to win elections that they could not win with APAC support and donations.

Although support of Isreal was broad in America through the late 20th Century, it did not include a blank check for genocidal conduct on its own.  Israeli state violence against the civilian areas it accused of harboring terrorists from refugee camp massacres, through war in Lebanon, to the oppressions justified by Intifadas including bulldozing communities, sweeps by trigger happy IDF forces, rigid apartheid, and state approved settler attack to Gaza steadily eroded blind loyalty.  Many had never accepted if from Ultra Othodox Jew on the right to members of liberal to progressive congregations, Humanists and Free Thinkers, secularists, cultural Jewish non-Theists, and those drawing from the deep well of radicalism from the days of labor and class wars.  Generation after generation they were a major force and votes for the Left.

These days most Jews believe that opposition to state policy is not Anti-Semitic as usually charged, but an expression of Jewish values and making sure that the lessons of the Holocaust apply to all peoples and all oppressors and not just the exclusive right of Jews.  

Those shift of attitude and allegiance affected all our regional Congressional elections to one degree or another.  Of course there were other issues--Women's reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ status and safety, gun regulation, immigrant rights and protection, defending democracy--but the differences between the progressives and regulars was more nuanced than apparent.  There was broad agreement on a liberal Democratic agenda.

9th Congressional District

Evanston Mayor Daniel Bliss was a long-time favorite of what might be called a Bernie Sanders progressive.  The mathematician and academic served the Illinois House and Senate before being tapped as the counter to J.B. Pritzker's billionaire steamroller in 2018 and finished a strong second.  Pritzker surprised many by aggressively pursuing the progressive program in his first term.  The next spring Bliss landed on his feet as Mayor of Evanston, did his job diligently and enjoyed broad support, and bided his time for a new opportunity.  The path opened up when long-time Congresswoman Jan Schakowski announced her retirement and endorsed him as her successor. He faced Primary from Laura Fine, who took over his old State Senate who ran as bold Feminist and Kat Abughazaleh, a journalist, media gadfly, and DSA favorite, and a raft of other wannabes.  She accused both Bliss and Fine with being beholden to AIPAC for support in earlier campaigns and of failing to loudly express opposition to the blood bath in Gaza.  Bliss severed any remaining ties and returned some previous donations.  Fine was more reluctant.  Bliss denounced Netanyahu aggression but did not support charges of genocide.  Abughasaleh also renounced all corporate and PAC and relied solely on individual donations.  With the eager support of Sanders and DSA activists around the country she quickly out fund razed her opponents.  ICE Project Mid-Way Blitz enforcement became another issue.  Both Bliss and Abughasaleh showed up at confrontations and protests outside the Broadview Detention facility.  Both were gassed but Kat was thrown to the ground by an ICE agent during the protest and was charged with banging against an official ICE vehicle, breaking one of its mirrors, and scratching the word "PIG" into it.  Video of the incident went viral and made her an internet heroine.  In the interest of full disclosure, Heretic, Rebel a Thing to Flout endorsed Abughasaleh in the Primary.  Biss won with 29.5% of the vote to Abughazaleh's 26% but she placed first in City of Chicago wards and in supposedly deep Red McHenry County including Cary, Algonquin, and part of Crystal Lake.  Some of her supporters are calling for skipping Bliss on the ballot.  Bliss faces Evangelical pastor and MAGA loyalist John Ellson.  Bliss deserves election.

10th Congressional District

Brad Schnider served as Representative for 10th Congressional District since 2017 and previously from 2013 to 2015. The district is dominated by the wealthy North Lakeshore suburbs of Chicago.  The District is heavily Jewish.  Schnider has described himself as both broadly progressive and staunchly centrist.  He supported Joe Biden's program in the House 100%.  He has been the chair of the New Democrat Coalition, the largest House Democratic ideological caucus, since 2025.  He has also been not only an AIPAC supporter but an active and vocal member.  He has accused critics of Isreal with being Anti-Semitic.   He is opposed by obscure Republican Carl Lambrecht.  This is a tough race for supporters of Palestinian justice and safety.  But in a possibly narrowly divided House his vote could be critical to securing a Democratic take-over.  This is a sort of realist hold-your-nose endorsement.

