Any Old Place

Joe Walsh, the Dean of Lake County's GOP Ex-Congressmen, may not be a Congressman any more but he knows how to spend like one. Walsh gave one consultant more than $115,000 in a failed 2018 bid to capture a seat in the US House of Representatives Springfield Statehouse:

Friends 4 Helene Miller Walsh Inc
D-2 Quarterly Report • 10/1/2018 to 12/31/2018

Make no mistake, $115,000 will buy a campaign a whole lot of something. So your LakeCountyEye tried to contact the beneficiary of Walsh's largess to find out what:

Your LakeCountyEye is still waiting for a response. Despite numerous attempts.

Note to Ops: Anytown IL -- is that near River City, Iowa?

Lake County Community Foundation Names New Executive Director

The Lake County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the promotion of Maggie Morales to Executive Director, effective March 16th. Morales, 35, becomes only the third full-time Executive Director in LCCF’s 15 year history. She brings with her more than a dozen years of experience with the Community Foundation, including direct oversight for the Foundation’s grant making, collective impact and community investment work. During this time, she has played an instrumental role in building regional initiatives such as The Alliance for Human Services, Partnership for a Safer Lake County and supporting The Lake County Together Summit. She will continue as a member of the Live Well Lake County Steering Committee and in other community leadership roles, representing the Foundation.
The Lake County Community Foundation

The News from Wooster Lake

From reading their website,

Tanneron Bay is a condominium community governed by the Illinois Condominium Act, and other applicable and related laws enacted to regulate community and shared-ownership property.
TANNERON BAY

Posted on the website is a Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions:

Wooster Lake Conservation and Control Association Covenants

Recently, this blog has received a tip that these covenants and restrictions are not valid. The tip we received was a cease and desist letter addressed to the Tanneron Bay Board of Directors:

Kaiser Nakon Letter to Tanneron Bay Holiday Park 5-8-2018

Despite the cease and desist letter, it appears that the Tanneron Bay covenants and restrictions are non-binding. According to the website these are to be observed on a voluntary basis:

In the interest of preserving and enhancing the quality of Wooster Lake, Tanneron Bay voluntarily adheres to the WLCCA Covenants as published 7/1/1999: Wooster Lake Conservation and Control Association Covenants
Tanneron Bay Government

Does this effectively nullify the cease and desist letter? I don't know the answer to that question.

Poetry and Prose Contest Awards Night

Local High School Students to be Recognized
at 9th Annual Tenth Dems
Poetry And Prose Contest Awards Night In Waukegan

The Tenth Congressional District Democrats will host its 9th Annual Poetry and Prose Contest Awards Night on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 7 PM. The event will take place at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts in Bowen Park, 39 Jack Benny Drive, Waukegan, IL. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.

On Awards Night, contest winners will be announced and Tenth Dems will award 12 gift cards totaling more than $1000. Participants included students attending high schools in Waukegan, Zion, and North Chicago who submitted an original poem, essay, or story inspired by this year’s theme, RESPECT. Winning entries are selected by panels of published poets.  Every participant is invited to read their original work. 

Tenth Dems is a grassroots political organization that works to elect Democrats to all levels of government within Illinois' 10th Congressional District.

RSVP:
https://act.myngp.com/Forms/7794185500718270208?midqs=8Aro4wT0Dqr0C4uNTT7M0A==

AckAcketology

With the clock running out, local Operatives are consumed with March Madness. That all-consuming madness, of course, is not for the Consolidated Election next Tuesday -- which none of the voters know about, and even fewer will be voting in.

No, Operatives are consumed over their brackets.  They have to predict which city will host the Lake County GOP Gun Raffle & Picnic this year.

Every year the Lake County Republican Party throws a fundraiser, giving away assault weapons as raffle prizes.  Where will the GOP Gun Raffle be this year?

Your LakeCountyEye is betting it will be Deerfield:

Judge throws out Deerfield's assault weapons ban

Next up for bracketologists: What kind of assault weapon will the Lake County GOP be raffling off? AR-15? AK-47? Uzi? MAC-11? Or a Bracket Buster?

Let's Talk Politics, Saturday, Buffalo Grove

Tenth Dems and Vernon Dems Host Let's Talk PoliticsDiscussion in Buffalo Grove

The Tenth Congressional District Democrats and the Vernon Township Democrats are holding "Let's Talk Politics" in Buffalo Grove, on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at 9:30 AM, at The Buffalo Restaurant, 1180 Lake Cook Road, in Buffalo Grove. Admission is free. Breakfast available for purchase from The Buffalo Restaurant.

"Let's Talk Politics" is a moderated discussion and allows opportunities for Democrats, independents and progressives in and around the 10th District to talk about important issues of the day with each other and guests that often include elected officials, candidates, political analysts, and authors.

Tenth Dems is a grassroots political organization that works to elect Democrats to all levels of government within Illinois' 10th Congressional District.

