2024 General Election Early Voting Opens Thursday in McHenry County

The new McHenry County Election Center on Eastwood Drive (Rt. 47) in Woodstock will open for early in person voting on Thursday, September 26.

Note—A tip-o’-the-hat to tireless Ed Gogol for this critical reminder for McHenry County voters.  Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout echoes his endorsements.

Early in-person voting starts this Thursday, September 26, at the new McHenry County Election Center at 410 South Eastwood Drive (Route 47) in Woodstock.  The Election Center will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.  It’s at the north end of the same shopping center where the Secretary of State’s office is.  Turn in by the Taco Bell.

Then beginning October 21, eleven additional early voting locations will be open around the county.  Any McHenry County registered voter can vote at any early-voting location.  There’s even Saturday voting hours.  Here’s the full list of early voting locations and hours.

Sample ballots are now available on the County Clerk’s website .  And if you’ve applied for a Vote-By-Mail ballot (either one-time or permanently), watch your mailbox, as they should be arriving shortly.  For full details on everything related to voting, check the updated Vote page at mchenrydems.org.

I’m sure like me you’ll be proud to cast your ballot for our great Democratic candidates.

I’m an emotional dude and may have difficulty keeping it together when I cast my vote for Kamala Harris.  I will think of all the amazing women in my life and I shudder to think of the calamities that will befall us if the Orange Menace gets back in.  The parallels to Germany in the 1930’s could not be more apt. 

I’m proud of our Illinois congressional delegation and look forward to returning Brad Schneider, Jan Schakowsky, and Bill Foster to Washington.

I look forward to increasing our pro-choice Democratic majorities in the Illinois House by re-electing the amazing Suzanne Ness, and by electing Mary Mahady, Maria Peterson, Randi Olson, and Peter Janko. 

County-wide, I will celebrate when we elect the awesome Kelli Wegener as County Board Chair, and the fantastic Chris Kalapodis as Coroner.  Don’t be fooled by all the signs for Michael Rein.  He’s a chiropractor, not a medical doctor, and he’s a gun nut (I’ve seen him at the County Fair helping to distribute lawn signs showing an assault rifle.) 

And wherever you live in McHenry County, there’s a great Democratic candidate for County Board.  I look forward to re-electing Theresa Meshes in District 1 and Lou Ness in District 7, and to electing John Collins in District 2, Rester Dogboe in District 3, Brian Meyers in District 4, Steve Firak in District 5, Arne Waltmire in District 6, Dawn Milarski in District 8, and Dawn Jordi Ellison in District 9.

You can find links to all of our great Democratic candidates at our Candidates Page.  And it’s definitely not too late for your financial contributions to make a big difference. 

Let them play in their own sandbox. For McHenry County Auditor and States Attorney, Republican candidates are running unopposed.  That doesn’t mean we should vote for them – it’s okay not to vote in these races.  As our former Chairwoman Kristina Zahorik is fond of saying, “let them play in their own sandbox.”  The Republican Party of today bears no resemblance to the party of Lincoln, and no self-respecting person should run for a party that puts Donald Trump at the top of the ticket. 

I feel the same way about the Judicial races and Judicial retention ballots.  The Republican party has gone beyond the pale, and I cannot bring myself to vote for anyone who calls themself a Republican:  No matter how “qualified” they may be, they’re helping to send our country to a very dark place.  You may wish to check out the recommendations of the Illinois State Bar Association.  In particular I recommend voting not to retain Michael J. Chmiel.

Vote Yes for the McHenry County Conservation District.  At the bottom of your ballot you’ll notice a very important proposition regarding the portion of your property taxes that goes to the McHenry County Conservation District.  If approved, annual taxes on a property with $300,000 assessed valuation would increase by about $27.  Note, however, that despite this proposition, taxes for the Conservation District are expected to decrease dramatically in 2026 when certain bonds are paid off.

The many parks comprising our Conservation District are jewels of our fair county, and not just for recreation and scenic beauty.  Think habitat for native plants, insects, and wildlife.  And most critically, think replenishing the precious groundwater on which we all depend.  I urge a yes vote for the Conservation District.  Here’s full details and an informative video.

Vote Yes on the three Advisory Questions.  At the very top of your ballot you’ll find three advisory questions:  (1) asking whether candidates should be subject to civil penalties if they interfere or attempt to interfere with an election worker’s official duties; (2) asking whether people with incomes greater than one million dollars should pay an additional 3% on the part greater than that amount, for the purpose of providing property tax relief; and (3) asking whether medical insurance companies should be required to pay for assisted reproductive treatments including in-vitro fertilization. 

