- Local every day in
Democrat Martinez Gets Conservative Endorsement in Coroner's Race
In probably the most interesting and contentious Kane County race, Democrat Tao Martinez makes a late run at Republican Robert Russell—with an endorsement from a conservative group.
In a slate of Kane County Board races, it turns out that the coroner's race is, ironically, the most lively.
The Kane County Conservative Coalition—the same group that has pushed hard for Chris Lauzen's campaign for County Board chairman—is backing Democrat Tao Martinez in the coroner's race over Republican Robert Russell.
A press release issued Thursday by Jon Zahm said the KCCC is endorsing a Democrat for the first time since 2002, when the group favored Pat Perez for sheriff. In the same e-mail, Zahm does disclose that his wife works as a paid political consultant for Martinez.
"Most of our endorsements are of people we have been supporting for months, even years in some cases," Zahm said in the press release. "However, in one of the 20 contests we are formally endorsing in, we found that the Democratic candidate best reflected 'conservative fiscal and social values while conducting themselves ethically and responsibly,' which is the official description of the mission statement of the organization."
Russell told the Kane County Chronicle that Zahm's press release was an "obviously political hit piece coming right before the election." Russell said his record stands for itself.
The press release, as well as a Facebook post by Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez, a Democrat, questions Russell's credentials as an investigator.
"Russell has created this fantasy that he is a lead homicide investigator,' " Zahm said. "What does he base this claim upon? He received a certificate in the mail just a couple of weeks ago for a class he completed in September."
In an e-mail sent Sunday night, Martinez quotes a Perez Facebook post.
"Now Mr. Russell embellishes his law enforcement experience and talks about doing death investigations," the post says. It explains that in the course of homicide investigations or other fatals, the investigations are done by police or sheriff's department personnel. The coroner's job is to determine the manner of death.
"Anyone following this race should question why Mr. Russell is so obsessed with thinking he has the same arrest powers as the sheriff, and would take the sheriff's place if the sheriff were to leave office," it says.
Zahm said the Conservative Coalition backs Martinez because he has more apples-to-apples coroner experience.
"He operates a business that works side by side with coroners in five states, including Illinois, professionally handling death scenes and working with families in the hours and days after tragic deaths as they look for answers and expect compassion," the press release says.
Disclosure from Zahm
"My wife decided, independently, to work as a paid consultant to Tao Martinez several weeks ago. I did not intend to take a public side in this race, I am already involved in many other campaigns. But as information came out about Russell refusing to release his disciplinary records at the DuPage Sheriff's Office, and revelations about his exaggerated role in death investigations, I felt it necessary to take a principled stand. Many members and supporters of the KCCC also reached out to me and said it was important to look past political parties and focus on character and credentials, especially for an office like coroner. So that is how we got to this point."
Kane County Conservative Coalition 2012 General Election Endorsements
- President: MITT ROMNEY
- Congressman 6th District: PETER ROSKAM
- Congressman 8th District: JOE WALSH
- Congressman 14th District: RANDY HULTGREN
- Kane County Board Chairman: CHRIS LAUZEN
- Kane County Circuit Clerk: TOM HARTWELL
- Kane County Recorder: SANDY WEGMAN
- Kane County Coroner: TAO MARTINEZ
- Kane County Board District 2: SAL ABBATE
- Kane County Board District 5: MELISA TAYLOR
- Kane County Board District 9: T.R. SMITH
- Kane County Board District 10: SUSAN STARRETT
- Kane County Board District 18: DREW FRASZ
- Kane County Board District 19: KURT KOJZAREK
- Kane County Board District 22: DOUG SCHEFLOW
- State Senate District 25: JIM OBERWEIS
- State Senate District 26: DAN DUFFY
- State Senate District 42: PETER HURTADO
- State Representative District 52: DAVID McSWEENEY
- 16th Circuit Judge Sub Circuit 2: JOHN WALTERS
SOURCES: Kane County Conservative Coalition, Kane County Chronicle, Tao Martinez press release
Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.
Roy R
10:02 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Oh, c'mon. The KCCC? There's NO SUCH THING. They have no website, no Facebook page, no prior endorsements. The group's "leader" is being paid by Mr. Martinez. The Patch ran an article on one person's endorsements? Ugh.
Jon Zahm
10:41 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Hey Roy, who are you? KCCC was established in 2002 at the State Board of Elections and has filed reports ever since. It has made endorsements regularly ever since and has been a difference maker in many races over the years. Kane Countywide elected officials that have been endorsed and helped by our group include Auditor Keck, Treasurer Rickert, Recorder We and Clerk Cunningham,.Plus we helped Hartwell and Hunt win primaries in 2012 for Circuit Clerk and Auditor
Steven Jones
11:46 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
We? Is there a mouse in your pocket, Jon? You made endorsements. Not an organization. You. And you got The Patch to bite. No hard feelings towards you and your mouse. Would have helped if The Patch had been more transparent about the fact that you helped these people win primaries. You. (You also helped Dr. Bob Tiballi lose his primary. You.) But the KCCC has never been heard of. Are you/KCCC consulting with Mr. Martinez or not? And what of the mouse, Jon? What of the mouse?
Jon Zahm
8:02 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
"Steven Jones" knows nothing about the internal workings of the KCCC organization or my consulting business. I am a results guy and there is a body of results over 24 years by me, and KCCC for 10 years, that has been very successful. About 70% winners, including many surprising upsets.
Marc Avelar
6:56 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Good morning, by tonight we'll know the results of all of the local races in Kane County. I've known Jon Zahm since the mid 1990s, and I know he is a man of conviction.
The Kane County Conservative Coalition has been around since the 2002 election cycle. It is a registered Illinois Political Committee, and its disclosure reports can be found at the State Board of Elections website. The KCCC usually carries more weight in the Republican primary, and this past spring, Jon funded a countywide mailing in the last week of the primary election, according to disclosure reports, to the tune of $1,900 Jon contributed personally.
Yes, Jon openly puts his money where his mouth is. While Jon is wise in many things in local politics, in the case of the KCCC endorsements, and the conflict-of-interest his household has with his wife's consulting for the Democratic nominee, he was not wise.
The Zahms should have recused themselves from any endorsement decision in the coroner's race through KCCC, let another KCCC member be the spokesperson for the endorsements, and fully disclosed her employment and the Zahms' recusal.
My two cents, and for the record, I voted Russell.
Jon Zahm
8:14 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Marc Avelar is a class act and a man whom I respect a great deal. We disagree on this matter as money has never been the factor that influences my endorsements. It is very common that organizations that endorse candidates have family members who choose to work for that candidate, sometimes volunteer, sometimes paid. I am not going to come on and defend every criticism made here, as I am busy today w
Jon Zahm
8:20 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
to complete my thought above...I am busy helping people get elected until 7 pm tonight. The writing is on the wall for the Coroner's race. It will be the closest one of all the countywides, by far, and Martinez has a chance to pull the upset, with about 52% of the vote. Keep an eye on the Aurora election commission results and add those to the Kane County results to get the final numbers.
craig
8:55 am on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
OK, I'll ask it... Why do we vote for Coroner?
Dave Roller
10:34 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Here is a question? I don't want to to be contentious or anything but why does Tao Martinez have what appears to be a Sifs emblem on his posters? Was he trying to link himself in with the Sherrif's department?
Dave Roller
10:36 pm on Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Here is a question. I don't want to to be contentious or anything but why does Tao Martinez have what appears to be a Sherrifs emblem on his posters? Was he trying to link himself in with the Sherrif's department?