On December 12, 2016, the first day that candidate petitions may be submitted,
at the time the Shields Township office first opens, the START new political
party submitted documentation for an entire slate of candidates for the April 4,
2017 election.
Allowing for the necessary delay and upon payment of a modest fee, photocopies
of their filing may be acquired by anyone.
To facilitate review by interested parties, that documentation is posted
here with two exceptions: Mr. Helton
provided additional documentation of qualification and the notarization of each
petition page is not scanned.
Other candidates may file nomination petitions until 5:00 p.m. on Monday,
December 19th at the Shields Township office and will also be posted
here.
Don Russ, Township Clerk
Shields Township, Lake County, Illinois
Certificate of Officers Authorized to Fill Vacancies
in
Nomination for a New Political Party
Teresa “Terry” Darraugh, Candidate for Supervisor
Statement of Candidacy, New Political Party
Statement of Economic Interests &p2
Scott J. Helton, Candidate for Assessor
Statement of Candidacy, New
Political Party
Statement of Economic
Interesst &p2
Certification of
Qualification
Scott V. Anderson, Candidate for Highway Commissioner
Statement of Candidacy, New Political Party
Statement of Economic Interests
Joy Gayter, Candidate for Clerk
Statement of Candidacy, New Political Party
Statement of Economic
Interests &p2
Kathy Blahunka, Candidate for Trustee
Statement of Candidacy, New Political Party
Statement of Economic Interests &p2
William J.
“Bill” Brown, Candidate for Trustee
Statement of Candidacy, New Political Party
Statement of Economic Interests
&p2
Matt Garrity, Candidate for Trustee
Statement of Candidacy, New Political Party
Statement of Economic Interests
&p2
Kristin Strom, Candidate for Trustee
Statement of Candidacy, New Political Party
Statement of Economic Interests
&p2
Petition for Nomination to Form a New Political Party
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Update, Friday, December 30, 2016
Nominations have closed. I received the nomination of one candidate for each of the eight Shields Township elective offices. The subsequent period for asserting objections to the petitions has closed. Few people asked me to see the nomination documentation and were satisfied by this website. No objections were made. Accordingly, I have certified the eight candidates to the County Clerk and the three-page certification follows.
All eight candidates have associated themselves with the START political party.
As a matter of historical context, and without any other specific purpose, I
further append certain links.
Sept 30, 2016
The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform reports public information
related to START
https://www.illinoissunshine.org/committees/shields-township-active-reform-team-start-party-25002/
Sept 30, 2016
START financing reports to the Illinois State Board of Elections from
July 1, 2013 through September 30, 2016
April 11, 2013
Tribune reports election results
“Cynthia Maloney and the Shields Township Active Reform Team ran on a platform
of smaller government, with reducing costs and lowering taxes as their top
priorities.
“It was a platform Maloney said she believes strongly resonated with voters. And
after Tuesday's election, her claim is hard to dispute.
“Led by Maloney, a political newcomer who—according to unofficial vote
totals—nudged past incumbent Gale Strenger Wayne in the township supervisor
race, START candidates claimed six of eight contested seats in a near sweep.
”The
party's agenda perhaps is most notable for is fiscal conservatism. Maloney, a
local Realtor and Lake Forest resident, said she aims to reduce the township's
budget once she takes office in May.
"’Anything we can do to ease the tax burden is a step in the right direction,’
she said.
“In recent years, START led the charge to eliminate salaries for trustees and
cut other elected officials' compensation by 55 percent.
“The April 9 election marked the first time START has won the supervisor race in
the party's eight-year history. It competed for the position — but ultimately
lost — in each of the two previous elections.
“With all precincts reporting, Maloney won 50.5 percent of the vote to Wayne's
49.5 percent, according to the unofficial results. Wayne conceded to Maloney
Wednesday afternoon.
“Anderson defeated his Unified Shields Party opponent, Dan Rodgers, by nearly 10
percentage points — 54.7 to 45.3 percent — in the highway commissioner
race.Rogers, a Knollwood resident, previously served as the township's highway
commissioner from 2001 to 2005.
“START candidates also declared victory in the races for township clerk and
assessor. But the party was unable to carry all four open trustee seats,
splitting them instead with two rival USP candidates.
”Lanelle
Collins, a START candidate from North Chicago, claimed victory in the township
clerk race against Caroline Harrington, a USP candidate from the same city.