Please vote yes for all three.  The second one in particular highlights the hypocrisy of Republican politicians who campaign as “tax cutters.”  What they really mean is that rich people shouldn’t pay taxes.  Everybody else should pay, just not the rich.

 

Tree of Life UUs Stand Behind Marriage Equality In McHenry County Now

Tree of Life's Rev. Sean Parker Dennison, in yellow shirt with cap, joined others from the congregation and members of PFLAG at a Marriage Equality Road Side vigil in McHenry almost exactly one year ago today.

The Rev. Sean Parker Dennison of the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry, is disappointed that McHenry County Clerk Katherine Schultz refused to issue a wedding license to Rodrigo Perez and his partner Marco Mendoza of Huntley.

“Whatever the motivation, it seems discriminatory and punitive,” Dennison said, in light of the court case which allowed same gender marriages to go forward in Cook County.  “Attorney General Lisa Madison has ruled that all Illinois counties may now begin issuing licenses in advance of the June 1 statutory date.  Several counties have done so.  And, as she points out the overwhelming result of recent legal actions across the country have supported marriage equality.”

Dennison’s denomination, the Unitarian Universalist Association, has long been a supporter of marriage equality and his congregation, along with allies from the local chapter of Parents and Families of Gays and Lesbians (PFLAG) conducted a high profile campaign in support of Illinois marriage equality legislation last year that included roadside vigils and lobbying in mass at local legislators’ offices.

The congregation is preparing to perform and host marriage ceremonies as soon they are legal in McHenry County.  “We can’t wait to be part of joyful celebrations.  We would welcome couples as soon as possible. It’s a natural extension of Tree of Life’s commitment to justice and equality.”

The congregation is also planning to hold a wedding for couples just after they can obtain McHenry County licenses.  “Sunday Services on June 8 at 10:45 will be turned into a wedding with a big reception after. We are offering this to any couple—preferably same sex, but if we have room, any couple—who does not have sufficient resources, lacks family or community support for the wedding they dream of, or who just wants to celebrate with us. I will officiate, but each couple will also have their own leader or officiant for their vows.  If weather is nice, we may have the service outdoors on our beautiful grounds. The reception to follow will feature cake and entertainment.”

For information on the June service and celebration or to arrange other wedding services contact the church office at 815 322-2464 or e-mail minister@treeoflifeuu.org.

For McHenry County Political Junkies Only—Partisan Dickwad to Run for County Clerk

Provanano, left, was proud to promote Neo-con ghoul John Bolton at a Republican event.

The other day an article in our local daily, the Northwest Herald caught my attention.  Republican County Board Member Nick Provanzano announced that he was running for the office of County Clerk which will be vacated next year by the twenty year incumbent.  The Clerk’s office, among many other duties, oversees voter registrations and elections.   You can read the article about his announcement here .

Now I know something about Provanzano.  I once ran against him for local office.  I lost.  But I have lost elections to lots of people, not all of whom get up in the morning and pull on their special asshole panties.  I have watched him operate as a slash and burn politician in his own party and his casting himself firmly the in darker corners of the Republican Party. 

No man has ever been more unsuitable to be a fair arbiter of elections.

So I have dusted of my quill, dipped it in indigo, and dashed off another letter to the editor, which the Herald will get around to publishing sooner or later.

Here it is:

To the Editor:

I see that County Board member Nick Provanzano is the first, and so far only, candidate to succeed Kathy Schultz as McHenry County Clerk.  This should send up red flags to anyone concerned with clean government and honest elections.

Kathy Schultz was always a loyal member of the Republican Party, but she ran her office, which oversees voter registration and elections, with scrupulous honesty and even handed fairness which won plaudits from candidates, voters, and leaders of all political  parties.  It was a job she prepared for by coming up through the ranks and performed with non-partisan professionalism.

Provanzano, on the other hand, is as partisan as they come, and an ambitious politician with dreams of empire building.  Within his own party he is known for his sharp elbows and vindictiveness to perceived enemies.  Democrats he openly loathes.  He is a career politician whose day job is flacking for Republican Congressman Randy Hulgren.  A man that partisan and biased simply cannot be trusted to supervise honest elections.

Here is hoping that more reasonable Republican candidates emerge and that the Democrats field a capable and honest candidate to make sure voters have a choice.

Patrick Murfin,

Crystal Lake