Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran’s announcement that he is switching from the Democratic to the Republican Party also served as a convenient stage today for prominent Republicans to criticize beleaguered Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other Democrats.

Among those taking a swipe was former Illinois Atty. Gen. Jim Ryan, who lost to Blagojevich in 2002. But Ryan had plenty of company, including a congressman.

The head of the Illinois Republican Party even tossed in a critical statement read by a surrogate.
“We need leaders who are authentic, not counterfeit leaders like this governor,” Ryan said.
Ryan, who is no relation to former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican serving time on corruption charges, was quick to add that political labels don’t amount to much in Illinois when it comes to wrongdoing.

“Sleaze, in this state unfortunately, has been bipartisan,” he said.

In a statement read at Curran’s news conference Monday, state Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna said the GOP welcomed all Democrats who believe too much power in the hands of one political party breeds corruption. (read full)

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran on Thursday released the results of an audit that showed a fifth of his jail population is undocumented and pressed for the power to deport them.

In the process, he took shots at Cook County, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and politicians in Springfield and Washington for not doing the same.

“The city of Chicago as well as the state of Illinois have shown little interest in cooperating with ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement],” Curran said. Later, he added: “Throw the bums out of Springfield and Washington but treat the illegal immigrants with love and respect.”… (read full)

Recently a $3 million grant from the Economic Development Administration was announce for Rochelle, toward building a much needed overpass. The construction project isn’t cheap though; the total cost is estimated at $7 million. See video from WREX Rockford for details:

Here’s a statement from Curran on what inspired him to do this.

-crossposted from the Daily Herald

On August 7and 8 of 2008 I attended a Leadership Summit at Willow Creek Church in Barrington with other members of the Correctional Staff of the Lake County Jail. The list of speakers included Chuck Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship, and Catherine Rohr, the founder of Prison Entrepreneurship. As I walked into Willow Creek I turned to my Deputy Chief of the Lake County Jail, Patrick Firman, and said “I am going to spend a week in the Lake County Jail.” I believe that because the idea came to me in church that it may have been divinely inspired.

I have four goals that I hope to achieve while staying in the Lake County Jail. However, I do not intend to rank the goals by their level of importance.

My first goal that I wish to discuss is my desire to find some additional introspection into our inmate programming. I will be remanding to the Lake County Jail after this press conference to spend the week from August 20, 2008 until August 27, 2008 in the Lake County Jail. I have not been accused of any crime nor have I committed any crime. I will be spending this time in the Lake County jail voluntarily. I believe that I can be a better Sheriff by having a better understanding of jail operations from the perspective of an inmate in the Lake County Jail. I believe that I will receive significant introspection from staying in the jail with the inmates for a week… (read full)

WAUKEGAN — Emboldened by a U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning local government gun bans, gun-rights supporters commandeered the Lake County Board’s public comment session Tuesday to lobby for the Second Amendment.

The group wants the board to pass a “Pro-Second Amendment” resolution that opposes the enactment of any legislation infringing upon gun ownership and possession.

Brandishing a bundle of what he said were thousands of signatures supporting a petition for the resolution, James Stewart of Waukegan said county voters want the board to demonstrate its support of the Second Amendment, which states: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

A couple of speakers inferred that some County Board members owe their seats to the support of pro-gun voters in Lake County. Brad Guth of Vernon Township claimed there are 10,000 card-carrying members of the National Rifle Association in Lake County, thousands more who vote pro-gun, and promised a big turnout by these voters in the November election.

Support of this resolution is a “significant movement that has been sweeping Illinois,” Stewart said, with 82 of Illinois’ 102 counties passing the resoltion. The 82 counties represent a fifth of the state’s total population.

“We’re just here to protect our Second Amendment rights,” Stewart said, although he did allude to the right of government to assess taxes.

“Just keep them to a minimum,” he said. “We don’t need another tea party.”

Only law-abiding citizens can legally own guns, several speakers maintained.

“Outlaws are already disarmed by their felony records,” said Susan Tensling.(read full)