11th Congressional District

Bill Foster advertises himself as an independent scientist and businessman.     He was first elected to Congress in 2008 replacing sex scandal disgraced, Dennis Hassert in the 14th District.  A Republican sponsored re-map Gerrymandered him out of that seat.  Foster moved to Naperville to run in the 11th District in 2012 and has been re-elected and has been re-elected every two years since then.  He enjoyed strong support of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats.  He provided leadership on many scientific and technical issues while providing strong back-bench support for most progressive causes but was sometimes viewed as insufficiently activist by some progressives, especially for withholding support for Medicare for All in favor of tinkering with Obama Care.  Like his colleague Lauren Underwood, who was re-districted out of her chunk of McHenry Count, Foster has a peerless constituent service and spends a good deal of time in the district, including hours at NO Kings and similar events where he thoughtfully engaged in deep conversations with many participants.  I found him open and curious even when we did not agree.  Israeli policy has been less critical in his races.  Foster voted to provide Israel with support following October 7 attacks but also cosponsored the West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025, which opposed Israeli violence in the West Bank and has spoken out about Gaza but has not signed off on a total suspension of arms aid and sales.  The 11th District covers the largest swath of McHenry County. This Blog has endorsed him in all of his races and continues to do so.

16th Congressional District

Youthful Paul Nolley is a long-shot challenger for veteran Republican Ray LaHood in the largely rural 16th Congressional District which includes Harvard and other small communities in the northwest corner of McHenry County.  The son of working class parents he has been deeply involved in community service, working with organizations such as the YMCA, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and is Executive Director of Project First Rate, advocating for union contractors, apprenticeship programs, and responsible construction policies.  He has the strong support of the Illinois AFL-CIO and other labor leaders.  Donald Trump's sagging popularity with farmers and small business people battered by his tariffs and trade wars, soaring fuel and fertilizer costs due to the War on Iran, and labor shortages due to ICE raids and enforcement have put the district somewhat in play.  It remains a long shot, but in a total MAGA collapse Nolley stands a change.  Well worth a vote.

The Heretic, Rebel a Thing to Flout Illinois General Election Endorsements--Part I State-wide Races

 

Early voting in the Illinois General Election began last Thursday.  With that in mind, the crack staff here at Heretic, Rebel a Thing to Flout have completed their investigations and consultations to present our endorsements.  As is our custom here, we will drill down from the top-of-the-ticket state-wide races down through Congressional Races in McHenry County, to county-wide and County Board Races.

We make no apologies for endorsing a straight Democratic ticket.  In this hour of national emergency threatening the future of Democracy itself and innumerable outrages, voting is a critical and essential act of Resistance.   Republicans at every level are either Trump cultists, MAGA fanatics, enablers, or dupes.  None can whistle-by-the-graveyard and claim to be uninvolved.  Their very insistence on remaining Republican legitimizes the naked edge of Fascism.

U.S. Senate

Lt. Governor Julia Stratton is an easy pick over Dan Tracy, a former Republican State Chair who previously was whooped by Tammy Duckworth ten years ago.  She will continue the steady leadership of retiring Senator Dick Durban and be a powerful advocate of Illinois's progressive values.