Collins won 52.6 percent of the vote while Harrington won 47.4 percent.
“Kathy Blahunka, a START candidate from Lake Bluff, edged past Trish Lenzini, a
USP candidate from the same village, in the township assessor race. The
unofficial results showed Blahunka with 51.3 percent of the vote, less than 3
percentage points ahead of Lenzini's 48.7 percent.
“Laura Carney of Lake Bluff and Bill Brown of Lake Forest, both START
candidates, led the township trustee race. Carney won 13.7 percent of the vote
while Brown won 13.2 percent. As a current board member, Carney was the only
trustee candidate running for a second term.
“Two USP candidates came in third and fourth, claiming the last two trustee
seats. Richard Goshgarian and Heather Kerr both received close to 12.9 percent
of the vote. Both live in Knollwood.”
April 7, 2013 Curious letter by Jack Preschlack
“It has come to my attention that my name and that of fellow ex-Lake Forest
Mayor Charley Clarke have been listed as endorsers of the Unified Shields Party
slate of candidates in the forthcoming Shields Township election on that party’s
mailers, brochures and on its web site. Charley and I have not endorsed the
Unified Party slate for Shields Township.
“In fact, we are supportive of the goals and record of the Shields Township
Active Reform Team. This may have been an honest misunderstanding as we did say
we were initially supportive of Heather Kerr, one of the Unified Party
candidates. We very much regret any confusion this may have caused in the minds
of the voters.”
https://jwcdaily.com/2013/04/07/endorsement-for-shields-township-active-reform-team/
March 17, 2013
letter by David Barkhausen
In the local government election on April 9th, voters will have a chance to
reward and advance a remarkably successful example of government reform –
accomplished by the trustees of the Shields Township Active Reform Team over the
opposition of the incumbent supervisor, Gale Strenger Wayne.
Among many reforms, the Shields trustees, with whom I have served as clerk,
have:
reduced the Township’s general fund property tax levy by 40%;
ended the Township’s practice of using property tax dollars to fund grants
to private charities, a position backed by 70% of voters in a 2008 advisory
referendum; and
cut the compensation of elected officials by 55%, eliminated their own pay,
and blocked the supervisor’s subsequent attempt to raise her own salary.
While not seeking re-election myself after eight years, I want to help assure
the continued and greater success of this reform effort.
The election presents a stark choice between those who support these reforms
(the eight candidates of the Shields Township Active Reform Team party – see
attached pocket card) and those who have opposed them and want a more expansive
and expensive township government (Gale Strenger Wayne, Dan Rogers, and their
“Unified Shields Party” candidates).
For information about the Shields Reform Team
candidates (including Cynthia Maloney for Supervisor, Kathy Blahunka for
Assessor, and Scott Anderson for Highway Commissioner), the record of our
incumbent trustees, and the Reform Team’s plans for the future, please also
visit the campaign website: www.shieldstownshipreform.com.
These elections have been extremely close – decided in one case by 4 votes in
2005 and less than 20 votes in 2009. Please make sure you and all family members
and friends vote to support this extremely rare example of government reform
championed by the Shields Township Active Reform Team.
Information about In-Person Early Voting and Voting by Mail is at www.shieldstownshipreform.com,
and an Application for a Mail-In Ballot is also attached to this message. Please
forward it to family and friends who will need, or may prefer, to vote by this
means.
You should have received a mailing recently asking for additional forms of help,
and more information will be forthcoming. Please let me know if you will display
a “Vote Shields Reform Team” yard sign.
Many thanks in advance for your interest and support. Your help in forwarding
this message to others would be greatly appreciated.
http://jwcdaily.com/2013/03/17/outgoing-shields-trustee-endorses-shields-active-reform-team/
March, 2013 Candidates Statements in the
“Knollwood Neighbors” newletter:
“Knollwood residents have a unique interest and stake in Shields Township
government, because residents depend on the Township’s Road District to maintain
neighborhood roads. Where road maintenance is concerned, the Township is the
equivalent of Knollwood’s municipal government.
