Kane County Reporter

Illinois House candidate Carolyn Schofield (R-Crystal Lake) has been endorsed by Algonquin Village President John Schmitt, who may be considered a controversial politician in his own right.

In a Feb. 14 blog post, incumbent state Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee), whom Schofield is challenging, questions why Schofield is accepting an endorsement from the Democrat.

“[Schmitt is] a man who calls himself a ‘very partisan’ Democrat, compares Republicans to Nazis, harbors religious bigotry against Christians, and is a Trump-hater,” Skillicorn wrote.

McHenry County Board member Carolyn Schofield (R-Crystal Lake) | Facebook

Skillicorn also calls Schmitt a climate extremist, based on Schmitt’s Facebook posts that include images of children protesting inaction against climate change, and questions what Schofield’s stand is on issues such as global warming, Illinois’ Green New Deal and the Illinois Clean Energy Jobs Act. He also calls for Schofield to repudiate her endorsement from Schmitt immediately, and says she should also rebuke him for his “hateful and bigoted statements.”

As evidence of those statements, Skillicorn offers memes that Schmitt has shared disparaging President Donald Trump and showing the U.S. flag transformed into a Nazi flag. He says that Schmitt has also shared Facebook posts supporting U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove), former Democratic President Barack Obama and Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and that he has donated to political campaigns for U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Moline).   

Schofield is a 22-year resident of McHenry County and currently represents District 2 on the McHenry County Board.

Skillicorn was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives and has represented the 66th District since 2017. He was a trustee for the Village of East Dundee, and as a state representative, has opposed any and all tax hikes, supports lowering taxes and reforming pension systems, according to his campaign website. He has been endorsed by Tax Accountability, the Technology and Manufacturing Association and the National Federation of Independent Business.