RSVP:
https://act.myngp.com/Forms/-347196725660743936?midqs=3a3syKqkUBrRiyaX8z-zPw==

Off-Year Selections

Did you know there is an election next week? Your LakeCountyEye did not know. The election will not be a complete shutout, however, there are 652 people who will be aware of it. That's because there are 652 candidates on the Lake County 2019 Consolidated election ballot.

Your LakeCountyEye did the math. If you spend 10 seconds each on 652 candidates it will take you nearly 11 hours to cast your ballot. Be sure to get to your poll early!

As luck would have it, voters are not expected to vote for every candidate. You are not obligated to choose any candidates from the other end of the County running for Library Board and Park District and Fire District -- none or whom you've ever heard of. No, you will only be asked to vote for your local candidates for Library Board and Park District and Fire District -- none or whom you've ever heard of.

Who are they? Your LakeCountyEye may not know but your County Clerk does. Click this link to preview who will be on your ballot:

Preview your ballot

Then you can look them all up on the candidate list:

Lake County Candidate List: Consolidated Election - 4/2/2019

They will all be happy to tell you what their positions are on the issues. Tell them your LakeCountyEye sent you.

One Election One Vote

The fundamental theorem of Political Science is:

Voter turnout is inversely proportional to the number of candidates on the ballot.

Just recall 2016: that year there was one option, you got to vote for President. And the voter turnout then was huge. Two years later the ballot had significantly more candidates, Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and the rest. No surprise, turnout in 2018, while substantial, was down bigly.

OK, what about 2019? There will be an astronomical 652 candidates running for some 230 Lake County offices:

Lake County Candidate List
Consolidated Election - 4/2/2019

Plugging these numbers into the fundamental theorem your LakeCountyEye calculates that no one will be voting in 2019. All of which means your vote counts now, more than ever. In an election where nobody goes to the polls, the difference between victory and defeat could be a single vote. Be sure to let your candidate know that you will be voting. An opportunity like this only comes around once in a blue moon!

Note to Ops: The Consolidated Election is April 2, which is a Tuesday.

Vice Chair

The actual unretouched Cuba Township Republican Committeeman List:

Cuba Republican Committeemen

The C stands for Township Chairman:

Your LakeCountyEye would like to be the spycam fly on the wall at those Cuba Township Republican Committeemen meetings.

Drivel License

An actual unretouched screenshot of the Lake County Gazette, Lake County's #1 source of fake news:

Village of Cary Liquor License Violation will meet March 15

For the record, liquor violations occur so frequently in the Village of Cary that these have taken to meeting on a monthly basis.

Haha, j/k.

The Russian Twitter Bot that generates all Lake County Gazette news items had its hard-drive crash in 2016. And since then it has been a random word generator.

No one who subscribes to the Lake County Gazette noticed.

Get Off Schock-Free

Honorary Lake County Ex-GOP-Congressman Aaron Schock got dealt a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card:

In a surprise move, federal prosecutors in Chicago announced they had agreed to drop all charges against Schock in what's known as a deferred prosecution.
Prosecutors in Chicago to drop charges against former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock if he pays back IRS, campaign

Schock had been indicted for misusing Federal campaign money. These are similar charges that had sent former US Rep Jesse Jackson Jr to prison for 2 1/2 years.

As a general rule, it goes without saying, never pinch pennies when it comes to legal counsel.

Note to Lake County GOP Ops: If your legal representation is not up to snuff, it may be time to switch lawyers. Give Aaron Schock a call. Just because there is an R after your name, that doesn't mean you can expect a pardon. Just Sayin!

Close Enough for Anti-Government Work

An actual unretouched screencap from Lake County's #1 fake news source, the Lake County Gazette:

Top 10 campaign contribution recipients
in Lake County for the week of 2019-02-11

For the record, it is widely believed that three is not equal to ten.

The discrepancy has been attributed to the Russian Twitter Bot that produces the Lake County Gazette fakenews stories. One knowledgeable source, who spoke on condition of perspicacity, offered an explanation: "Those Eastern-Bloc fake-news-generating algorithms all use metric system numbers."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

There are No Atheists in a Pothole

Since driving on a permanently revoked license is against the law, your LakeCountyEye normally turns a blind eye to this sort of story:

Road crews are hoping for a break from the snow that will allow them to catch up on the recent crop of potholes following the freeze and thaw cycles. Drivers who spot issues can find reporting forms for the Lake County Division of Transportation at lakecountyil.gov or Illinois Department of Transportation at www.idot.illinois.gov.
Spot a pothole in Lake County? Here's how to report it

To dig up the lowdown, your LakeCountyEye contacted Dr. I.M. Bhatschidtkhrazzi, Blackburn-Lancashire Roads Scholar at the College of Lake County.

"Dude, I am hungry." said Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "My airplane had a layover in one of those Caribbean pothole countries. You know, where the ganja is legal."

Different kind of pothole, your LakeCountyEye was quick to point out.

Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi giggled: "No way!"

Way.

Then Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi was suddenly all frowns: "Haha I'm cool, cool with that. I will say that IDOT has issued a severe pothole warning for all of Lake County. Motorists are asked to stay home. Those who cannot are asked to call Uber."

How big are these hazards?

"I'm glad you asked." grinned Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The potholes in Lake County are so big that entire vehicles are being swallowed. And we're not talking Yugos. We're talking Camrys, even Tauruses."

Hard to believe.

"Believe me." trumpeted Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Scientists found a number of Lake County potholes which go down so deep that even light cannot escape. One has an event horizon that extends completely through McHenry County."

Is it like they will ever notice a difference?

"That baby has it's own zipcode." added Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi.

Is that how the scientists keep track of them?

"No." replied Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Have you noticed how climatologists are now giving names even to local storms?"

So as to gin up public interest in what otherwise would have been some run-of-the-mill weather event?

"Exactly." nodded Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "And transportation officials are now giving names to the Lake County potholes."

Your LakeCountyEye was all like: Get out!

"There is one named pothole near the Bog State Natural Area called the Holo in Volo." continued Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Another one in front of the Waukegan Court House has been christened the Judge Crater. And if you're driving by Gurnee Mills, watch out for the Grand Wazoo."

Your LakeCountyEye had heard enough. Did Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi have any parting advice?

"Tell your Operatives relief is in sight. Foxconn has agreed to buy all of Lake County's potholes to store their industrial waste. Their radioactive runoff will be diverted into the holes, and is expected to harden within 10,000 years. And then the County roads will be like brand new!"

Mardi Gras Pizzamania Fundraiser

Mardi Gras Pizzamania FUNdraiser

Promised Land

Today's pop quiz is multiple choice:

Q:	Who Said: Buy land, they're not making it anymore.
A:	Jesus  Mark Twain

The correct answer is:

Mark Twain

In related news, the Archdiocese of Chicago anticipates to gain $15 million from a 40 acre sale of land in Libertyville to a housing developer:

A Lake County judge has overruled Libertyville officials' decision in 2017 to deny a 148-house development on property at the former Mundelein Seminary. The decision Friday by Lake County Judge Michael Fusz now allows the Catholic Bishop of Chicago and its contracted buyer to proceed. The ruling comes after the Archdiocese of Chicago quickly filed a lawsuit once Libertyville denied proposed zoning changes and permits for the project in 2017.
Judge overrules Libertyville in land-use lawsuit, grants housing project on Archdiocese of Chicago property

Local residents were, if nothing else, righteously indignant. They raised a holy stink over the deal:

The issue galvanized neighbors in opposition. Hundreds attended public hearings and the village board meeting where the final decisions were made.
Candidates support appeal of court decision against Libertyville

Others however were eager to defend the deal. One celestial spokesman spoke on condition of celestiality: "We had wanted to sell the land to Foxconn. But they got a better deal in Wisconsin."

That's all your LakeCountyEye has. Nothing to see here, get off the lawn.

Dedistricting

If you are anything like your LakeCountyEye you wouldn't know a Drainage District from a hole in the ground. How many Drainage Districts are there in Lake County? One fewer than you thought:

A century-old relic of Lake County's agricultural past officially has been retired. The Lake County Board on Tuesday voted to dissolve the Seavey Drainage District, marking the end of a unit of government officials say has outlived its purpose.
Lake County dissolves inactive government body: the Seavey Drainage District

A Drainage District, as its name suggests, is a unit of government with authority to levy taxes. It is also a unit of government that nobody knows about -- but that won't stop nobody from wanting to eliminate it anyways.

Independent auditors recently made an unexpected discovery: in Lake County the layers of Government go all of the way down. And these are not all Drainage Districts. Your LakeCountyEye did some digging and flushed out a whole slew of Lake County taxing bodies that no one knows about. Ten to be exact:

10 Little Known Lake County Units of Government

Red Light Camera District Eminent Domainage District Toxic Gas Cloud District Mosquito Abatement District Not to be Confused with Toxic Gas District Chain O'Lakes Drinking District Police Revenue Generating District Endangered Lake County GOP Habitat Preserve Foxconn Industrial Waste District Stupid Premise for an Internet Top 10 List District Lake County Southern Border Wall District

Look for your LakeCountyEye circling the Drainage District near you.

The Elephant in the Room

The Creepy Chicago Tribune Cartoonist^TM cannot hide his contempt for RINOs Rhinos. He drew this picture of a Rhinoceros in a tee-shirt that reads: $22 TRILLION NATIONAL DEBT

You know what won't be mentioned in the State of the Union?

The drawing implies that the African Black Rhinoceros is the reason why the US Government owes its creditors $22 Trillion.

Why does the Tribune Creepy Cartoonist bear this sort of ill will against critically endangered African mega-fauna? A large animal like a rhino would be a convenient choice for symbolizing something as big as $22 Trillion. But there are other African mammals that could just as easily represent the enormous national debt.