“In two significant ways, all four of our trustees, including current Shields
Reform Team candidates Scott Anderson and Laura Carney, have given full support
to the Road District. Recognizing that the Road District’s resources are not
adequate to fund all needed maintenance, the trustees have supported the maximum
property tax levies for the Road District permitted by Illinois’ property tax
cap law. In addition, they have voted to forgive the $155,000 loan from the
Township’s general fund to the Road District approved by the prior Board, since
the Road District would never be in a position to repay that loan without
draining funds necessary for road maintenance.
“Highway Commissioner candidate, Scott Anderson, has unmatched credentials for
this position. A local civil engineer with years of daily involvement with road
maintenance and related drainage issues, Scott offers a unique professional
perspective that will save the District engineering consulting fees and will
provide creative solutions for the Road District. A very personable hard worker,
he would be a great asset for the Road District and your residents.
“Our Reform Team is otherwise committed to the efficient administration of the
other two core township functions - property tax assessment and general and food
pantry assistance - and to protecting and advancing the reforms of our incumbent
trustees in cutting the general fund property tax by 40%, ending grants of tax
dollars to private charities, and reducing the compensation of elected officials
by 55%.
“Further information about our eight candidates, our mission and platform will
be forthcoming and is on our website, www.shieldstownshipreform.com. Thank you.”
http://knollwoodneighbors.org/newsletter/03-2013.pdf
Nov 22, 2012
Letter by Janice Schnobrich
“The majority of the Shields Township Board deserves praise for approving
substantial reductions in salaries for elected officials and following through
on their campaign promises of four years ago.
“At their monthly meeting last Thursday evening, the Board was faced with a
deadline for setting salaries for Shields Township ’s elected officials for the
next term of office beginning in May. Salaries must be set at least 180 days
before the officials elected next April will take office in May.
“In their campaign four years ago, the independent candidates of the Shields
Township Active Reform Team (START) group promised to reduce salaries of elected
officials. Fortunately, their trustee candidates, as well as the highway
commissioner and clerk candidates, prevailed in that election.
“A majority of the Board reduced the supervisor’s compensation of $70,000 plus
health insurance and pension to $30,000 with no benefits based on their
philosophy that the position should be part-time and to discourage the
supervisor from seeking to expand township government into activities not
mandated by state law.
“The highway commissioner’s salary was reduced to $30,000 from $52,000 based on
the part-time nature of the position and the fact that there are only 9 miles of
roads in the unincorporated areas of the Township.
“The assessor’s salary was reduced from $83,000 plus health insurance and
pension to $50,000 with no benefits. This step was based on the current
assessor’s lack of success in grooming a successor over the last eight years who
is willing to run for the office and commit to holding it on a full-time basis.
It is thought that one or more qualified individuals will be willing to seek
election who will offer the necessary accountability and oversight of an
efficient and professionally-run office without having to commit full time to
the position.
“The clerk’s salary was reduced from $14,000 to $6,000, and the trustee’s
compensation of $2,700 was eliminated.
“These reductions in salaries and benefits total approximately $150,000 and
should enable the Board at its December meeting to reduce the Township’s
property tax levy beyond the 30 percent reduction they have already approved
during their term of office.
“It is refreshing to see a group of elected officials – the majority of the
Shields Township trustees, Lynn Baehr, Laura Carney, and Scott Anderson – follow
through on the START reform candidates’ promises of their 2009 campaign. They
deserve special recognition and praise for doing so.”
http://jwcdaily.com/2012/11/22/praise-for-shields-township-salary-cuts-2/
July 7, 2009
START financing reports to the Illinois State Board of Elections from January 1,
2008 through July 7, 2009
January 26, 2009
“David Barkhausen on Monday filed a petition seeking re-election to his office
of Shields Township clerk, a surprise move from a candidate who previously
announced he would run for township supervisor. Five others filed
petitions on Monday's deadline, representing the Shields Township Active Reform
Team (or START), which will be listed under the "independent" label on the April
ballot.
“Running with Mr. Barkhausen as START candidates are incumbent highway
commissioner Bill Goodman and four trustee candidates: Cele Bull and Laura
Carney of Lake Bluff; Lynn Baehr of Lake Forest; and Mary Woodson from North
Chicago. Mr. Barkhausen said he made the switch to maximize his group's chances
of electing its trustee candidates. ‘By not fielding our own candidate for
supervisor, we can focus on re-electing Bill Goodman and electing our trustee
candidates to set Township policy and control the budget and property tax
levies,’ he explained. ‘This approach gives us the best chance of accomplishing
our reform objectives by gaining strong support in all parts of our diverse
township.’
