McHenry County Democrats elect new leader

Cheers and applause greeted Kathleen "Kathy" Bergan Schmidt of Crystal Lake on March 5 as she was unanimously elected the new chairwoman of the Democratic Party of McHenry County.

Schmidt steps up from a term as vice chair to succeed Tom Cynor, who stepped down as chairman citing family responsibilities. His second child, a daughter, was born on primary night, Feb. 5. Cynor will remain on the executive board, however, as the new treasurer.

Sam Melei, previously the party's general counsel, was elected vice chairman, and party veteran Patrick Murfin was elected secretary.

Bergan Schmidt, currently running for a seat on the McHenry County Board from District 3, credited her experience as a candidate with giving her a special insight into the needs of those who put themselves before the voters. She ran previously for Nunda Township trustee and for the county board in 2006.

Her service to the party has included a term as secretary. As vice chairwoman, she was in charge of the Election Services committee, which recruits candidates and offers them training and technical support. She also was responsible for the electronic voter file system the party uses, oversaw the recruitment of election judges and poll watchers, and kept the party abreast of changes in election law.

Bergan Schmidt's involvement in McHenry County matters began with her membership in the Planning and Development committee of the Fox Valley freeway advisory committee in the early 1990s. She has also been active in the McHenry County Genealogical Society, the McHenry County Historical Society, the Wildflower Preservation and Propagation committee, and the McHenry County Breast Cancer Task Force. She currently represents the historical stakeholders on the Imagine McHenry County board of directors.

Citing the philosophy of the late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, Bergan Schmidt promised to marry the traditional "boots on the ground" organization of precinct representatives and volunteers going door to door, with the sophisticated electronic tools that have empowered a whole new generation of political activists.

After the election of officers, the convention broke up into county board district caucuses to elect county board district chairmen. District chairmen work with local precinct representatives to build the party and provide information to the electorate.

District chairmen also sit on the party executive committee with the elected officers. The new district chairmen are Brian McTague in District 1, Carolyne Quinn in District 2, Dan Giallombardo in District 3, Mary Margaret Maule in District 4, Chris Emmerich in District 5 and Robert Ludwig in District 6.

For more information, call (815) 788-9540, e-mail to info@mchenrydems.com or visit Web site www.mchenrydems.com.