Governor and Lt. Governor

J.B. Pritzker has earned re-election to a third term.  He took over a state mired in debt and badly mismanaged under his Republican predecessor and managed to slash the debt and repeatedly restore the Illinois bond ratings saving taxpayers multi-millions while increasing essential services and acting to protect vulnerable targets of MAGA rage--immigrants, reproductive rights, ballot access, LGBTQ+ rights, especially threatened Trans youth.  He has emerged as one of the leading critics of Donald Trump and is widely considered a possible top contender for the 2028 Presidential nomination.  His opponent is folky Down State agribusiness operator Christian Nationalist  Darren Bailey whose positions are so extreme that Pritzker trounced him four years ago.  This time the Governor's campaign just re-rolled out the same TV ads they used for years ago to ridicule his stand on abortions rights, slavish devotion to Trump, and his endorsement of Biblical literalism in education, including his belief the dinosaurs and humans walked the earth at the same time.  

Former State Representative and Pritzker's Deputy Governor Chistian Mitchel is on the Ticket for Lt. Governor.

Attorney General

In his two terms as Kwami Raoul has become a recognized leader of Democratic Attorney Generals in challenging the depredations of the national maladministration and corporate pillagers.  He has ardently defended ballot access and election integrity.  His opponent is political gad fly and former Democratic Chicago Alderman Bob Fioretti.  

 

Comptroller

Margaret Croke is Gov. Pritzker's hand-picked choice for state Comptroller.  She currently represents Chicago neighborhoods in the General Assembly and had previous experience as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and was a key political operative in Hillary Clinton's 2016 Illinois campaign, for former Chicago Mayor Rham Emanuel and the Governor himself.  She narrowly won the most hotly contested race in the Spring Primary and faces obscure Republican non-entity and sacrificial lamb, Bryan Drew.

Treasurer

 

Michael W. Frerichs is the very tall two-term state Treasurer.  Like most of the rest of the state-wide office holders he would like to climb the ladder to higher office, but advancement is blocked as long as Pritzker remains governor.  He will faithfully continue in his current job until the log jam breaks.  His popularity is attested by no Republican opponent in his re-election  bid.

The very high-profile Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is one of those ambitious pols but didn't just wait patiently in line.  He is not only running for re-election to his current job,but is one of the leading candidates to challenge Brandon Johnson for Mayor of Chicago next spring.  Highlighting "actually standing up to Donald Trump" and backed by deep pockets in the Greek-American Community he has flooded the airways with TV ads for both offices.  It is often difficult to distinguish which office the spots are for.  Perhaps it doesn't matter.  More voters will know his name than anyone on either ballot except Pritzker.  Diane Harris is his nominal Republican opponent for re-election.

Looking Back to Champ White Stockings Didn’t Draw Flies in Troy

Almost all of this 1880 Championship team was back for another romp to the crown a year later.  Cap Anson front and center. 

Just minutes apart on Friday both the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox sewed up playoff spots in their respective leagues.  It was only the fourth time both teams made the post season in the same year.  It happened in the 150th Anniversary Year of Major League Baseball, the National League, and it's Chicago franchise.  That franchise is now known as the Cubs.  The White Sox in the upstart American League were named after the heroes of the Gilded Age.  They met in the World Series only once in 1906 when the underdog Hitless Wonder Sox upset the dominant and star-studded Cubs in four out of six cross-town games.  The odds are stacked against the rivals meeting again for the World Championship this year, but anything is possible depending on matchups, injuries, and weather.  Despite their dominance of early professional baseball and National Leage championships, in 1881White Stocking drew probably the smallest crowd to a game MLB history.

Chicago player/manager Cap Anson was not only the biggest star in early Major League Baseball but a major player in shaping the National Pass Time.

On September 27, 1881, the Chicago White Stockings (now known as the Cubs) played a game before the smallest “crowd” in their long history—12.  Probably also the smallest crowd for any Major League regular season game.  Which was strange.  Under legendary player/coach Cap Anson the Chicago Nine had been the top professional team for some time and dominated the early seasons of the National League.  On that Tuesday afternoon in Troy, New York, the team was coasting to another championship with an eight-game lead.

