One incumbent facing no primary opposition and one in a contentious battle for nomination in the June 28 primary received endorsement from the Madison County Republican Central Committee last week.
Precinct committee men and women voted to endorse State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton) and Treasurer Chris Slusser after earlier being recommended by the MCRCC executive committee.
“This election cycle, Republicans have an unprecedented opportunity to build on our success," said MCRCC chair Ray Wesley. "Our county party will put its full weight behind our endorsed candidates to ensure their victory in June, and again in November."
“Representative Elik has been a strong voice for Madison County during her tenure in Springfield, fighting for lower taxes, Second Amendment rights, and protecting the unborn.
“Treasurer Slusser has taken the county investment portfolio to the next level, moving Madison County to the number one position in the state in regard to investment performance. We are extremely excited to have these two great candidates working for the taxpayers of Madison County and we look forward to their re-election.”
For the party’s nomination, Slusser faces former county administrator and fierce adversary Doug Hulme, who’s been in attack mode against Slusser since the county board voted to terminate his position in April 2020.
Wesley said the party’s executive committee recommended every candidate that requested endorsement, but not every Republican candidate sought the MCRCC endorsement.
Those who notably did not seek the party’s endorsement were Hulme, Fifth District Appellate Court candidate Michael McHaney, county Clerk candidate Linda Andreas and other county board candidates and a precinct committee person.
To get MCRCC’s endorsement, it takes two-thirds approval of voting precinct committee persons.
Endorsements sought by candidates for Fifth District, Barry Vaughan; House District 112, Jennifer Korte and Joe Hackler; county Clerk, Mike Walters; Sheriff, Jeff Larner and Jeff Connor; may have eluded them due to county Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler urging precinct committee persons to take a “no endorsement” position.
“I feel very strongly about this,” Prenzler said. “As Republicans we can think for ourselves.”
He said that only two other county GOP organizations in the state, Lake and Sangamon, endorse primary candidates. He said that’s because Republicans don’t like “machine” politics.
According to Wesley, 84 committee persons cast ballots in last week’s endorsement vote.
He said Elik's and Slusser's records in office helped them achieve two-thirds vote approval.
“I think Amy Elik is supported by the majority of the base because of the job she has done in Springfield," he said. "That has been recognized district wide.
“As far as Chris Slusser getting endorsed, I believe the precinct committeemen have gotten tired of Doug Hulme’s negative rhetoric and he does not represent our values. This is the committee’s way of sending that message to him.
"The other races have divided support from the base and I think that played into the inability of anyone else to meet the high threshold needed for endorsement, which is how it is supposed to work."
Hulme said he has the endorsements of Prenzler, former State Rep. Dwight Kay and the Madison County Conservative Caucus.
"The county party had a flawed endorsement process where a vast majority of elected Republican precinct committeemen refused to endorse anyone or even attend," he said. "About half of those that attended the party endorsement event were directly appointed by Chairman Ray Wesley."