Public Servitude

The Consolidated Election is on April 1, next Tuesday. So naturally, the Question of the Day ...

Q: Why was the 2025 Election scheduled for April Fool's Day?

A: Make up your own joke here.

HaHa.

Who votes in these municipal elections? Nobody. Why not? Nobody pays attention to them.

Who runs in these municipal elections? Nobody. Why not? These down-ballot offices demand a lot of time and they pay zero.

Those candidates who do run often bank on creative ways to compensate their efforts:

Two candidates for mayor of Arlington Heights on Wednesday denied there would be a conflict of interest between their day jobs if they were to become the top elected official in town. Jim Tinaglia, currently a village trustee who also heads an architecture firm that does work in and out of Arlington Heights, and Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jon Ridler were asked about real or perceived conflicts
Arlington Heights mayoral candidates deny conflicts with their day jobs

And it's all perfectly legal ...

"In every single case, I never made one phone call or had one conversation with any of the other board members asking for any sort of consideration. I steered clear of any sort of impropriety," Tinaglia said. "There is no conflict. There is no conflict of interest," he added.
Arlington Heights mayoral candidates deny conflicts with their day jobs

Besides, everyone does it anyways ...

"The chamber is not getting rich off of one business opening up in town," Ridler said. "To think that there’s anything quid pro quo that could go under the table, or for approvals when you're in the mayor position, it's not reality." If elected, Ridler said any real or perceived conflict that comes before the board would be transparent and known by residents, but believes "it's rarely going to happen." He also suggests no one can get elected with zero potential conflict of interest.
Arlington Heights mayoral candidates deny conflicts with their day jobs

Bottom line, the savings are passed on to you, the voter!

IceCream Man + Florida Man = Also Ran

Jim Oberweis is not like the Lake County GOP office holders that live in Florida. Perennial candidate Jim Oberweis is registered to vote in Florida. And since perennial candidates will candidate, perennially, Oberweis is running for Congress in Florida:

Former Illinois state Sen. Jim Oberweis — a Republican now living in Bonita Springs, Florida — was the first Republican to announce a candidacy for the congressional seat set to be vacated by Rep. Byron Donalds as he runs for governor of the Sunshine State.
Illinois man becomes Florida man

How will this affect Oberweis's fully paid-up standing as an honorary Lake County Republican? Not substantially. Operatives who wish to support Jim Oberweis in the primary can simply obtain their Florida absentee ballot. And cast their votes for him:

Statewide Vote-by-Mail Request Form

Note to Ops: If you are mailing you ballot from Illinois, don't forget to vote early. And often.

Political Capital

Note to Ops: There are two things you never want to do for money. Never marry and never go into politics. Only your lawyers will get rich.

HaHa, yes, they can haul you into court on bribery charges. And yes they may even get a conviction. But the transcript will never lie -- it always shows that you made no money from your government job. Unless your name is Elon Musk, there is no money in politics.

What incentives are there to participate in government? Very few as far as your LakeCountyEye can see. Some municipalities have to promise emoluments to get qualified citizens to step up to do their civic duty:

Why some suburbs compensate members of appointed boards

In most jurisdictions, it would seem, the default setting is to let unregulated market forces call the shots:

Two candidates for mayor of Arlington Heights on Wednesday denied there would be a conflict of interest between their day jobs if they were to become the top elected official in town.
Arlington Heights mayoral candidates deny conflicts with their day jobs

For the record, Arlington Heights is a Lake County municipality. In spite of that, Arlington Heights conducts itself like it was Cook County.

The New Arches

It may be the Gateway to the West, but St Louis ain't got nothin' on the Village of Mundelein:

Mundelein officials on Monday, March 10, could pursue creating a proposed gateway feature for Park Street in the downtown area. A large arch that would span Park Street facing Route 45 is being considered.
A gateway arch could be headed to Park Street in Mundelein

The Village of Long Grove strongly supports the proposal. A spokesman for the Village said: "Trucks that need to cross over our covered bridge, will first be routed under the Mundelein arch."

Mayor McCheese was unavailable for comment.

A.H. GOP

Not to be outdone by Donald Trump who annexed our 51st state, Canada, Lake County welcomes its newest municipality, Arlington Heights.

Who knew the Village of Arlington Heights was in Lake County? Not your LakeCountyEye:

Arlington Heights, Illinois

Of course, now that Arlington Heights is a Lake County community, the Lake County GOP is embroiled in a campaign finance controversy:

An Arlington Heights trustee candidate faces a formal complaint alleging she accepted campaign contributions exceeding limits set by the village code. The campaign committee for Michele Hunter received in-kind contributions of $6,353.86 and $1,406.22 on Jan. 17 from the Illinois Republican Party for mailing and printing, according to disclosures filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Complaint claims Arlington Heights trustee candidate violated donation limits

This is not the first Lake County Republican candidate to run afoul of campaign finance laws:

Sly Finance

The official response from the Village of Arlington Heights? Nothing to see here, move along:

Arlington Heights village trustee candidate Michele Hunter didn't violate local campaign finance rules, an investigation by the village attorney determined. But village board members Monday still argued about whether Hunter needs to further amend her campaign committee's filings with state elections officials.
Arlington Heights trustee candidate cleared in campaign finance probe

One Lake County watchdog said: "Arlington Heights proves that the Lake County GOP is making their calls from the Cook County machine playbook."

Boots on the Ground

Lake County's newest GOP Precinct Committeeman is also Lake County's newest State Senator. Coincidence? You decide.

Last week an IL GOP committee named Darby Hills the new 26th District State Senator. Is Darby Hills a Republican?  Absolutely.  If not, why was she summarily also given an open precinct committeeman slot?

A true unsung hero, the precinct committeeperson is the heart and soul of any political organization.  And the Chair of the Lake County GOP appointed Darby Hills to serve ...

an open Republican precinct committee post in Ela Township. Hills lives in nearby Cuba Township, but appointees to precinct posts don't need to live in the precincts they serve.
Darby Hills' appointment to state Senate on hold as Republicans reopen applications for McConchie's seat

So, who is Darby Hills? Nobody knows. What does a State Senator do? Nobody knows. Coincidence? You decide:

One thing is known -- and that would be what a Lake County Republican committeeman does. According to the Lake County GOP ...

As we get closer to an election our committeemen work hard to support our Republican ticket, by knocking on doors, making phone calls, hosting candidates, and putting up yard signs. There are so many way our committeemen support our local Republicans!
Become a Precinct Committeeperson

Note to Ops: Be sure to wear sensible shoes before going out to plant those yardsigns next November.

Succession 3.0

Perhaps under the mistaken assumption that Groundhog Day repeats itself through the entire month of February, the IL GOP met once again to select a new District 26 State Senator. And precisely as predicted by your LakeCountyEye ...

Succession 2.0

Martin McLaughlin was chosen once again to serve the remainder of former State Senator Dan McConchie's term.

Backbench State Rep Martin McLaughlin was indeed chosen again, but with one asterisk. That asterisk being Darby Hills was chosen again to serve out the term:

For the second time in a month, Barrington Hills Trustee Darby Hills has been named the new state senator for the 26th District — but her selection remains the target of court action.
Darby Hills chosen — again — to succeed Dan McConchie in state Senate

Who is Darby Hills? Nobody knows.

A spokesman for the GOP committee said: "If for any reason that the new State Senator cannot fulfill her duties, the first runner up, Martin McLaughlin, shall take over. Good luck to the both of you!"