Perhaps it was because the Troy Trojans—you didn’t expect any other nickname did you?—were a lousy team.  They struggled in 5th place and finished the season 39-45, 17 games behind Chicago.  But the White Stockings were so laden with talent that they were a draw everywhere, even when the host teams were certified mopes. The Trojans would be disbanded after the next losing season.  More than half of their players jumped to a brand-new franchise in New York City, the Gothams—later known as the Giants.

The hapless Troy Trojans, soon to go out of business.

Perhaps the low attendance was due to the weather.  My attempts to ascertain conditions that day in Troy have been unsuccessful.  But it can get a mite nippy and/or rainy and raw in Upstate New York.  My guess is that is what kept the crowd below the combined number of players on the field.

The Cubs would go on to have their own attendance problems, even in beautiful Wriggly Field when they seemed mired in particular futility in the early 1950’s.  But they have gone on to become one of the most successful teams in baseball in terms of selling tickets.   Home games have routinely sell out.  Compared to the nearly empty stadiums you see on television for some teams, they are the envy of baseball.

Oh, by the way, back to that game in Troy—the White Stockings won 10-8.

The Parthenon is a Ruin but a Grand Survivor of Antiquity

 

The Parthenon was originally brightly painted.

Sitting on top of the Acropolis, the stony high point of Athens, the Parthenon in all of its ruined glory is one of the most famous structures in the world, an icon of classic antiquity, and for the Greeks, the symbol of their cultural glory.  But its current condition is not just the result of centuries of wear and tear or even of the earthquakes that shake the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.  Here’s what happened.

The Parthenon we know today was the second—some believe the third—temple structure on that hill.  The first was begun shortly after the Battle of Marathon about 490 BCE.  It was a sanctuary for Athena Parthenos, the Virgin Athena.  It replaced even older temple structures to other gods.  Alas, the structure, sometimes called the proto-Parthenon, did not last long and was not even finished when the Persians sacked the city and razed the Acropolis in 480 BCE. 

Some believe that a second proto-Parthenon was begun around 466 BCE and abandoned before completion, its foundation used in the present structure.  This theory, propounded by German archeologist Wilhelm Dörpfeld around 1890 is not now widely held.

Most believe the site was left vacant for 33 years, some say because of an oath sworn by the Greek allies before the Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE declaring that the sanctuaries destroyed by the Persians would not be rebuilt until Greece was safe from further Persian invasion.  The Peace of Callias between the Greeks and the Persians in 450 BCE supposedly relieved the Athenians of their obligation.  But in fact, decades of war had emptied the city’s coffers.  There was no money for public works on a grand scale.

                                    A bust of Pericles inscribed "Pericles, son of Xanthippus, Athenian." A marble Roman copy after a Greek original from c. 430 BCE.

The great Athenian leader Pericles relocated the seat of the Delian League, the alliance of more than 150 Greek city states which ringed the Aegean and Black Seas and which defeated the Persians, from the island of Delos to Athens and made the Acropolis its de facto headquarters.  Athens was then the preeminent power in that corner of the world, and like many a victor before him, Pericles was determined to show off that power and wealth in stone.  He ordered the crown of the Acropolis leveled and the construction of a new temple to Athena.  Construction lasted from 447 to at least 432 BCE.

We know that the architects of the new building were Ictinos and Callicrates and the sculptor Phidias was both the general artistic supervisor and the creator of the bas relief decoration, incidental sculpture, and the giant statue of Athena Parthenos that was the center piece of the interior.  More on her later.

It was a massive project to build the temple which measured 228.0 x 101.4 feet at the base with 46 out and 23 inner Doric columns supporting a massive roof of marble tiles. The largest single expense in its creation was the transportation of tons of the stone from Mt. Pentelicus, about 10 miles from Athens, to the Acropolis.  The finished work is considered the finest example of Greek architecture ever built and inspired the later Romans and well as the Classical Revival architecture for public buildings that was popular in Europe and America for a century and a half.

