patrickmurfin

Meredith Reid Sarkees and Patrick Murfin wish to thank all of our volunteers, contributors, supporters and the voters.  We lost the election, but are proud to have stood up to be counted.

Here are the results as posted on McVote.  These results are not final.  Early and absentee ballots have not yet been recorded.  But early voting was very light and will not significantly affect the out come

So what happened?

Support for the Democratic Party candidates closely tracked the turn out in most Democratic Primaries (the last Presidential Primary excepted.)  In other words folks who are so strongly committed to the party that they have been willing to let their friends and neighbors in a traditionally overwhelmingly Republican area know who they are came out to vote.  The much larger number of folks who now vote Democratic in state and national elections, but traditionally pay no attention to local races, could not be turned out despite a concerted effort.  Some how we have to get the “national Democrats” to recognize the importance of local races.

Meanwhile the Republican Party, stung by the loss of McHenry County last November, was highly motivated to re-assert their traditional dominance of local governments.  The party raised and spent unprecedented money in support of their Team Nunda slate and in support of Algonquin Township trustee candidates challenged by another Democratic slate. 

The township was blanketed by hundreds of Team Nunda signs and hundreds more signs for each individual candidate.  By contrast the Change for Nunda campaign could only afford 50 signs at least half of which were stolen.  There were also multiple mailings and robo calls.  Change for Nunda got out one targeted mailing and volunteers made about 1000 phone calls in concert with McHenry County College Trustee candidate John Darger.  The Republicans also actually got out and canvassed door-to-door in some areas, which has been unheard of in recent elections.  They had ceded the shoe leather department to Democrats who have tried to make up for less well funded campaigns with personal campaigning.

So it became a turn-out-your-base election.  And the sad fact is that in Nunda Township the Republicans can still turn out a bigger base than the Democrats.

The Nunda Open Space Referendum was also a factor.  Murfin and Sarkees enthusiastically supported the referendum, which would have issued bonds to buy and preserve open space to protect ground water reserves.  Although the funding mechanism failed to pass it by a mere handful of votes the last time it was offered, bringing it back to the voters in hard economic times was risky.  But it was a matter of conscience for both candidates.

You can see that the yes vote closely paralleled the Change for Nunda numbers.  Murfin and Sarkees got the majority of yes voters.  On the other hand support for the referendum undoubtedly cost the candidates some votes even among Democrats voting their pocket books over environmental concerns.

Finally, did the last minute smear campaign launched against Murfin have much effect?  For all of the strum und drang it was essentially shouting down the rain barrel.  It got  half a dozen lunatics into a froth in the on-line comments to letters to the editor in the Northwest Herald.  “Discussion” there quickly spun out of control and ended with accusations that Murfin was an actual “Communist.”  But most voters of either party disregarded the noise.  It certainly did not effect the Democratic base.  At worst may have motivated a couple of dozen knuckle draggers to turn out to vote for Team Nunda—and to oil their guns in preparation for the upcoming insurrection against the “socialist/facist/muslim/terrorists/gun grabbing/baby killing regime in Washington.”

But despite the defeat, this election was an important skirmish in the on going guerilla campaign to “Turn McHenry County Blue.”  By not ceding local races to the Republicans, Democrats force them to spend large amounts of cash.  We keep our campaign organizations intact and in practice between even-year general elections.  And we develop experienced candidates who learn the ropes and can go on to bigger things.  First time candidate Sarkees, who outdrew old timer Murfin, has all of the credentials to go on to other races.

It seems just yesterday since Nunda Township Democrats caucused to nominate Meredith Reid Sarkees and me as candidates for Township Trustee.  Less than three month is not much time to pull together a campaign, even one for an often neglected local race.  So we have been pretty busy.

We appreciate the support offered to us in donations of time, talent, and treasure.  Without it he could not hope to challenge one of the most entrenched political machines in McHenry County.

Now we need you to go the final mile.  VOTE!  Call your friends and neighbors and remind them to VOTE!  In the race for Nunda Township Trustee vote only for you Change for Nunda candidates, Murfin and Sarkees.  Do not “fill out” your ballot by voting for any of the Team Nunda Republicans.  You don’t need to vote for all four positions.  Vote only for the best.

While you are at the polls, please support the Nunda Township Open Space Referendum, which we have enthusiastically endorsed.  And vote for John Darger, candidate for McHenry County College Trustee.

 And after the polls close please join us and the friends and supporters of Algonquin Township Democratic Candidates—Frank Hyden, Robert Franks, and James McTague—and John Darger at Porter’s Oyster Bar, 446 W Virginia Street, Crystal Lake to follow the returns and celebrate the campaigns. 

On Saturday, Patrick Murfin, with Meredith Reed Sarkees one of the Change for Nunda candidates for Township Trustee, was out canvassing for votes the old fashioned way—by ringing door bells and talking to actual voters.  He had to work fast with a heavy spring snow storm threatening to close in.  He will be hitting the bricks again next weekend.  So will volunteers in other “urban” precincts.

While the tactic may be traditional, a high tech voter data base enables Democratic Party Precinct Representatives to target likely supporters.  Getting those supporters to the polls on April 7 or to cast an early vote is critical to electoral success.

Voters, including those in more rural areas of Nunda Township, are also being contacted by phone and by  post card mailing.

Our Change for Nunda yard signs are in!  If you would like to host a sign, please e-mail your request to pmurfin@sbcglobal.net.  Hurry, supplies are limited!

Early voting for the April 7 Consolidated Election begins Monday, March 16 and continues through Thursday, April 2.  This increasingly popular voting option is the choice of many busy people and insures that your vote is locked in and counted no matter how hectic election day turns out to be. 

Meredith Reid Sarkees and Patrick Murfin, the Change for Nunda candidates are opposed by an entrenched political machine.  We need bank every reliable vote now.

Please consider opting for early or absentee voting.

If you want change in Nunda Township, when you get to the polls cast your Trustee votes only for Murfin and Sarkees.  There are four Trustee positions up for election and only two Democratic candidates.  You are not required to cast 4 votes!  Votes for any of the Republican candidates will pile up votes for them and lessens the chance that your voice for change will be heard.

Early Voting Will Be Conducted At:

McHenry County Administration Building

667 Ware Rd., 2^nd Floor, Conference Room A

Woodstock, IL  60098

Mar 16^th thru Mar 20^th, Mar 23^rd thru Mar 27^th,

Mar 30^th thru Apr 2^nd

Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Saturday, Mar 21^st and Mar 28^th   

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Nunda Township Offices

3510 Bay Rd, Annex

Crystal Lake, IL 60012

Mar 23^rd thru Mar 27^th, Mar 30^th thru Apr 2^nd

Hours: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Saturdays--NO Hours 

Early voting will also be conducted at a number of other locations in the county.  Ballots for all jurisdictions will be available at each location.  For a full list of locations and times consult the McHenry County Clerk’s web page.