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Saturday, January 26, 2013
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Schaffer at end of line with Metra
Zeroing pensions
in on
Scandal-era board member won’t seek reappointment At a glance Since 2010, Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks has wanted to purge members of the Metra Board of Directors, particularly county Metra representative Jack Schaffer, who were on the board during the era of former Executive Director Phil Pagano, who was found to have inappropriately taken at least $475,000 in unauthorized vacation payouts.
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McSweeney: It’s no good to wait
By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – Within weeks of Tina Hill’s election as McHenry County Board chairwoman last month, Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks wrote her a letter asking about her intentions regarding county Metra representative Jack Schaffer. Whatever her intentions are, they will have to include finding a replacement next year. Schaffer said he does not intend to seek another fouryear term on the Metra Board of Directors. Franks since 2010 has wanted to purge members, particularly Schaffer, who were on the board during the era of former Executive Director Phil Pagano, who was found to have inappropriately taken at least $475,000 in unauthorized vacation payouts, twice forging the former board president’s signature. Pagano committed suicide in May 2010 by stepping in front of a Metra train near his rural Crystal Lake home, hours before the board was set to fire him. Schaffer told the Northwest Herald late Friday morning that he will not submit
in on
H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@shawmedia.com
State Rep. David McSweeney of the 52nd House District. Note to readers: This profile is part of an ongoing series introducing readers to McHenry County’s new faces in Springfield and Washington.
By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com Freshman state Rep. David McSweeney’s goal for his first two years in office boils down to one word: pensions. Expanded into a sentence, his goal is reforming the pension system underfunded by at least $96 billion before it consumes the state budget. At the very least, he told
Northwest Herald editors this week, he wants immediate forward movement – bills on the floor and votes – rather than the past practice of waiting until the last days of session, which he blames in no small part for a lack of reform. Besides the pension problem, Illinois has more than $9 billion in unpaid bills and the lowest bond rating of all 50 states from Moody’s Investors Service. Standard & Poor’s rating service Friday lowered Illinois’ credit rating from A to A-, blaming the state’s pension problems. “We have to immediately
address the pension problem because it’s suffocating the General Fund,” McSweeney said. McSweeney, an investment specialist, represents the 52nd House District, the boundaries of which shifted somewhat under post-census redistricting. The district on the new maps shifted south to cover southeastern McHenry County, including Cary and Fox River Grove, and eastern Algonquin, Crystal Lake and Lake in the Hills, plus parts of Lake, Cook and Kane counties.
Getting in touch How to contact 52nd House District Rep. David McSweeney 105 E. Main St. Cary, IL 60013 847-516-0052 226-N Stratton Office Building Springfield, IL 62706 217-782-1517 Email: ilhouse52@gmail.com
See McSWEENEY, page A9
See SCHAFFER, page A9
Gingrich will headline sheriff candidate’s fundraiser By LAWERENCE SYNETT lsynett@shawmedia.com
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Huntley resident Matt McNamara (right) was part of Newt Gingrich’s security team during a campaign rally March 15 at the Lake in the Hills Airport.
LOCALLY SPEAKING
WOODSTOCK – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will headline a fundraiser next month for McHenry County sheriff hopeful Bill Prim. The former presidential candidate and his wife, Callista, are scheduled to appear at the event Feb. 18 at the Bull Valley Country Club, 1311 Club Road, Woodstock. Gingrich will give a short speech on national issues. The fundraiser comes more than a year before the March 2014 Republican primary election. Organizers said the event will cost $500 a ticket and will
“I can’t be the only one who looks forward to hearing his perspectives. I’ve always admired [Newt Gingrich’s] principled stance on the issues, and more than one of them could be adapted to our own county.” Bill Prim, McHenry County sheriff hopeful be invitation only. Huntley resident Matt McNamara is involved in Prim’s campaign and handled security for Gingrich during last year’s GOP presidential primary. “I can’t be the only one who looks forward to hearing his perspectives,” Prim said in a news release. “I’ve always admired [Newt Gingrich’s] principled stance on the issues, and more than one of them
WOODSTOCK
Challenger Makes world series Illinois’ District 13 was selected to field a team from its three special-needs Challenger leagues – Woodstock, Bartlett and Tri-Cities – to compete in an exhibition game in South Williamsport, Pa., the site of the Little League World Series. The game will precede the Little League World Series International and U.S. championship games Aug. 24. For more, see page B1.
D-C’s Dylan Kissack Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
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22 17 Complete forecast on A12
CARPENTERSVILLE: Dundee-Crown rolls past Cary-Grove in their FVC Division boys basketball game. Sports, C2 Vol. 28, Issue 26
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could be adapted to our own county.” The event is being hosted by Gary Rabine, Tom Merryman, Brian Kelly and McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. Prim, who spent 27 years with the Des Plaines Police Department and lives in Cary, is one of three McHenry County sheriff candidates running in the March 2014 Republican
primary. He previously said his priority would be to “professionalize” the sheriff’s office and restore or enhance the relationship it has with other offices and agencies throughout the region. Other candidates in the race are Jim Harrison and McHenry County Undersheriff Andrew Zinke. McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren, who is not seeking re-election, has voiced support for Zinke, while Bianchi has been seen at other events hosted by Prim. Nygren endorsed Bianchi’s opponent in the 2008 primary election.
See GINGRICH, page A9