UPDATE on Campaign funding for judge

We all know that Mr. Hursh is now the Republican Candidate for the 17th Circuit Court.  There are a few additional contributors which were reported on January 29 and 30th and  unavailable on election day.   Their names and contributions are shown in blue.

The Tobin for Judge Committee was formed on January 16, 2010 and no financials are available.  See photocopies of the Statement of Organization below:

 

As mandated by law the candidates have submitted required schedules of contributions and expenditures for the last six months to the State Board of Election.  Their respective filings are available at: http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-01-22T21%3A13%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=7

As a convenience the following is an updated summary of their filings.

David A.Englund:  Mr. Englund has expended $19,074 on the campaign as of 12-31-2009.   In addition there are in-kind contributions (internet ads) of approximated $2500 given by Berman Stephen of Hanover, MD and approximately $6220 of in-kind contributions paid by the candidate. Thus far the campaign is  financed almost completely by a $50,000 loan from Mr. Englund’s personal funds. There was $31,100 of remaining funds as of 12-31-2009.

Mr. Englund ran successfully for re-election to the 16th district in 1994, a total of $15,000 was expended based upon filings available at the Board of Elections.

James P. Hursh: Mr. Hursh has expended $15,856 on the campaign as of 12-31-2009. In kind contribution of $270. Total receipts consists of $18,351 in individual contributions and a $5,000 loan from Ralph and Beverly Hursh.  $10,000 of the contributions was from the candidate himself.  Other major contributors include:  Ralph&Beverly Hursh ($3,000), Angus & Barbara More ($500), Laura Epstein, ($500),  R Robert Funderburg ($1,000), Retired Judge Angus More of Rockford($1,000), Jody and Kathy Goad,($300),  Kent Kniep ($250), Dave and Amy Gallano ($210), Gerald and Carol Rowe ($160).  Jack Wolf Chrysler made an in-kind contribution of $250.  There was $7,495 of remaining funds as of 12-31-2009.

Ron Wait:  Mr. Wait has expended $22,230 on the campaign as of 12-31-2009.  The entire campaign has been financed by a $80,000 and now an additional $25,000 loan from the candidate.

During the period 7-1 to 12-31-2009, Mr. Wait was also actively soliciting funds under the CITIZENS FOR RON WAIT, a political committee which existed since 1982.  That committee has the stated purpose to elect Ron Wait to 68th Representative District in the General Assembly.  The required disclosure items for that committee are also shown below.  There is a sizeable list of large contributors.   This listing is available by clicking on the smaller photocopies.  Also see the $4,000 transfer in’s from corporate sponsors also on small photocopy.  It is difficult to determine what affect this committee has had on the campaign for judge.  Expenditures exceeded revenue and only $2,054 cash is now available.  During the period the committee owed a loan of $51,000 from the candidate which is unchanged from the previous period.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

Mayor: Belvidere has spent $95K fighting gangs

 

Brereton said the city has spent $95,000 since 2004 fighting gangs through the Gang Intervention Unit, which was formed as a response

Dammon testified about more than 100 graffiti photos from the Belvidere Police Department, known to be by the Latin Kings based on reports and stylings. The markings included five-point crowns, pitchforks facing down and references to themselves through abbreviations.

Click on the following for more details:  Mayor: Belvidere has spent $95K fighting gangs - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

The Belvidere Daily Republican. - City considers water, sewer rate hike

"They (Chrysler) are one of our largest users, with a yearly account of $1.2 million," Lawler responded, and he reported that their use has been off by about 20 to 30 percent this year.

Alderman Bob Bowley made a motion to allow the Public Works Department to increase the water and sewer by the first "step." For water usage, that would be an increase from $1.34/HCF to $1.48, averaging for the typical residential household an increase of $7.47. For the sewer portion of the bill, the increase would be from $2/HCF up to $2.12, or a total sewer increase for the year for the typical residential household of $9.96. The total yearly cost for implementing just the first step for both water and sewer is estimated to total just over $18.

The Belvidere Daily Republican. - City considers water, sewer rate hike

Internet gambling again in play - washingtonpost.com

Poker lobbyists are ramping up an aggressive push backed by millions of dollars to legalize Internet gambling in the United States this year, hoping to overcome passionate objections from social conservatives, sports leagues and other longtime opponents.

The federal government, which rarely prosecutes online gambling, would net billions of dollars in tax and licensing revenue if it were legalized, proponents say.

With 1.2 million members, the alliance is funded largely by the Interactive Gaming Council, a Canada-based trade group for offshore gambling firms. Together, the groups have spent more than $4 million on Washington lobbying over the past year, and the alliance says its members have recently sent more than 300,000 mailings and e-mails to members of Congress.

Click on the following for more details:  Internet gambling again in play - washingtonpost.com

Illinois Fair Map Amendment: Sign the Petition

League of Women Voters

If you want to pick your representatives – instead of letting them pick you – help us get the Illinois Fair Map Amendment on the ballot!