Like the elephant.

The elephant weighs more than two times the rhinoceros and can consume 300 lbs of food per day -- again more than twice the rhino. But your LakeCountyEye has never seen the Creepy Tribune Cartoonist use an elephant to symbolize the national debt. Why not?

The elephant would be a good choice to illustrate other national concerns as well. Like government corruption. Has the Creepy Tribune Cartoonist ever chosen an elephant to depict the scandals at the highest level of the US Government now under investigation? Your LakeCountyEye does not think so.

And what about Climate Change and Gun Violence and the high cost of Health Care? Has the Creepy Chicago Tribune Cartoonist ever symbolized any of these with the picture of an elephant? No, No and No.

Is there something obvious that your LakeCountyEye is missing?

Hit the Road

Townships are like snowflakes. No two are alike.

Some Townships have many many miles of roads. Others have very few roads. All Townships however have a Highway Department.

But as readers of this blog are aware ...

Meet the New Bill

A handful of Townships could lose their Highway Departments if a Bill becomes Illinois Law. The Law gives voters the power to eliminate some Lake County Township Highway Departments:

six county townships with less than 15 miles of roads to maintain could be effected by elimination referendums. They include Avon, Newport, Shields, Vernon, Waukegan and West Deerfield.
Avenue open to drive off some township road posts

Townships with more than 15 miles of road will not be affected.

While some snowflake Township Officials strongly oppose the Law, do not expect any Lake County Township Highway Departments to disappear any time soon. One pseudonymous official told your LakeCountyEye under conditions of pseudonymity: "Even if the Bill becomes Law, once they build the Route 53 Extension, every Township will have hundreds of miles of road to maintain."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Notes From We Don't Want Nobody Nobody Sent

Your LakeCountyEye has discovered that the Polar Vortex was caused by some cold calculations made in Old Mill Creek.

Haha, as readers of this blog are aware ...

We Don't Want Nobody Nobody Sent

... the Old Mill Creek Village Board recently discussed a motion that would, in effect, remove a certified candidate from their election ballot.

There is one candidate running for the office of Old Mill Creek Village Clerk in the 2019 municipal election. But two weeks ago the Old Mill Creek Village board considered a motion to change their Village Clerk from an elected to an appointed position -- a motion that could have nullified the 2019 election for the candidate.  No elected position means no pesky candidate, no more!

The motion was discussed for more than 20 minutes. Ultimately, counsel convinced the Board that they lacked the legal authority to pass a law that would strike an elected office from an upcoming election ballot. And your LakeCountyEye reported that the Board dropped the motion.

One Sharpeyed Operative has pointed out that the motion was in fact brought to a vote. And was voted down.

This is correct. However, the motion was changed so as to be effective when the term of the next Village Clerk expired. It would not have nullified the outcome of the 2019 election.

The Old Mill Creek paper shredding machine was unavailable for comment.

We Don't Want Nobody Nobody Sent

This week's QOTD is a story problem:

Q:	Suppose you are a banana republic or a one party dictatorship. And suppose an election is scheduled where it looks like the unwelcome candidate will win. Can you cancel the election?
A:	False.

Haha, this was a trick question. You can cancel the election if you are a banana republic, a one party dictatorship, or a Lake County Village.

On Apr 2, 2019 the residents of Old Mill Creek will have have an opportunity to vote for their Village Clerk in the consolidated election. There is only one candidate for Village Clerk on their ballot. And members of the Old Mill Creek Village Board apparently are none too pleased. So none-too-pleased in fact, that they put the issue on the agenda of their Jan 14 Village Board Meeting:

8.1 Change Village Clerk from Elected Position to Appointed Position

The board discussed whether they could strike the Village Clerk from their upcoming 2019 ballot by making Village Clerk an appointed position:

2019 01 14 OMC Board 8 1 Village Clerk

The motion was dropped when it was decided that the Village Board did not have the legal authority to, in effect, nullify an election.  Old Mill Creek residents are advised to vote early anyways.

Beat the Winter Blues

Busy Brains Children's Museum -- Beat the Winter Blues

January 23rd is Lake County Poverty Awareness Day

The Lake County Community Foundation (LCCF) and its “START SOMETHING campaign” is proud to celebrate the first year since its declaration of Lake County Poverty Awareness Day and the impact it has had driving positive change throughout the region.

Sandy Hart, new Chair of the Lake County Board Board shares her proclamation declaring January 23, 2019, as "Lake County Poverty Awareness Day".

Many municipalities declared their own Poverty Awareness Day. Here are examples of what has been accomplished as a result of the 2018 Poverty Awareness Day:

• The Alliance for Human Services, a coalition of over 30 health and human service organizations across Lake County, has committed to providing hands-on professional development opportunities for its members and other community stakeholders to further understand the issues of suburban poverty and how we can work together to collaboratively address them.

