Landslide Martin

There will be a special election to replace Dan McConchie -- and you are not invited. GOP party bosses will gather in a secret conclave to ...

choose someone to finish McConchie's term. The successor then would be able to run for election in 2026 with some legislative experience and, ideally, a healthy campaign war chest.
An 'unwavering' public servant: Republican state Sen. Dan McConchie resigning

Who will the successor be? It's no secret: he won't be you.

It is also not a secret that backbench State Rep Martin McLaughlin wants the job. He said so in a press release:

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin said Tuesday he is interested in filling the Illinois Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dan McConchie.
State Rep. McLaughlin lobbies for McConchie's Senate seat

McLaughlin says he is a powerhouse at the polls:

In my last election, I faced a $3.8 million opposition effort and still won decisively
State Rep. McLaughlin lobbies for McConchie's Senate seat

For the record, McLaughlin's "decisive" win was by a whopping 47 votes. Out of nearly 60,000 cast.  That is a difference of 0.08 percent.  A typical ICE dragnet operation has a rounding error larger than that.

To put that number in perspective, had 24 Martin McLaughlin supporters got confused on election day and voted against him, McLaughlin would have lost.

It all comes down to the party bosses who will be choosing the new State Senator. If there are fewer than 47 of them, McLaughlin may have a chance.

Gone According to Plan

Your LakeCountyEye will not have Dan McConchie to kick around any more:

Republican state Sen. Dan McConchie to resign:
'I never aspired to be an elected official'

Accidental State Senator Dan McConchie will be replaced by the winner of a special election, to be held per Illinois state law.

HaHa, j/k ...

Resigning now allows suburban Republican leaders to choose someone to finish McConchie's term. The successor then would be able to run for election in 2026 with some legislative experience and, ideally, a healthy campaign war chest. McConchie said he has spoken to possible candidates about succeeding him but didn't name names. He said he expects to formally recommend someone for the post.
An 'unwavering' public servant: Republican state Sen. Dan McConchie resigning

The soon-to-be Ex-State Senator will be replaced when GOP party bosses meet in a smokefilled room to handpick a Republican crony. The purpose of the law is to ensure that a highly qualified candidate is selected to represent the voters of the Senate District! HaHa, j/k again.

In related news, backbench State Representative Martin McLaughlin.

In the Fast Food Lane

The Question of the Day will test your knowledge of local habits and customs:

Q: In Waukegan they consume their Chick-fil-A^® Nuggets direct from the sack. Why?

A: To grease their palms.

HaHa, there will be a new Chick-fil-A^® coming to Waukegan:

Chick-fil-A will be able to open a restaurant where it wants in Waukegan, but not before a narrow City Council vote and the objections of two multinational corporations which will flank the planned eatery. Before it can build its restaurant on the southeast corner of Northpoint Boulevard and Waukegan Road, across from the Fountain Square shopping center, Chick-fil-A needed a zoning change and other modifications from the city
Waukegan endorses controversial location for Chick-fil-A; 'Why are we willing to bend ... (so) you can have the competitive advantage?'

Any way you look at it, there are some ruffled feathers in Waukegan:

allowing the zoning change gives Chick-fil-A a competitive advantage over more than a dozen restaurants operating on the west side of Waukegan Road which comply with the zoning requirements there.
Waukegan endorses controversial location for Chick-fil-A; 'Why are we willing to bend ... (so) you can have the competitive advantage?'

One confederate offered an olive branch as a conciliatory gesture: "We have decided to not compete on a full seven day schedule  We have obtained authorization to close the restaurant on Sundays."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Growing Tree Preschool Open House

Growing Tree Preschool Open House – Hunt Club

Growing Tree Preschool Open House – Viking Park

A Footnote

It was reported here that the McHenry County Man Who Shot Himself in the Foot had been enrolled in a 12-step program. That is incorrect. In fact, the McHenry County Man Who Shot Himself in the Foot is enrolled in a 6-step program.

Your LakeCountyEye regrets the error.

Viking Park Master Plan Community Input Meeting

Viking Park Master Plan Community Input Meeting

McHenry County Man Shoots Self in the Foot

The McHenry County Man who shot himself in the foot shot himself in the foot:

Man flown to hospital after accidentally shooting himself in Oakwood Hills

Coming up next week: The McHenry County Man who shot himself in the foot shoots himself in the foot.

Turn Over a New Leaf

Did you hear the one about the Christmas tree farmer who went bankrupt after they built a cannabis dispensary next-door? They broke in and smoked up all of his inventory. HaHa.

In related news, you can dispose your old Christmas tree at a Lake County Forest Preserve:

Trees can be deposited at Grant Woods in Ingleside, the Greenbelt Forest Preserve in North Chicago, Half Day Forest Preserve in Vernon Hills, Heron Creek Forest Preserve in Long Grove, Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda, Old School Forest Preserve in Mettawa, Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods and Van Patten Woods.
From your living room to forest preserve trail; Lake County Christmas trees to be recycled

Residents are asked not to dump trees at the Waukegan Airport -- not before the airport has legally seized the Forest Preserve land.

Is it too late for stocking stuffers?  It is in Mundelein.  Residents there are unable to find a single car air freshener anywhere within their Village limits -- every one has been bought off the shelves. In related news ...

The smell of raw cannabis is grounds for police to search a vehicle, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
Police may search a vehicle based on the smell of raw cannabis, Illinois Supreme Court rules

Nothing more to see here. Make like a tree and leave.