Interestingly, although we call the Parthenon a temple, it was evidently not originally a place of worship—it was more of a public monument, a center for civic events, and perhaps more than anything a treasury.  The Cult of Athena Polias, the civic protector of the city, worshiped nearby in the more ancient temple on the northern side of the Acropolis.  Nor were there any know priestesses or rituals associated with the site. 

A reproduction of the Statue of Athena Parthenos by Pheidias, the centerpiece of the Parthenon literally clothed in the treasury of Athens.

Phidias’s famous statue was not an object of veneration which must at all times be ritually attended, cleaned, and preserved.  Which is probably a good thing because the statue was assembled on a wooden core, covered with shaped bronze plates covered in turn with removable gold plates, with the flesh of the goddess’s face and arms made from ivory.  The gold, made from melted coins seized from enemies of Athens, weighed 44 talents—about 2,400 pounds.  Importantly, the plate could be removed.  Essentially, it represented a large portion of the treasury of the Delian League.  The gold plates were removed at least once by Lachares in 296 BCE to pay his troops and were replaced by gilded bronze plates.

The trouble is, no matter how big and heavy you make your treasury by turning it into a monument, eventually someone will conquer you and haul it away.  Which is just what happened.  The Romans carted it off in the 5th Century C.E. It was reported in Constantinople before disappearing entirely.  We know pretty much what the statue looked like, however, from copies, vase paintings, carved gems, coins, and written descriptions.

The Parthenon itself stood and remained dedicated to Athena for nearly 1000 years.  During much of that time it was painted in vivid colors, not at all the austere white that we imagine.  We know that from the contemporary accounts of visitors to Athens and it has been confirmed by the recent archeology which using modern technology has identified tiny residues of paint.  Undoubtedly, it was re-painted after a major fire in the 3rd Century destroyed the roof, which was replaced by wood with clay tiles and pitched more steeply than the original, and damaged the great statue of Athena.

In an act of Christian triumphalism Emperor Theodosius II decreed in 435 AD that all pagan temples in the Byzantine Empire be closed.  The Empire carted off many of the remaining treasures and the Parthenon was left open for further looting. 

After that the building fell into other hands and was converted to other uses.  Around 590 it was converted to an Orthodox Church known at different times as Church of the Parthenos Maria (Virgin Mary), or the Church of the Theotokos (Mother of God).  Many physical alterations and additions had to be made to the building, pagan sculptures that could not be re-interpreted as Christian were removed and many were destroyed, Christian texts were carved into some pillars, and interior walls were painted with icons.  It became one of the four most holy Orthodox pilgrimage places.

The Fourth Crusade conquered Byzantium in 1204 and Athens fell under the sway of the Catholic Church, which tore out Orthodox iconography and renamed the building the Church of Our Lady.  Other physical alterations were made, including the construction of a bell tower at the southwest corner. And so it remained for another 250 years.

Then it was time for the Catholics to exit the stage.  In 1456, Ottoman Turks laid siege to Athens which was defended by a Florentine army which made its last stand on the Acropolis, holding out for two years before surrendering to the Turks. By the turn of the 16th Century, they converted the building to a mosque, scouring it of graven images, both Catholic and pagan, and extending the old church tower into a minaret.

Despite all of these changes of hands, the basic structural integrity of the building was intact and much of the sculptural ornamentation, especially the frieze and pediments were well preserved.  Several Westerners visited the city, wrote detailed descriptions, and made drawings of the venerable building.  Everyone who saw it was struck by its beauty.

In 1687 the Venetians, the dominant naval and military power in the Mediterranean, decided to retake Athens for the greater glory of the Church as part of its wider war against the Ottomans.  Or maybe they just wanted to sack the city.  Hard to tell the difference. 