• Zion Township hosted its own Poverty Awareness Day activities on June 26, 2018, with Summer Work Program participants.

  https://www.lakecountycf.org/2018/07/18/efforts-continue-across-lake-county-to-build-poverty-awareness/

• LCCF has begun to see positive progress through its collaborative efforts to increase access to affordable, nutritious food throughout Lake County. The food insecurity rate continues to decline. More Lake County residents have greater access to fresh produce. And a focused effort has been made to target Lake County communities that have high food insecurity rates. These areas include northwest, northeast and southeast Lake County.

Meet the New Bill

Global Warming notwithstanding, David McSweeney was given a snow job. Last week, ex-abominable Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill sponsored by McSweeney -- one that could dismantle some Lake County Townships.

But while Governor Rauner needs to be spoken of in the past tense, David McSweeney continues to be the sole remaining Lake County GOP lawmaker in Springfield. McSweeney has promised to resuscitate the bill:

State Rep. David McSweeney pledged Monday to reintroduce a plan to make it easier for McHenry County voters to abolish local townships after it was vetoed by outgoing Gov. Bruce Rauner. The plan also would have required townships in Lake and McHenry counties to dissolve road districts that maintain less than 15 miles.
McSweeney vows to continue push for suburban consolidation plan despite veto

Surprisingly, local Township office holders were cool and collected. One unnamed official, speaking on condition of not being named, said: "We simply won't plow the roads. Is that snow I see? It looks like nobody will be going to Springfield any time soon. Not before the Spring thaw."

Furloughed government climate scientists were unavailable for comment.

The Runaround Agenda

Who knew? As things turn out, it is easier to shut down the Federal government than to shut down Township government. DMW Governor Bruce Rauner proved he is no Donald Trump by vetoing a bill that could have eliminated some Lake County townships.

Lake County's lone remaining Republican State legislator, David McSweeney, who sponsored the bill, was fit to be tied:

State Rep. David McSweeney, the Barrington Hills Republican who carried the bill through the Illinois House, said Rauner's veto represents an appropriate end cap to his final days in office. "Gov. Rauner leaves office as a liar, a hypocrite, a phony, the worst governor in the history of the State of Illinois," McSweeney said. "This just shows what a phony he really is."
Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoes McHenry County township consolidation bill

Attempts to reach McSweeney, to find out how he really feels, failed.

Speaking on conditions of anonymity, however, one anonymous source told your LakeCountyEye: "What's not to understand? We get no blowback from the TOI or any elected Township officials. And at the same time we get to go home and tell our constituents that we voted to eliminate the Townships. It's a win-win for everyone!"

Note to Ops: So much winning.

Q the Eye/01.10.19

Dear LakeCountyEye,

If this is an Instagram world then call me the Insta-Clam. What is the secret to successful Internet dating?

Lake County GOP Precinct Committeeman

Dear Dinosaur,

Your LakeCountyEye polled some chatroom correspondents, and this is what they look for in an online date:

• Emotional Maturity
• Openness
• Honesty
• Respectful and Sensitive
• Independent
• Empathetic
• Physically Affectionate
• Funny

But there is one thing over and above everything else that special member of the opposite sex is looking for in a mate: They want to see an 8x10 glossy photo.

Now, your LakeCountyEye suspects that you're an individual who can win an ugly sweater contest without wearing a sweater. So do what the professionals do when dating online -- pass along a photo of your LakeCountyEye:

Your LakeCountyEye (circa 1969)

Note to Ops: Always be sure to choose the photo of someone who isn't going to sue. Just Sayin!

If you are an elected official, or a previously elected official, or just under investigation by the Special Counsel, send your political questions to Q the Eye c/o ... LakeCountyEye@gMail.com

Day Of Service Community Expo

Tenth Dems Organizing Day Of Service Community Expo To Bring Together Local Organizations And Community Members

Posted January 8, 2019

Over 35 Not-For-Profit Groups To Have Opportunity To Discuss Their Organizations, Recruit Volunteers, And Work On Service Projects

Vernon Hills, IL — Ahead of their inauguration as Illinois’ next governor and lieutenant governor, JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton have urged all of us in Illinois to give back to our communities. As a response to this call for a Day of Service, the Tenth Congressional District Democrats (Tenth Dems) is organizing a Day of Service Community Expo on Saturday, January 12th. It will be from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Sullivan Center, 635 N. Aspen Dr., Vernon Hills, IL 60061. Admission is free. The Community Expo will be a family-friendly event. Refreshments will be served.

The Community Expo will bring together local organizations and community members. At least 35 not-for-profits will have tables to showcase what they do, hand out flyers, recruit volunteers, and encourage attendees to take part in real-time service projects or sign up for future projects. This will be a great opportunity for community outreach and promoting volunteerism.

Tenth Dems believes politics should be about more than just elections–it’s about working together to improve our neighborhoods, state, country, and world. While Tenth Dems strives to do that year-round, the group will certainly put that into action on this Day of Service. January 12th has the potential to make a difference in the lives of thousands of neighbors. It will be a meaningful day at a critically important time for our state.

