Consolidated Primary election approaches

MCHENRY COUNTY – While it might seem less integral than other types of elections, the upcoming Republican Consolidated Primary holds its own weight.

In his analysis of the drawing power of the February 23 Republican Consolidated Primary and the November 3, 2020 presidential election, McHenry County Clerk Joe Tirio feels the township races directly affect an individual.

In-person voting in the consolidated primary began January 14. Voters in Algonquin Township, Grafton Township, and Nunda Township have had an opportunity to visit the McHenry County Administration Building Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. They’re voting on contested Republican primary candidates and although Grafton Township only has one contested race in this election, it’s still important and worthy of your vote.

“Local races are especially important. This is a particularly valuable opportunity to influence your property taxes. As most of the bodies on the ballot this spring are funded in large part by our property taxes, and turnout for such elections is usually comparatively low, your vote can have significant impact on your taxes,” Tirio said.

Grafton Township has a primary race for assessor among the primary battles around McHenry County. For Assessor in Grafton Township, the candidates are challenger Terra de Baltz and Alan Zielinski.  De Baltz, a resident of the Village of Huntley for 18 years, works as Deputy Assessor for Elgin Township. “

I am a concerned homeowner who works with assessments every day and I am pursuing the opportunity to ethically utilize my experience and qualifications to benefit the township I live in. Zielinski, the Grafton Township Assessor, has served in this position for several years. Since 2014, improving accuracy and fairness across the entire township has been our focus.  Grafton was the only McHenry County township to consistently surpass the Department of Revenue’s specifications for assessment accuracy and uniformity every year since I took office in 2014,” Zielinski said.

Tirio’s Candidate List for the Consolidated Primary in McHenry County shows contests in Algonquin Township, Grafton Township, and Nunda Township, all with contested Republican Party races. You can find the list of candidates and the races here: www.mchenrycountyil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument?id=101998.

Until February 8, early voters in the primary will just have the one facility at the Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.  The government building site will allow for early voting until Monday, February 22.  On February 8, four additional voting stations for early voting can be found in the townships. The permanent sites are McHenry County Administration Building, Nunda Township Offices in Crystal Lake, McHenry City Hall, and Lake-in-the-Hills Village Hall.  Early voting will also be accepted starting on February 8 at the Huntley Park District on Mill Street.  Voting in Huntley is from February 8 through February 12, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; February 16 through February 19, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and on February 20 from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Among the contested races besides the assessor’s contest in Grafton Township, Nunda Township has a contest between Highway Commissioner “Iron” Mike Lesperance and his challenger Eric Dowd.  For Trustees in Nunda Township, seven candidates are in the Republican primary for four seats.  They are incumbents Rob Parrish, Timothy Parrish, Justin Franzke, and Karen Tynis. The other candidates for Nunda Township Trustee are Mark Daniel, Johanna Donahue, and Robert Koidahl.  In Algonquin Township for Supervisor, three candidates are running in the primary. They are Elaine Ramesh, Randolph “Randy” Funk, and Kirk Cole.  For Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner, two candidates in the Republican primary are Robert “Bob” Bragg and Danijela Sandberg.

If you’ve asked for a “Vote by Mail” ballot and decide instead to vote in person, you’re instructed to go to the polls and give one of the judges on duty your “Vote by Mail” ballot.

“In preparation for the last November election, there were a number of changes to election law to accommodate for COVID.  Those have gone away this past New Year’s Day,” Tirio said.

He also wants you to know there will be no drop boxes.

“We will not mail unsolicited vote-by-mail applications, we will not have a single universal center on Election Day where anyone from anywhere can vote.  The rules that applied in March will again apply, unless our legislature changes them again,” Tirio said.