Follow these simple rules to avoid a legal challenge. It’s Easier Than It Looks!

Step 1: Download the petition for the election authority where you live (Most are County election authorities – Cook, DuPage, Kane, Sangamon, for example. The exceptions are: Aurora, Bloomington, Chicago, Danville, East St. Louis, Galesburg, Peoria, Rockford — which each require a City petition for voters in their City)

• Make sure you include the text of the Amendment – which must be copied onto the back of each petition when it is circulated
• Send us an email so we can help you – and keep you updated on our progress.

Step 2: Circulate the petition or petitions among your friends, neighbors and co-workers.

• Each person who signs must be a registered voter AND live in the County(or City) listed on the petition (Will County voters must sign Will County petition; Jackson County voters must sign Jackson County petitions; Danville voters must sign Danville petitions)
• Each petition sheet should include only voters from 1 election authority
• To circulate petitions – you do not have to be a registered voter – but you must be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Illinois.

Step 3: When you have secured all the signatures you can, have the petition notarized by signing it in the presence of a notary.

• You can find a notary at your local bank, currency exchange or real estate office.

Step 4: Mail the petition to us by April 1, 2010:

Illinois Fair Map Amendment
c/o League of Women Voters
332 South Michigan Ave, Suite 1150
Chicago, Illinois 60604

Everyone who completes 5 or more petition sheets will be invited to a special dinner in May with reform-minded legislators and community leaders.

If you have any questions, please contact Jan Czarnik at the League of Women Voters at 312-939-5935

LET US GET STARTED-- get the petition and start collecting signatures--Click on the following:  Illinois Fair Map Amendment: Sign the Petition

Lena’s history exposed: Well guarded secret highlighted on ‘American Pickers’

‘American Pickers’--This is a regular show on the History Channel--'The show will air again at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11'

The Opera House was built in 1879 and in it’s heyday, was used frequently in the village. It was closed in 1938, but Bill has done a lot of work restoring it in the 20 years he has owned the property. The stage still has an original curtain framing it. There are posters framed on the walls from various events held over the years. The chairs are still in tact and the stage has both an old piano and an organ.

Many natives of Lena don’t even know about the opera house.

Lena is a village in Stephenson County.The population was 2,887 at the 2000 census.

Click on the following for more details: Lena’s history exposed: Well guarded secret highlighted on ‘American Pickers’ - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Northwest Herald | ZBA to hear request for Islamic community center

See the Comment Section—over 100 comments all because an Islamic Group wished to build a community center.  The real news story here maybe public opinion.  Look soon, in six days the newspaper will require you pay a fee.

The Islamic Center of McHenry County is looking to open a community center in an existing home and frame barn on 5 acres at 5008 E. Crystal Lake Ave., just outside of city boundaries. The group, which received tax-exempt status about three years ago, is seeking a conditional use permit from the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals.

Click on the following for comments and more details:  Northwest Herald | ZBA to hear request for Islamic community center

The following is a statement from the center’s homepage at:  http://icmc-us.org/home.html

Islamic Center of McHenry County (ICMC) is committed to work in harmony with the local community to establish an Islamic Center in Crystal Lake, IL. ICMC aims to enable the religious, educational, social, and cultural aspirations of the Muslims in McHenry County and its surrounding areas. The vision of the ICMC is to create a vibrant, productive and prosperous community while building bridges to foster interfaith understanding with its neighbors.

Free admission at Shedd, Art Institute

Shedd Aquarium is offering free general admission next week -- from Monday through Friday -- and every Monday and Tuesday in February.

General admission at the Art Institute of Chicago is free every day this month.

Click on the following for more details concerning exactly what is free:  Free admission at Shedd, Art Institute :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State

Challenging the Constitutionality of Privatizing Parking Meters in Chicago

The law firm of Clint Kristov is heading a class action lawsuit against the city, it's comptroller, the Secretary of State in Illinois, Jesse White, and the State's current Comptroller Dan Hynes, challenging the constitutionality of this contract. Kristov is himself currently running for state Comptroller as a Democrat. [Kristov lost in primary]
The nexis of the lawsuit comes from this portion of the Illinois constitution.

public funds, property or credit, shall be used only for public purposes.

The case is making its way through the city's Circuilt Court system and [Sun-Times] updates will come.

Click on the following for more details:  Chicago Sun-Times :: ::

Foreclosures down in January, but surge on way?

The number of U.S. households facing foreclosure in January increased 15 percent from the same month last year, and a surge in cash-strapped homeowners who've fallen behind on mortgages could be on the way….one in 409 homes were sent a filing…."There's a lot of foreclosures in the pipeline, and the number is going to continue to get bigger," said Patrick Newport, an economist with IHS Global Insight.

, Nevada posted the nation's highest foreclosure rate, followed by Arizona, California, Florida and Utah. Rounding out the top 10 were Idaho, Michigan, Illinois, Oregon and Georgia.

Click on the following for more details:  Foreclosures down in January, but surge on way? - Yahoo! News