Tenth Dems is a grassroots political organization that works to elect Democrats to all levels of government within Illinois’ 10th Congressional District.

For questions about the Day of Service Community Expo, including your own group’s participation, email events@tenthdems.org.

War Clouds on the Horizon

Chief Illiniwek has cause for concern. That's because this week the Lake County GOP took Elizabeth Warren's scalp:

The leader of the Lake County Republican Party central committee dismissed concerns about a meme posted on the group's Facebook page that mocked U.S. Sen. and Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren's claims of Native American heritage. The image features puffs of smoke rising into the sky. The text reads, "Actual photo of Elizabeth Warren announcing her candidacy for president of the United States."
Lake County GOP leader dismisses concerns about meme targeting Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Scouts report the Lake County Republicans are circling the wagons and loading their guns. Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

... BREAKING ... LIVE UPDATE ...

It turns out those weren't smoke signals, after all. It was only the Lake County Republican ethylene oxide toxic cloud.

Note to Ops: It's a joke.

Bad Paper

It's unanimous. Everyone in Lake County has made the same resolution for the new year: To do their ballot nominating petitions right in 2019:

At least 16 candidates for elected offices in Lake County could be knocked off April 2019 ballots because of challenges to their paperwork.
16 Lake County candidates facing petition challenges

Why are these candidates getting their walking papers? To find out, your LakeCountyEye asked Dr. I.M. Bhatschidtkhrazzi, Follicle Professor of Legal Hairsplitting at the College of Lake County.

"Ya, scientists have discovered that there are more ways to get bounced off an Illinois ballot," said Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi "than getting your County P-Card bounced in downtown Chicago."

That would be quite a number, by your LakeCountyEye's reckoning.

"State law is very specific about how to submit your nominating papers." continued Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "For instance, your candidacy will be in jeopardy if your paperwork does not contain the requisite $100 dollar bill."

What happens if the papers are not all in order?

"That used to be a capital offense." deadpanned Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "But ever since the death penalty was abolished in Illinois, you now only get thrown off of the ballot."

Almost the same thing, opined your LakeCountyEye.

"Candidates will do anything to stay on the ballot." continued Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "I recall one candidate who did not have enough signatures. So he made a copy of every page and submitted those as well. When asked why he had duplicate signatures, the candidate said it was all perfectly legal -- those were people who were going to vote for him twice. True story."

Your LakeCountyEye believed it.

"Lawyers for Donald Trump," added Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi "challenged Hillary Clinton's nominating papers in 2016."

Your LakeCountyEye did not know that.

"Trump insisted there was no collation."

Your LakeCountyEye had heard enough. Did Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi have any parting advice?

"Tell your Operatives that it is much easier, anyways, to run as a write-in. You only have to remember how to spell your name."

Cook the Books

Knowledge may be power. And the Republican Party in Lake County may be out of power. But it does not follow that the Lake County GOP is no sharper than a rubber donut.

No, but it does go a long way toward explaining why the Lake County GOP has mounted a coordinated effort to dumb down the electorate -- ensuring a constituency that will be easy prey to the politics of fear and greed.

The game plan is simple: erect barriers between the voters and sources of knowledge. One strategy, to replace public education in Lake County with a system of vouchers and home-schooling, failed. Plan-B for the GOP, it now seems, is to undermine Lake County's libraries.

Benjamin Franklin established the first public library in 1731: "The doors of wisdom are never shut." On the other hand, Dan McConchie, Lake County's lone remaining Republican State legislator, walked through the doors of a Lake County library and perceived a pork-barrel:

"Sure," McConchie said, "they provide nice services to their folks, but I walk in there, and there's people that are just sitting there on the clock doing absolutely nothing."
McHenry County GOP leaders: Want tax cuts? Look at libraries

And David McSweeney, Lake County's lone remaining Republican State legislator, thinks your public library is a cash-cow:

"require voter approval for any major capital expenditure, even if they're using tax reserves," McSweeney said.
Suburban libraries hoard money, avoid getting voters' approval to build

Note to Ops: If you can read this then your public library was established for people like you.

Q the Eye/12.24.18

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Dear Samuel Brooklyn (if that's your real name),

Your LakeCountyEye wishes you and Operatives all throughout the non-English-speaking world a Merry Christmas!

If you are an elected official, or a previously elected official, or just a private citizen under indictment, send your political questions to Q the Eye c/o ... LakeCountyEye@gMail.com

The Comeback Kid

Is there any better way to conduct a rehabilitation tour than to rehash over one's rehab? Your LakeCountyEye thinks not.

