Bitter McHenry GOP dispute intensifies

A heated feud inside the McHenry County Republican Party continues to escalate this week after longtime party member Bernard Narusis labeled Chairman Bill LeFew a "spineless coward" and demanded his immediate resignation in an e-mail to party members.

LeFew fired back with a missive of his own Thursday, defending his decision to send out an anonymous campaign mailer critical of State's Attorney Louis Bianchi and accusing his critics of "killing the messenger."

"As to the name-calling done by Bernie (Narusis) in his e-mail I have never done that to him, nor any candidate and would not support anyone that does this," LeFew wrote. "Each of us must choose who we support, and who we do not, but we cannot let it make us into enemies."

The exchange illustrates just how divided the party has become in recent months over Bianchi's re-election bid and efforts to unseat him by LeFew, a former ally turned bitter rival.

That division bubbled below the surface for more than a year but exploded into the public realm in October when LeFew announced plans to resign his chairman's post because of a complaint to the Illinois attorney general about spending by Bianchi's administration.

The split intensified over the weekend when LeFew admitted he mailed 900 re-prints of a piece by Daily Herald columnist Amy Mack to elected officials and Republican voters in McHenry County. The column was critical of Bianchi's office spending about $17,000 since December 2004 on meals, snacks and candy.

Narusis, an attorney from Oakwood Hills and Nunda Township precinct committeeman, blasted LeFew in an e-mail sent to party officials this week. He accuses LeFew of running a smear campaign against a fellow Republican.

"Bill LeFew has dishonored the integrity of the McHenry County Republican Party and he should resign (again!) immediately," Narusis wrote. "LeFew's conduct was politically unethical and dishonest and grossly reprehensible."

LeFew responded Thursday that since he used his own money to send the mailer and did not identify it as coming from the GOP chairman, there was nothing inappropriate about his actions.

"All United States citizens have the right to free speech, including party chairman and elected officials," he wrote. "I would not criticize Bernie or anyone else that did a mailing that was simply an exact copy of a newspaper article."

Bianchi, whose rancor with LeFew stems from claims he tried to oust the party chairman in 2005, called the mailer "an unprecedented attack" by a chairman on a member of his own party.

"This kind of clandestine action prompts divisiveness," he said. "It's discouraging to all Republicans, and it discourages private citizens from getting involved."

Though some LeFew critics have said they would file a complaint over his actions with the Illinois State Board of Elections, none have been received so far, said Tony Morgando, the agency's deputy director of disclosure.

Even if one were filed, Morgando said it is unlikely LeFew violated any election laws if, as he said, he spent less than $3,000 on the mailer. Only individuals or groups spending more than $3,000 to promote a candidate or cause must file as a campaign committee and disclose expenses.

"It is a communication being sent out and it would qualify (as campaign literature) if it advocates that the electorate vote a certain way, but there is the $3,000 threshold that must be met," Morgando said.

Likewise, he said, Bianchi challenger Dan Regna would not have to list the mailer as an in-kind donation on his campaign disclosures if -- as he and LeFew say -- he was unaware of it.

"A contribution is something that is knowingly received by a candidate," Morgando said.

In the meantime, rank-and-file Republicans offered mixed views on the fallout the split could have on the party's future.

"Nothing of this nature assists us in maintaining our strength in McHenry County," Circuit Clerk Bill Kays said.

Others, however, said the open hostility simply is the result of a hard-fought primary campaign.

"A contested primary makes for good candidates," said Don Franz, a GOP precinct committeeman from Algonquin Township. "In a contested primary, these things happen."