The Costume Party

Halloween Life Hack: Put the kiddos in their hazmat suits before they go trick-or-treating. Then they will return germ-free -- and as an added bonus, you don't have to buy any costumes.

HaHa, there were some awful scary little devils working your LakeCountyEye's neighborhood today. These are the best costumes of 2020:


Third Place:
He says he is a doctor but he is actually a dentist. Doctor Howard Cooper may have a job waiting for him on the next Trump administration Coronavirus Task Force.

Second Place:
Mark Curran hasn't been Sheriff since 2018. But it never hurts to wear the uniform. Especially when making citizen's arrests on people violating social distance rules.

The Winner:
"If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?"

Boo!

Spread the Love

Do you crave herd immunity? Are you looking for the next Lake County GOP super-spreader fundraiser where you can flaunt your anti-masker street cred? Well wait no more. The Lake County GOP super-spreader has come to you:

Lake County residents will no longer be able to dine indoors at a restaurant, gather inside at a bar or congregate in groups of more than 25 as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday because of surging cases of COVID-19 in Lake and McHenry counties.
COVID numbers prompt stoppage of indoor restaurant and bar service in Lake, McHenry counties; ‘We simply need to stay in'

COVID-19 positivity rates now exceed 8% in Lake County.  One spin doctor said: "Why go to the trouble of attending a GOP super-spreader event at some crowded restaurant when you can now catch COVID from the comfort of your home?"

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Camouflage Uniform

If there is a super-spreader fundraiser nearby, then sure as shootin' you will find someone from the Lake County GOP there. Last week, the super-spreader event was a Trump rally in Janesville Wisconsin. And the someone was Lake County Ex-Sheriff Mark Curran:

Despite campaigning in a jurisdiction where he is not on the ballot, did you know that Mark Curran is a candidate for US Senate in Illinois? Your LakeCountyEye did not.

Of course, Curran has campaign yardsigns planted illegally by the public roads:

But is Curran really running for US Senate? Sharpeyed operatives will observe that is the uniform of the Lake County Sheriff. And that Curran has not been Sheriff since 2018.

It should be obvious that Curran would not be campaigning under blatantly false pretenses. No, that must be Mark Curran in his Halloween costume and the signs are a promotion for a haunted house.

Scary!

Cheese Spreader

Stricken by the after-effects of their super-spreader fundraiser in Lake Forest, the Lake County Republicans held their next one in Wisconsin. Lake County GOP favorite son Mark Curran was observed in Janesville not wearing a mask, disregarding social distancing norms and in close proximity to P∅TUS -- the Patient Zero of the United States:

When asked what Curran -- an Illinois candidate for US Senate -- was doing north of the border so close to the election, a spokesman said: "There is scarcely a soul anywhere who did not vote early already. Our candidate had to go up to Wisconsin to find voters who haven't cast a ballot in Illinois."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

Lame Duck legislator David McSweeney can add something new to his resume: Sitting Duck. That's because the sharpies at Ela Township had McSweeney's number.

Intending to eliminate redundant units of government, McSweeney sponsored a bill that ...

requires the abolishment of road districts in McHenry and Lake counties that maintain fewer than 15 miles of road. Voters would be allowed to submit a petition of signatures – including at least 5% of the number of voters in a previous comparable election – requesting a referendum. Trustees of any township in the county also would be allowed to pass a resolution calling for a referendum asking whether the township should be dissolved under the measure.
State Rep. McSweeney's township consolidation bill passes in House

But if David McSweeney thought his bill would eliminate unneeded Township road districts, he has another thunk coming.  His bill will bring to pass an exact opposite outcome in Ela Township:

Road District Referendum | Ela Township

The Trustees of Ela Township wasted no time in passing their own ballot referendum, one that does not eliminate the Ela Township Road Dept.  Instead, it will transfer control of the Road District over to the Ela Township board. Where it would be beyond the reach of any legitimate voter referendum.

Since he is not running for re-election, the voters will not have a chance to tell David McSweeney to hit the road. Likewise, the voters in Ela Township will not be telling their highway department to hit the road, either, no matter which way they vote.

Rummel & Danforth & Barr, Oh My!

The Lake County GOP made a video of their super-spreader fundraiser in Lake Forest which they want everyone to see. And the video went viral:

"TRIGGER WARNING:" "SOME VIEWERS MAY BE OFFENDED OR EVEN OUTRAGED BY PEOPLE LAUGHING, SMILING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME. AND WHO SUPPORT THE GREAT PRESIDENT TRUMP!" "WITHOUT FEAR AND WITHOUT MASKS!"

RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel: Superspreader Fundraiser in Lake Forest

County Commissioners Mike Rummel, Michael Danforth and Dick Barr were caught dead to rights in the video, and now the commenters are all throwing shade:

residents criticized Republican board members Mike Rummel, Michael Danforth and Dick Barr for attending the September event, saying their job as elected officials is to follow county health guidelines, like social distancing, no large gatherings and wearing face masks. Some suggested they step down, or that something be done about their actions.
Criticism of Lake County Board members who attended GOP fundraiser may lead to changes in public comment rules

Rather than make amends, the Lake County GOP wants to know why everyone is being so mean.