Ex-Lake County Board Chair Aaron Lawlor is back, and TEDx has him:

The addict next door | Aaron Lawlor | TEDxVernonAreaLibrary

Your LakeCountyEye hasn't watched the video, so will seek the opinion of someone who should have -- but hasn't either:

Mark Shaw, chairman of the Lake County Republican Central Committee and co-chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, said he hadn't seen the video, but was "disappointed" by Lawlor's view of the party when parts of Lawlor's statements were read to him. Shaw called Lawlor's statements a "deflection" from taking personal responsibility and said the county party had always supported Lawlor, even after he came out as gay in 2017. "I don't know why he'd feel like he was alone," Shaw said. "The suburbs tend to be more inclusive than some of the rural areas. And, my God, he was chairman of our board. If we felt he wasn't welcome in our party, how did he rise to that position?"
Lawlor re-emerges after rehab stint and quitting politics

Note to Ops: Back in the day, a Democrat who wanted to get elected in Lake County had to run as a Republican. Those days are now officially over.

Just sayin!

Devil May Care

Just when you thought it was safe to leave the house, it turns out that the Chicago Tribune Creepy Cartoonist^® has an evil twin.

The Creepy Tribune Cartoonist Evil Twin^® thinks that health care is a privilege only for those who can afford it:

Medicare for all

Note to Ops: The ethylene oxide and the asbestos is free. What more do you want?

Down for the Recount

Q:	How many people does it take to recount an election?
A:	Who's counting?

Haha, Lake County is recounting:

Discovery recounts move forward in Lake County sheriff and Barrington-area statehouse races

The discovery recount ...

will include precincts selected from almost every township. Townships like Ela, Cuba, Libertyville, Antioch and Benton had six to 11 precincts for review, while Waukegan will have 21.
Discovery recounts move forward in Lake County sheriff and Barrington-area statehouse races

Does that mean that they don't know how to count heads in some townships? Nope. That's where the votes are:

Note to Ops: When asked why he robbed banks, Willie Sutton said "That's where the money is."

Internet Challenge!

The voters have spoken, the 2018 election is over and certified. But, haha, not so fast, there. The voters have been asked already to speak again. Voters will have to step up -- and challenge their 2019 election candidates nomination petitions:

Two Waukegan aldermanic candidates booted from ballot

Voters have a civic responsibility to get their candidates thrown off the ballot. If not, the 2019 election will be held as scheduled. When the voters will then need to evade their civic responsibility to vote.

Note to Ops: Carbon paper is a dead giveaway that those petition signatures are fake.

Dyn-O-Mite!

Mark your calendars: Today, the Chicago Tribune Creepy Cartoonist^® officially ran out of ideas:

Nancy Pelosi...again

Sure, that whole gals & gargoyles look was hep ... maybe back in 1979:

Did Jabba make you laugh so hard your sides Hutt? Haha it's another hilarious LakeCountyEye Double Vision™!

Next Week: The Creepy Tribune Cartoonist reveals the identity of Nancy Pelosi & Michael Madigan's love-child!

Ethylene Alley

If thick smog is choking your air, blame the Route 53 Extension. That's because the IL Toll Authority has money to burn:

The Illinois Tollway is going ahead with a $25 million environmental study of a plan to extend state Route 53, even though the project is no longer designated a local priority. Last month, the region's planning agency knocked the controversial, long-debated proposal to extend Route 53 from Cook County into Lake County off its priority list. This means it is no longer eligible for federal funds.
Route 53 study goes forward, despite project's demotion

Any environmental study should note that the Route 53 Extension is to be paved right under the toxic ethylene oxide cloud in Gurnee:

Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee reported to another office at the EPA that during 2014 it released 6,412 pounds of ethylene oxide — more than either Sterigenics or Medline did during the same period.
2 Lake County polluters emit same cancer-causing gas as Sterigenics, but authorities haven't warned the public

... where it may be prudent to dig an underground tunnel through Gurnee for that leg of the Route 53 Extension.

Note to Toll Authority Ops: That ought to wrap up that environmental study of yours. Please send the $25,000,000 to lakecountyeye@gmail.com.

Wear Pollution

Your LakeCountyEye has good news and bad news. The good news is Lake County does not have to worry about pollution coming from Foxconn in Wisconsin. The bad news is that's because Lake County already has plenty of pollution coming from Waukegan:

More than 19,000 people live within areas at risk from ethylene oxide emitted by a Medline Industries facility near Interstate 94 in the southwest corner of Waukegan
2 Lake County polluters emit same cancer-causing gas as Sterigenics, but authorities haven't warned the public

What does Medline manufacture? Wait for it ...

Hazmat Suits:

A local company is working side by side with many health care facilities to create protective wear for medical workers. Medline, a Mundelein-based company, is in high demand right now. They are making life-saving protective gear
Mundelein company's protective Ebola suits in high demand

Note to Ops: Make up your own joke here.

Blue is the New Red

That giant sucking sound you hear are the paper shredders working overtime in Waukegan.

Haha, despite having campaigned for votes by stoking fears against minorities, the GOP has become the minority party in Lake County. In fact, the EPA is reevaluating its policy of not enforcing of the Endangered Species Act. The Republican Party is near extinction in Lake County.

