Several Madison County Republican board members are calling for an investigation into the “disturbing” use of the county’s email system for political campaigning.
At Wednesday’s board meeting, Tom McRae (R) said he was “disappointed” by the “disturbing political activity” revealed in the 70+ pages of emails that were placed on record for public comment.
“I think that that’s not open for interpretation,” he said. “It was blatant.”
Mike Walters (R) suggested there should be an investigation if the information was obtained legally.
The emails were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by former Madison County State’s Attorney’s office employee Andrew Kane.
Kane asked that the emails be submitted for the meeting’s public comment portion, however the emails were not read aloud along with other submitted public comments at the beginning of the meeting. The issue was addressed during the “New Business” section towards the end of the meeting, but no excerpts were shared with the public.
The emails are a small sample of records Kane has obtained, he said, and what he provided to the board range from 2007-2016.
Email conversation regarding a May 2014 fundraiser for former county chairman Alan Dunstan at the Alton Belle confirmed event details:
“The tentative count will be 300 people and we will confirm an exact count upon your request,” wrote former director of administrative services Barry Harris to the event coordinator, Dunstan and former employee Jeff Wehling.
“We will go with the peel and eat shrimp and leave off the pork shanks for the price of $35/head. Please send me a list of the entire menu for our records. Twelve tall cocktail tables should be sufficient in addition to regular round tables. How many regular round tables will you have?
”White table cloths with black napkins are fine. We would like to have the better liquor available (rather than call liquor) as well as bottled beer. Would you be able to supply light background music during the reception? We would like to make sure that tables are bussed fairly frequently to allow a better atmosphere for continued conversation. There is no need for waitresses. People can go through the line for their food as well as get their own drinks at the bar(s).”
The following year, Harris told the Alton Belle event coordinator to email him at his personal email due to “political regulations,” but later sent a signed contract on his county email address.
Ray Wesley (R) said that while the majority of the emails were for campaigning and electioneering, there was “one very disturbing” email. He urged the board members to read the emails, saying the disturbing content would stand out. He did not elaborate on the nature of the email.
The email Wesley referenced was sent by Michael Clark on Oct. 25, 2007, with the subject line “Gladstones” – a bar in Soulard, to former administrator Joseph Parente, Randy Smith and then chief deputy sheriff John Lakin.
“Hello Boys
“D-boy, Bob and I are gonna down a few November 1 at Gladstones right after work. Hope you can make it. Please pass this note around to any school girls you might want to bring.
“Boobie."
David Michael (R) suggested requiring employees and elected officials to participate in annual training so they know they cannot participate in political activity using county property or the email system and on county time.
Chris Guy (R) responded that a resolution was passed two months ago “requiring all county employees and elected officials to take an annual ethics exam,” which includes training on what activities the county email system can and cannot be used for.
Liz Dalton (D) said the emails are from 2008 through 2015, and policies have changed since then.
“I read through all of those things, and we’re driving it into the ground making it sound like it just happened and it’s been five years to 12 years since this all took place,” she said.
Mick Madison (R) responded that the emails may be dated, but the officials may still be employed at the county.
He added that they are only a collection of emails that have been specifically obtained through a FOIA request. He said he would like to see if there are other similar instances.
McRae added that while the emails may be from years ago, this is the first time they are being discussed.
“Even if it was five years ago or ten years ago, I think in the private sector people would have been fired for doing this,” he said.
He also said that the situation was not someone who “accidentally got an invitation to a fundraiser. Rather, the email system was used to organize political activities.
“It’s the leadership that should know better,” he said.
Doc Holliday (D) responded by asking why Chairman Kurt Prenzler rejected Auditor Rick Faccin’s request to speak. He said the board members are talking about holding elected officials accountable, but an elected official is prohibited from making a statement.
Mike Parkinson (D) didn’t offer any response to the use of county emails for political purposes, but said they should look into why the county is paying legal fees he says are related to a golf tournament for Prenzler’s campaign.