Well, it's because haters gonna hate, son.

Note to Ops: Next time you're at a Lake County GOP super-spreader fundraiser, wear a mask. Then no one will recognize you.

Q the Eye/10.18.20

Dear LakeCountyEye,

Help! The voters want to eliminate my Township Highway Dept.

How do I stop them?

The Colossus of Roads

Dear Highwayman,

So those pesky do-gooders want to eliminate your redundant unit of government?

Well don't do like they do in McHenry County (where everyone is lawsuit-happy) and file a nuisance-suit:

McHenry County road districts name Pritzker as defendant in township elimination lawsuit

No, do like they do in Lake County where everyone, instead, is smart. Get a voter referendum on the ballot to eliminate your Township Highway Department:

Ela Township Board votes to put Road District consolidation on the November 2020 ballot

You heard right. Put that Road District Referendum on your ballot, but make sure it is worded correctly. Like they did in Ela Township:

Shall the Road District of the Township of Ela be abolished with all the rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, obligations, and responsibilities being assumed by the Township of Ela?

Road District Referendum | ELA Township

If you include the legal-mumbo-jumbo about rights and responsibilities, then your voters will think they are voting to dissolve your Highway Dept. But in reality all they will be doing is transferring control over to the Township proper. Where your Highway Dept will be safely immunized against any further voter meddling.

Wicked smart.

Send your questions to Q the Eye c/o ... LakeCountyEye@gMail.com

Chi Town Rumble

Don't you just hate when this happens?

Exploiting a loophole in Illinois election law, your political campaign takes in lots more contribution dollars than your opponent is allowed:

A Lake County power couple has allegedly been breaking state campaign finance laws for years, allowing the pair — who sit on the Lake County Board and Lake Forest City Council — to take in more campaign contributions than legally allowed, including from Republican mega donors Dick and Liz Uihlein.
Complaint Filed Over Lake County Couple’s Alleged Campaign Violations, Which Spent 3 Years Unnoticed

But wouldn't you know it, some do-gooders have to come along and blow the whistle on you:

Reform for Illinois, a government watchdog group, filed a complaint against Mike Rummel Sept. 29, claiming he was attempting to bypass existing campaign finance contribution limits by using a political action committee instead of a candidate committee. Political action committees, or PACs, allow for higher contributions.
State Board of Elections to hear complaint against Lake County Board member Mike Rummel’s campaign finance structure

And now they're hauling your case into court:

The Illinois State Board of Elections is scheduled to hear a complaint filed by a public advocacy group regarding the campaign finance structure of Lake County Board member Mike Rummel.
State Board of Elections to hear complaint against Lake County Board member Mike Rummel’s campaign finance structure

If this has happened to you, fret not. You've already raised plenty of money from your wealthy maga donors:

The Rummel PACs major donors have been Lake Forest residents Dick and Liz Uihlein, prominent conservative activists who have given large sums to President Donald Trump and other statewide candidates and causes. The Uihleins have donated more than $47,000 to the Rummels since August of 2018, according to campaign finance records. The amounts are above what would be allowed through an individual candidate committee, according to Reform for Illinois.
State Board of Elections to hear complaint against Lake County Board member Mike Rummel’s campaign finance structure

Lawyer Up!

The Bread Line

How many times has this happened to you?

You file to run for office in Lake County, and set up your Candidate Committee with the State Board of Elections. But instead of hearing those golden ka-ching ka-ching sounds, all you hear are crickets. And by crickets your LakeCountyEye means cheep cheep cheep.

Well, do not despair. The Uline Corporation may have pulled up stakes and moved out of Lake County, but that doesn't mean that Uihlein family members still don't live in Lake County. Nor does it mean they do not donate to Illinois political committees. And by donate your LakeCountyEye means nearly $30,000,000.

That's right, individuals named Uihlein have donated an eye-popping $29,574,150 to Illinois recipients over the past 20 or so years:

Contributions List :: Contributed By: Uihlein

Now, if you're an enterprising candidate then it goes without saying that you will make it your business to know what your top donors want:

Lake Forest Billionaires Oppose Coronavirus Shutdown Extension
Liz Uihlein, who last month said "the media is overblowing COVID-19," reportedly urged her employees to recall the governor of Wisconsin.

Outrage after billionaire Trump donor allowed to avoid Canadian quarantine rules
Uline president Liz Uihlein has also been critical of coronavirus restrictions

Note to Ops: KA-CHING!

Sly Finance

How many times has this happened to you?

You plan to run for office in Lake County. But after you set up your Candidate Committee with the State Board of Elections, you discover there is a ceiling on how much money your rich friends can donate.

Well, do not despair. Do instead what these two Lake County public servants did. A complaint filed with the SBE says take a close look at ...

