Early voting actually began on February 19 at the McHenry County Clerk's office, 667 Ware Road, Suite 107 in Woodstock.
Early
voting
for the March 19th Primary at the McHenry County Clerk’s office
has begun and Vote By Mail (VBM) ballots have been mailed.
It is not too late to get a Vote By Mail Ballot. Voting by mail is convenient, time-saving,
and guarantees that you will have your voice heard, no matter the
weather, the lines, or life’s surprises that
prevent you from getting to the polls.
Get information
about voting and VBM on at https://www.mchenrydems.org/vote.
Here
are the official Heretic, Rebel a Thing to Flout endorsements. Note only candidates running on the Democratic
ballot are recommended.
Our Presidential endorsement was a no brainer.
· For
President—Joe Biden, incumbent President is strongly
endorsed. Also on the ballot are Frankie
Lozada, businessman, and Dean Phillips, incumbent Congressman
from Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District. Note the Presidential primary is a preference
only beauty contest. To gain delegates
to the Democratic National Convention you have to vote separately for
a slate of pledged delegates.
·
For
Congress in districts serving
part of McHenry County:
o 9th Congressional
District—Michael
Donahue and incumbent Jan Schakowsky, endorsed.
o 10th Congressional
District—incumbent
Brad Schneider, unopposed and endorsed.
o 11th Congressional
District—incumbent
Bill Foster. Progressives and
opponents of Israel’s war in Gaza back Qasim Rashid. Despite my shared concern about the
war, Foster is a thoughtful veteran lawmaker who deserves re-nomination.
The hottest Democratic Congressional race pits incumbent Bill Foster against Qasim Rashid running as a progressive. We endorse Foster.
- Illinois House of Representatives in districts
serving part of McHenry County:
o
House District 52—Maria Peterson.
o House District 63—Mary Mahady, currently McHenry Township Assessor.
o House District 66—incumbent Suzanne
Ness.
o House District 69—Peter Janko,
currently a Democratic National Committeeman.
o House District 70—Randi Olson.
• McHenry County Board Chair—Kelli Wegener,
currently representing McHenry County Board District 5.
• McHenry County Board Members:
o District 1—incumbent Theresa
Meshes.
o District 2—incumbent John
Collins.
o District 3—Rester Dogboe
has filed as a write-in candidate.
o District 4—Brian Dean Meyers, currently an elected Regional
Board of Education member.
o District 7—incumbent Lou
Ness.
o District 8—Dawn Milarski.
o District 9—Dawn Jordi Ellison.
Note—Democrats can still slate
candidates for offices where no one filed to be on the ballot by caucus. Contact County Chair Ruth Scifo at 815
263-9659 if you are interested in running for office.
A McHenry County Mental Health Board
Sales Tax Referendum is also on the ballot.
County Board voted to put the following question on the March 19 ballot:
To
pay for mental health purposes, shall McHenry County be authorized to impose an
increase on its share of local sales taxes by one-quarter (1/4) percent and
discontinue the current property tax levy funding mental health services and
the Mental Health Board?
This would mean that a consumer would
pay an additional 25 cents in sales tax for every $100 of tangible
personal property bought at retail. This sales tax would take effect
on July 1, 2024. This would remove
the $10,975,000 from the property tax levy allocated for the Mental
Health Board effective November 30, 2024.
For most taxpayers this would amount to a net tax reduction
and secure the agency reliable funding for increasing demand for
services as well as a hedge against inflation. Democrats on the current County Board are divided. But we endorse the referendum.
As the political season heats up, a
number of events have been scheduled.
• McHenry County Democratic Women Social—Thursday,
February 15, 2024 at 6:00 pm at Sofie’s Whiskey &
Wine, 150 South Eastwood Drive,
Unit D in Woodstock. McHenry
County Democratic Women members and their friends are invited to a casual
get-together to relax, discuss the issues, and socialize with friends, and Meet
candidates who will be running in the primary.
• Meet Qasim Rashid--This informal event
is at a private residence near downtown Crystal Lake, from 3:00
to 5:00 pm on Monday, February 19. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/qasimforcongress/event/604632/
or contact John Darger at rjdarger@gmail.com
for more information.
• McHenry County Democratic Central
Committee Meeting—Wednesday, February 21 at 7 pm at
the McHenry County College Conference Center.
• Democratic Party of McHenry County Veterans’
Committee—Wednesday, February 21 at McHenry County College. If you’re a veteran and a Democrat, we invite
you to join the new Veterans Committee, a new committee we are created to activate
our local vets. here will be a
brief presentation by Illinois Veterans for Change on how we can
do more to support local veterans and get them elected to office.
• Forum on the Mental Health Board
Referendum—Thursday, February 22 at 7:00 pm at McHenry
County College sponsored by the League of Women Voters of McHenry
County.
