Life in Ogle County

Add comment March 24th, 2008

I love living in Ogle County.  (I’ve lived here 47 of my 54 years).  There are awesome state parks and forests with some of the best hiking trails in the midwest, the small communities reflect life as it was when we baby boomers were growing up, and we’re close enough to Chicago and Rockford that we can enjoy more urban style shopping and entertainment without too much problem.  One thing though, for those of us who identify with democrats or other liberal leaning political thinking…it’s a very REPUBLICAN county.  All county officers are republican.  Don’t get me wrong…I’ve had the chance to meet many of the officials and they are very good people and do a great job.  However….when it comes to primary election time we have no choices on the democratic side.   Now… it is the democrat’s fault that they haven’t fielded candidates, however, that doesn’t diminish the fact that the primary becomes the general election and if we choose to not draw a republican ballot we have no say in who is going to serve in county offices.  I’m an election judge (I recommend this very worthwhile activity) and I hear complaints about this frequently at primary elections.  I tell voters…contact  your state representative and complain.   Well, apparently those in charge at the state general assembly aren’t really too interested in what we voters (who pay their salaries) have to say since recent legislation rejected any possibility of cross over voting in primary elections.  I’d say as local candidates ask for your vote this fall, ask how they feel about creating open primaries in Illinois.