Francesco Morosini and his subordinate general, the Swede Count Otto Wilhelm Königsmarck laid siege to Athens.  As the Catholics before them had done, the Ottomans fortified the Acropolis—and they made the Parthenon their main arsenal, filling it with hundreds of barrels of powder.  In retrospect it was probably not the wisest idea to make the most visible target in the city into a literal powder keg.

Morosini seems to have been informed of how the Parthenon was being used by a deserter—or perhaps even by a Turkish agent in the belief that the attackers would never target such a historic treasure.  They were wrong.  Morosini pounded the city with artillery from the surrounding hills.  He did not spare the temple.  A mortar round pierced the roof on September 26, 1687 and exploded in the magazine.  

An Italian representation of the bombardment of the Parthenon and attached Mosque by Venetian mortars in 1687 causing the Ottoman powder arsenal inside to blow up almost destroying the ancient temple.

The explosion was tremendous.  Greek architect and archaeologist Kornilia Chatziaslani described the destruction:

. ...three of the sanctuary’s four walls nearly collapsed and three-fifths of the sculptures from the frieze fell. Nothing of the roof apparently remained in place. Six columns from the south side fell, eight from the north, as well as whatever remained from eastern porch, except for one column. The columns brought down with them the enormous marble architraves, triglyphs and metopes.

Three hundred defenders and civilians were killed outright.  Stone fragments rained down like shrapnel over a wide area wounding hundreds more.  Fires were ignited that burned much of the Acropolis and much of the city including many homes.  Of course it finished off Turkish resistance.  Morosini occupied the city in triumph.

Count Königsmarck would later claim that Morosini regretted the “accidental” destruction of the temple, but in his own report back to Venice the commander boasted of his lucky shot.  The next day Morosini ordered the looting of the smoldering wreckage.  His troops tried to remove sculptures of Poseidon and Athena’s horses fell to the ground and smashed as they tried to detach them from the building’s west pediment.  The victor had to content himself with lesser spoils.  21st Century Venetians with their sinking city may be all about preserving “our priceless architectural and cultural heritage”, but clearly in the 17th Century they didn’t give a rat’s ass.

Morosini held the city for less than a year, retreating when the Ottomans assembled a large army to dislodge him.  

A late 18th Century European depiction of the ruined Parthenon and attached mosque.

When the Turks returned, they did not try to rebuild the nearly destroyed building.  They did use some of the stone wreckage as construction material elsewhere in the city and used smaller pieces as land fill.  They also discovered there was a lucrative European market for antiquities and began to loot the ruins for their own profit and to allow visitors to cart off souvenirs which were sometimes hacked from still standing components. 

Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin obtained a controversial permit from government to remove pieces from the Parthenon while serving as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803.  Through 1812, Elgin’s agents removed about half of the surviving sculptures of the Parthenon and carted them away to England where they found a prominent home in the British Museum.

A war of independence restored Athens to Greek hands for the first time in centuries in 1832.  For the Greeks the Parthenon was a great cultural symbol.  They quickly leveled the minaret and razed the remaining portions of the mosque.  They cleared the Acropolis of all Latin, medieval and Ottoman buildings.  But they had no money for further restoration or to prevent continued looting by western antiquity collectors and dealers.  

Looted from the Parthenon, the so-called Elgin Marbles are proudly displayed in the British Museum.  Despite decades of appeals and negotiations the Brits refuse to return what they stole.

The Greeks always protested the legitimacy of the Lord Elgin’s questionable deal—indeed the supposed permit documents from the Sultan have never been found.  The Greek government has been demanding a return of their patrimony since 1975 when they began a comprehensive project to restore the Parthenon and the Acropolis.  The British Government has steadfastly refused on the principle that they were stolen fair and square despite decades of rancorous negotiations.

The Parthenon today is threatened by Athens, air pollution and acid rain which eats away at the marble.

There have been several attempts at not so much restoring the Parthenon as cleaning and preserving it in its current state of ruin.  Heavy air pollution and acid rain continue to do damage to the building and some predict may complete what the Venetians started.