“The START group promises to ‘reform the neglected backwater of Shields Township
government,’ according to its web site. The group's basic premise is that
property tax dollars collected by the township should not be used to fund
private charities and college scholarships. It also proposes a re-adjustment of
how property tax dollars are used to fund road maintenance in the township.
Visit the START
web page for further information on these positions.”
http://gazebonews.typepad.com/gazebonews/2009/01/shields-township.html
Copyright 2004:
“Township” by Michael D. Sublett on Page 333
“Party poopers”
“Beginning in 1997, a determined resident of Lake Bluff, often on her own,
challenged the elected officials of Shields Township, especially the Supervisor,
Charles B. Fitzgerald, IV.”
“Schnobrich has done what any Illinois citizen should do, in the interest of
all: question the ways of governmental officials if something seems amiss, go
publicin a reasonable manner with the findings, and seek a better alternative…”
April 3, 2013 (FaceBook, last update)
https://www.facebook.com/Shields-Township-Active-Reform-Team-361810040601891/
shieldstownshipreform.com
This domain, first claimed in June, 2008, belongs to David Barkhausen and (as of
mid-December, 2016) is set to expire on June 16, 2017 – unless Mr. Barkhausen
renews it. The website is currently
unused.
http://www.shieldstownshipreform.com/
I am Don Russ,
Clerk of Shields Township. I endorse
Mrs. Terry Darraugh for Supervisor for two reasons:
(1) Terry would be great, and (2) Shields deserves better than Cynthia
Maloney.
Mrs. Maloney, the
incumbent Supervisor, is rarely in the office and, in my experience, does not
return phone messages nor emails. It
is difficult to work with her.
Fortunately, the experienced office manager and the professional case worker are
usually able to fill the leadership void.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Maloney’s occasional involvement is more hindrance
than help.
This last week,
Mrs. Maloney posted a half-year of minutes to the Shields website in
anticipation of the LWV debate. The
seven-month void gave the impression that Shields might have something to hide.
(see screenshot at
http://pxxq.com/shields/minutes.html
) Not so.
The apparent secrecy simply reflects Mrs. Maloney’s careless approach.
I have always delivered minutes to her the same evening as the meeting.
She failed to include them on the next agenda for approval, and then
failed to post the approved minutes to the website, causing confusion and
difficulty for the office manager.
Anybody can say
they “care” and she does seem to enjoy giving away the taxpayers’ money, but her
arbitrary approach to general assistance causes confusion and difficulty for the
case worker.
In fact, she has
repeatedly transferred money to her General Assistance Fund without
authorization from the Shields Board.
When this was faulted by the auditors, she dismissed it saying she only
did it twice this year, which is “better” than previous years when she did it
more frequently. (see meeting video
for August, 2016 at
http://www.shieldstownship.com/
) She seems oblivious that any
misappropriation of funds is a serious breach of trust.
The START group
slashed the Supervisor’s salary and she has not been shy about asking for a
raise. (see meeting video for
October, 2016 at
http://www.shieldstownship.com/
) The START trustees denied her a
raise.
There are many
reasons the START group did not want her in their slate, selecting Terry
Darraugh instead. Mrs. Darraugh’s
thoughtful, sensible, purposeful approach is plain to see in the debate.
(see March 19 video at
http://lwv-lflb.org/
) Mrs. Maloney can be seen
interrupting Mrs. Darraugh twice during the questioning.
When Mrs. Darraugh was making her concluding remarks, Mrs. Maloney slaps
the desk an rolls her head. By
contrast, Mrs. Darraugh maintained her poise and demonstrated a seriousness of
purpose.
The only names
listed on the ballot are those of the START slate, including Mrs. Terry
Darraugh. They are the only people
to have been nominated by a public process.
(see:
http://pxxq.com/shields/
) To ensure stability, efficiency
and integrity at Shields Township, I recommend them.
Donald E. Russ,
Shields Township Clerk
June 14, a postscript:
Those among us who ascend to elected office are trusted to make good decisions
for the rest of us. That’s how this works. The way they get elected is sometimes
messy politics, but that is the way this works too.
The high school district just to our west will see a board member go to jail
tomorrow. And that’s how this works when you cheat.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-libertyville-high-school-indictments-st-0615-20170614-story.html