Bathon criticizes Prenzler for ties to 'extreme' organization

Madison County Treasurer Fred Bathon cited his opponent's past membership in the Constitution Party as evidence that he's out of touch with the values of Madison County voters.

"Kurt Prenzler is running as a Republican now, but just a few years ago he served as the campaign treasurer for Curt Frazier, the Constitution Party candidate for the U.S. Senate in Missouri," Bathon said.

Bathon said the Constitution Party is an extreme, right-wing political organization whose leaders have called for Biblical government in America and whose platform calls for the abolition of the Department of Education.

According to its website, the goal of the Constitution Party is to restore American jurisprudence to its Biblical foundations and to limit the federal government to its Constitutional boundaries.

"This party is far to the right of the most conservative wing of the Republican Party. I would think Republicans would be concerned to have someone running on their ticket who isn't even really in synch with their issues and their values," Bathon said.

Bathon said Prenzler also has publicly supported a religious zealot who both prophesied and hoped for an end to civilization during the Y2K scare in 2000.

According to Bathon, Prenzler wrote a letter demanding an apology from the editors of Credenda Agenda, a religious magazine and website, which had criticized the zealot for hyperbole.

"The bottom line is that Kurt Prenzler isn't from Madison County. He doesn't work here, he's only lived her a few short years and he doesn't share our values. Kurt Prenzler is just too extreme for our County."

Prenzler responded in an email by saying, "This matter brought up by Treasurer Bathon is not meaningful in any respect to this campaign. It has nothing to do with a race for a financial office that involves collecting funds for the county."

"Curt Frazier, M.D., is a personal friend, and, as a CPA, he asked me to serve as his campaign treasurer. I did so as a personal friend, not as a right-wing idealogue."

"I am an independent Republican and my values are identical to the vast majority of voters in Madison County, who are struggling under high and ever-increasing property taxes."

"Fred Bathon's press release is a diversionary tactic - an attempt to divert the voters' attention from his record of mis-management as Treasurer over the past eight years."

After Prenzler's responded, Bathon wasted no time in responding back.

"Mr. Prenzler is ducking these important issues. It certainly is relevant in a campaign to know that Kurt Prenzler has been active in an extremist political party."

"It also is relevant that Kurt Prenzler has been active in support of candidates who oppose public education given that on his web site and in his campaign literature he portrays himself as a supporter of public schools."

"Finally, the fact that Mr. Prenzler supported someone who thought Y2K would bring an end to civilization as we know it raises serous questions about the judgment of a man who wants to handle $500 million of our tax dollars."