Lake County Board member Mike Rummel and his wife, Lake Forest Alderman Melanie Rummel, who have been sharing a political action committee since 2017, using it in roughly the same manner as candidate committees. However, the distinction has allowed them to take in more political contributions than they should be allowed.
Complaint Filed Over Lake County Couple’s Alleged Campaign Violations, Which Spent 3 Years Unnoticed

How much more? Republican-Mega-Donor more:

A Lake County power couple has allegedly been breaking state campaign finance laws for years, allowing the pair — who sit on the Lake County Board and Lake Forest City Council — to take in more campaign contributions than legally allowed, including from Republican mega donors Dick and Liz Uihlein.
Complaint Filed Over Lake County Couple’s Alleged Campaign Violations, Which Spent 3 Years Unnoticed

The Uihleins, who own Uline Inc., donated nearly $70,000 over a 9 year period. And more than $25,000 was reported in 2020, so far.

Contributions List
Contributed By: Uihlein
Received By: Citizens for Lake County Board & Lake Forest Alderman

Note to Ops: $25,000 buys a lot of bubblewrap.

Orange is the New Blue

Lake County is seeing orange. And it's not pumpkins:

Today, Lake County again moved from blue to orange on the Illinois Department of Public Health County Level Risk Metrics Map. Being at the 'orange' level means that there are warning signs of increased COVID-19 risk.
Lake County Enters Warning Level

Lake County has been upgraded downgraded to Warning Level Orange on the State Coronavirus scale.

This occurs in the wake of a Lake Forest GOP fundraiser where masks and social distancing norms were purposely flouted, and the keynote speaker tested positive for COVID:

RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel: Superspreader Fundraiser in Lake Forest

Coincidence?

One regional epidemiologist said: "A couple more fundraisers like that one and your County will go from blue to orange to red faster than you can sneeze."

Note to Ops: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Face the Music

How many times has this happened to you?

You are a musician and just trying to make a living. You record some Sousa Marches and upload these to Spotify. Only later, you find out that someone has pirated your work, made a music video with your recording, and posted it to Facebook.

Well, don't get mad -- get even. Here's what you do:

Upload that pirated video of your Sousa March to YouTube:

RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel: Superspreader Fundraiser in Lake Forest

Within 24 hours, YouTube's anti-piracy algorithms will tag the recording and identify the legal owner of the music:

Song The Washington Post Artist John Philip Sousa, The CJ Orchestra, Classical Jockey Licensed to YouTube by TuneCore (on behalf of Viscount Instrumentals); PEDL, Warner Chappell, UMPG Publishing, Hexacorp (music publishing), and 1 Music Rights Societies

If you are the legal owner of this music then you may be entitled to compensation. Contact:

The Lake County Republican Central Committee
15 Commerce Drive
Suite 109
Grayslake, Illinois 60030

... and make your claim!

Spread the News

Your LakeCountyEye has the viral video:

RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel: Superspreader Fundraiser in Lake Forest

Last month Lake County Republicans circulated with RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel at a fundraiser in Lake Forest. McDaniel later tested positive for COVID-19.

Story at 11:

Concerns Mount About Lake Forest GOP Event Attended By RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Who Later Tested Positive For COVID-19

When asked how they felt after the fundraiser, attendees were all 100% positive!

I'm Not a Doctor But I Play One on TV

With the Election only 4 weeks away, Doctor Howard Cooper is doubtless looking down in the mouth. That's because Cooper, the Lake County Coroner, is not a medical doctor -- he is a dentist.

HaHa.

Sharpeyed Operatives will note that Cooper has the word DOCTOR printed with his name on yardsigns, campaign material, social media.

This Doctor Howard Cooper however is arguably in good company. Your LakeCountyEye can think of more than 10 other "Doctors" who did quite well for themselves despite not being medical doctors:

Some Noteworthy "Doctors" Who Do Not Have a Medical Degree
1.	Dr. Hunter S. Thompson	Gonzo Journalist
2.	Dr. Dre	Rap Star
3.	Dr. Who	Time Lord
4.	Dr. Seuss	Children's Author
5.	Dr. Phil	Television Personality
6.	Dr. J	Basketball Player
7.	Dr. Science	He Knows More Than You Do
8.	Dr. John	The Night Tripper
9.	Dr. Ruth Westheimer	Sex Therapist
10.	Dr. Pepper	Soda Pop
11.	Dr. No	Bond Villan
12.	Dr. Demento	Disk Jockey
13.	Dr. Howard Cooper	Dentist

Look for your LakeCountyEye at a doc-in-a-box near you.

Spin Doctor

Did you know the Lake County Coroner is a Doctor? Your LakeCountyEye did not.

This is no secret --  Howard Cooper, the Lake County Coroner, has the word DOCTOR conspicuously on his yardsigns, website, social media:

Despite being ignorant of Cooper's medical credentials, your LakeCountyEye is in good company. Not a single board member who issued Howard Cooper his License to practice Medicine in Illinois knows that he is a doctor, either. That's because Howard Cooper does not have a license to practice medicine in Illinois.  He is a dentist.

Is there a law against claiming you are a Doctor on campaign material, when you are not one?

Why yes there is. It's called the Law of ... PSYCH!

Next Week: Is the coroner a psychoanalyst?