Dems vow to regroup in McHenry Co.

Democrats in McHenry County may have fallen victim to the Republican whirlwind Tuesday in losing all county board races and most major state contests, but Democratic leaders say they are gaining ground in an area that has historically been a Republican stronghold.

Although Republicans dominated the six county board seats up for grabs, as well as the two congressional races, Democrats earned a win in the race for the 63rd House District with incumbent Jack Franks being re-elected. Democrats also did well in McHenry County in the Attorney General and Secretary of State contests.

“I think the county is going to be a majority Republican, but the advantage is eroding and has been eroding over the years,” said Michael Bissett, chairman of the McHenry County Democratic Party. “It started about 15 years ago ... There wasn't a Democratic Party that could field a viable candidate but every year that advantage gets smaller. There's a natural demographic shift but it is also the hard work of the party to field some very credible candidates. People are starting to take notice that there's not just one party in this county anymore.”

McHenry County Board District 3 member Kathy Bergan Schmidt, a Democrat from Crystal Lake, agreed that although Republicans still control the county, their dominance is not as overriding as it once was.

“Even if they hold all of the positions, they don't have all of the power they once did,” Bergan Schmidt said. “It's not the one pony show it used to be. Just the fact that there's competition there's never been that competition makes the (Republicans) realize that there's a variety of voices to be heard and not just those of their own political persuasion.”

This year saw the best-organized Democratic Party in McHenry County, Bissett said. The party expanded its volunteer base and made headway in creating links to the communities in McHenry County. Bissett said the party added more than 30 volunteers by making contact either through e-mail, telephone calls or walk-ins to the party's headquarters.

“The national tide overwhelmed anything we could do at the local level,” Bissett said. “But I will say that people in McHenry County, although a majority are Republican, there are quite a few voters who will look at a candidate based on merits and not just party affiliation. ”

Bissett said a national movement to the left would help the county Democrats, but is not essential to their success.

“That would certainly make things easier,” Bissett said. “But any candidate who works hard has a good chance of success. People respond to the motivation and sincere qualities of a candidate. Integrity matters to people.”