The results in the 2018 election are in.  The Lake County Board flipped to a 12-9 Democratic majority. Every Republican Congressman in Lake County was swept out of office. All countywide offices that mattered -- Treasurer, Clerk, Sheriff -- were turned over to Democrats. There were enough flips, sweeps and turnovers to weave a new toupee for Donald Trump:

With the last votes from the Nov. 6 election finally counted, Democrats have a majority on the Lake County Board for the first time in the county's 179-year history. And Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran -- who won office as a Democrat in 2006 and infamously jumped to the GOP two years later -- looks to be out of a job.
Democrats gain control of Lake County Board; Curran ousted as sheriff

By no means does this represent a total annus horribilis for the Lake County Republicans. After all, the majority of past GOP office holders have always been closet Democrats. These were candidates who knew they couldn't get elected in Lake County running as a Democrat. Expect now to see these RINOs try to -- erm -- horn their way into the Democratic Party. Note to Ops: The Democrats are going to need someone to run for State's Attorney in 2020. Preferably someone with a law license and experience at holding down a countywide office. Preferably in law enforcement. Just sayin!

The biggest loser of 2018, of course, is your LakeCountyEye. How are you going to top this?

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

The Russian Twitter Bots that generate the news content in the Lake County Gazette have gone bonkers. For bad girls.

Here is an actual unretouched screencap from the Lake County Gazette, Lake County's #1 fakenews source:

School discipline: Which Lake County districts reported suspending the most girls?

Note to Ops: Girls Gone Wild on Blarney Island are now available on Blu-ray DVD!

Fact Check, Please!

The Russian Twitter Bots that generate the fakenews content for the Lake County Gazette have hacked the Chicago Tribune.

See for yourself ...


Regarding the 2018 election results, Lake County GOP Chairman Mark Shaw told the Tribune:

Turning to specific results, Shaw pointed out that Republicans "managed to maintain the same number of elected officials from Lake County representing us in the Illinois General Assembly."
'Results were not what we wanted to see': Lake County Republican chair reflects on election

The Facts:

Lake County has 5 Illinois Senate seats. None were flipped.

Lake County has 9 Illinois Legislative seats. No Democratic seat flipped. But Republican Sheri Jesiel was defeated. And Republican Helene Walsh currently trails in the vote count. At least 1 and very likely 2 legislative seats will have flipped from Republican to Democrat in Lake County.

The Verdict:

Four Pinocchios

Regarding the Lake County board, the Tribune said:

Lake County followed McHenry into new territory, with both of its county boards now featuring a Democratic majority.
'Results were not what we wanted to see': Lake County Republican chair reflects on election

The Facts:

The Lake County board will have a Democratic majority. The McHenry County board, however, will not. It is not expected to flip any time before the 2100s.

The Verdict:

Four Pinocchios

Regarding the future:

Mark Shaw, chairman of the Lake County Republican Central Committee (LCRCC), said in a post on the group's Facebook page that local Republicans should still hold their head up high.
'Results were not what we wanted to see': Lake County Republican chair reflects on election

The Facts:

This one does not pass the laugh test.

The Verdict:

Four Pinocchios

Note to Ops: Don't let the Russian Twitter Bots infiltrate your news server!

An Embracement of Riches

If elections have consequences then the consequence of the 2018 election is there are no one left for your LakeCountyEye to make fun of.

Haha, luckily there still is legitimate businessman and US President Donald J Trump.

Trump had this to say about vestigial Lake County former Congressman Peter Roskam:

President Donald Trump on Wednesday is scorching House Republicans who did not embrace him and lost election bids on Tuesday, including Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill. "Peter Roskam didn't want the embrace," Trump said.
Trump blasts Roskam, other losing House Republicans, for not embracing him

Note to Roskam campaign Operatives: Your do-over election is less than 2 years from now. That is not a lot of time to arrange for some video footage of the Ex-Congressman and the future Ex-President locked in that embrace.

Your Last Chance to Vote!

It has come to your LakeCountyEye's attention that there will be an election tomorrow, Tuesday Nov 6 2018.

Who knew? Not your LakeCountyEye.

Early voting ended today in Illinois. That means tomorrow will be your last chance to vote.

Note to Ops: Will tomorrow be your last chance to vote?

Roskam Resignages

If you haven't seen any Peter Roskam yardsigns in Lake County, it is not because they got stolen. No, someone is not stealing Peter Roskam yardsigns.

Instead people have been posting comments around Roskam yardsigns:

It's so common that there now is a website for posting comment signs next to Roskam yardsigns:

IL Citizens Ignited

And that Peter Roskam's old lawfirm has filed a temporary restraining order, to make them stop it:

NRA support for Roskam triggers a battle over yard signs

Election Day is Tuesday. There is not a lot of time left to post a comment of your own:

Note to Ops: Did your LakeCountyEye mention that Peter Roskam is Lake County's vestigial Congressman?