McHENRY COUNTY DEMS--Caucus Candidates for November Election
The McHenry County Democratic Central Committee voted to add candidates for State’s Attorney and Auditor to the November ballot when they caucused at the McHenry County Farm Bureau on Wednesday Night.
Tom Cynor
Former party Chair Thomas J. Cynor of Woodstock was slated for State’s Attorney. Cynor is currently the Research Attorney for the 22nd Judicial Circuit. A law school graduate of the University of Illinois in 1993, he has a varied legal background including many hours of trial experience as a private lawyer, a Public Defender and court appointed Special Prosecutor in Livingston County, and a Municipal Attorney and Village Prosecutor in Washington Park, Illinois.
“I have no misconceptions as to the hurdles any Democratic candidate for public office faces in McHenry County,” Cynor said. “But I know that our county and its citizens are ready for change and…ready to finally have a competent, ethical, and well qualified attorney representing their interests.”
Kerry Julian
The nod for McHenry County Auditor went to Woodstock insurance agent Kerry E. Julian. Julian has operated the Julian Agency since 2002. Prior to that, he was an executive with major insurance companies. He oversaw a staff of over a hundred and a budget of $10 million for accounting, claims, customer service, legal and other operations a HCC Insurance in Northbrook. He is a volunteer Boy Scout leader and the treasure of his church.
“I feel I have a good skill match for the post of Auditor and I am ready to give back to my community,” Julian said. “An independent county Auditor can be the best watch dog of tax payer interests. I’m not tied to existing power centers. My only allegiance will be to the citizens of McHenry County.”
Party Chair Kathy Bergan Schmidt said, “More choices on the ballot in November is another step to breaking the one-party monopoly that has so long dominated McHenry County. The Democratic Party is not sitting on the sidelines but is engaging in County campaigns with qualified candidates ready to fight hard for victory.”
Precinct Representatives from County Board District 2 also caucused at the meeting and selected Anita Harmon and Jill Mawhinney as the party’s nominees. Both had been unanimously recommended by the Party’s Executive Committee, which interviewed multiple candidates.
Anita Harmon
Harmon is a Crystal Lake business woman and veteran of the U.S. Navy. She is currently business manager of Premier Commercial Realty and was previously employed by the engineering firm Of Baxter & Woodman. She has been a community volunteer as President of the League of United Latin American Citizen (LULAC) in McHenry County, board secretary of the Galleons Advocacy Group in Crystal Lake, volunteer tax preparer through the Woodstock Rotary and VITA-Woodstock, and a Director of Children’s Ministry for her church.
Jill Mawhinney
Mawhinney is a retired Professor of Student Development at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines. The long time Crystal Lake resident’s resume includes experience as a provider of a full range of counseling services, an instructor in small and large group settings, and organizational development. Mawhinney is married to Attorney Richard Jackson, a previous candidate for the county board who gladly demurred to his wife this time around.
The party still has the opportunity to caucus additional candidates onto the ballot until early April.