Candidates in the most contenious Madison County-wide race have laid out their endorsements to help inform Republican base voters, who don't often have to decide contested local primaries.
They especially don't very often see races with as much hostility as the Treasurer's contest.
Incumbent Chris Slusser claims the following endorsements: State Sen. Jason Plummer, State Reps. Amy Elik, Charlie Meier, C.D. Davidsmeyer, State's Attorney Tom Haine, Circuit Clerk Tom McRae, Auditor David Michael, Regional Superintendent of Schools Robert Werden, County Board members Stacey Pace, Bill Meyer, Bobby Ross, Mick Madison, Valerie Doucleff, Mike Walters, Dalton Gray, Mike Babcock, Terry Eaker, Aaron Messner, Denise Wiehardt, Eric Foster, Jamie Goggin, and Ryan Kneedler, Collinsville Township Supervisor Derrick Cox, Collinsville Township Trustee Brad Sewell, Foster Township Supervisor Bob Gvillo, Wood River Township Trustees Patrick McRae and Chris Herzog, Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick, Hamel Mayor Larry Bloemker, Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup and Wood River City Councilman Jeremy Plank.
Slusser faces challenge from former county administrator Doug Hulme, who's run a ferociously negative campaign.
For instance, Hulme's campaign mailed a piece last week titled, "In 2020 Democrat Black Live (sic) Matter rioted across America," with subtext, "Alton NAACP member Chris Slusser asked Republican Chairman Kurt Prenzler and others to attend the Black Lives Matter protest hosted by the Alton NAACP in the summer of 2020, while American cities burned.
"Some Republicans attended and marched, Chairman Kurt Prenzler twice refused."
The flip side of the mailer identifies Slusser as an Alton NAACP member.
"He wants Democrat votes, he just doesn't want you to find out!!!
"Slusser's woke NAACP is pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-CRT, backs transgender athletes, calls abortion a 'human right.'"
It ends with Scripture, Luke 16:13.
Slusser said he belonged to the local NAACP organization for a year, in 2018, when he supported its scholarship and back to school backpack giveaway programs.
He also said he has never asked anyone to attend a BLM event.
"I don't support the BLM organization or the Marxist ideology they stand for," Slusser told the Record.
"There was a unity prayer vigil in Alton, that had no affiliation with BLM. In fact, they intentionally excluded BLM from their event because of their divisive nature. I did not attend because I was out of town.
"However, I did make several Republican candidates aware, and several attended - Amy Elik, Tom Haine, Tom McRae and David Michael. They informed me it was a peaceful, not political, unity rally. The organizers wanted to ensure that Alton did not become a place of rioting like Ferguson, Kenosha, Minneapolis, etc. They announced at the rally that they did not support defunding the police. They wanted to work together with the police to keep the community safe. Then several pastors, both black and white, prayed for peace, unity and healing for the community."
He called Hulme's attack on the vigil "absolutely disgusting...to slander a Christian event like this and insert his twisted racist ideology for some sort of political gain. In a county Treasurer's race no less."
Slusser's campaign has centered on his record with the county's investment portfolio, which he says has resulted in Madison County being the top performer in the state, generating more than $16 million in additional interest than his predecessor Kurt Prenzler.
Slusser was appointed Treasurer in 2016 after Prenzler won the county chairmanship race. Slusser first won election as Treasurer in 2018.
He says that his portfolio management has helped the county government lower its property tax burden.
Slusser also says he has a long track record of conservative credentials, dating back to his election to the County Board in 2008. During his four year term on the board, he says he voted against every tax increase and pay raise for elected officials.
In 2014, he served as board president of the former Wood River Township Hospital, where he led efforts and assisted in writing legislation to return more than $8.5 million in refunds in the form of checks to the taxpayers of Wood River Township and dissolve the former taxing district.
Slusser also has served in various roles within the Madison County Republican Party. He served as party treasurer from 2008-2012. In 2014, he was elected Chairman of the Madison County Republican Party, and oversaw recruitment, fundraising and strategy efforts. He takes partial credit for Republicans going from super-minority to majority status on the County Board in 2016 for the first time in more than 80 years.
The Hulme campaign
Chairman Prenzler is among those endorsing Hulme, as is former state representative Dwight Kay of Glen Carbon and the Madison County Conservative Caucus.
Earlier this month, Prenzler was critical of the Madison County Republican Party's endorsement of Slusser and State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg). He said he felt strongly about the party making endorsements because "as Republicans we can think for ourselves.”
As for his endorsement of Hulme, Prenzler said that it is "totally fine" for individuals to endorse, "it's not OK with the party endorsing."
While Prenzler was Madison County Treasurer (2010-2016), Hulme served as chief deputy treasurer. After Prenzler's election to county chairmanship, Hulme was named county administrator.
“I am a qualified, experienced, conservative Republican running for Madison County Treasurer,” Hulme stated at the onset of his campaign. “I worked side by side with Chairman Kurt Prenzler as County Administrator and his Chief Deputy Treasurer. I share in his conservative values of smaller government, better ethics and lower taxes.”
Hulme states that he has the education and experience of operating the Madison County Treasurer’s Office and his resume includes a masters in business administration and all Illinois CPA education requirements.
“My record of running Madison County government and the Madison County Treasurer’s Office is with a flat budget, making up for rising payroll costs by lowering other administrative expenses,” Hulme stated. “And unlike the current treasurer, I will not hire unqualified employees or relatives of Madison County public officials. When you are collecting and investing over $500 million a year, a management team of high school graduates isn’t going to cut it for me. We deserve better.”
The Slusser-Hulme feud
The hostility between the two candidates relates to the county board's firing of Hulme and county IT director Rob Dorman on April 16, 2020, following a tumultuous two-year public corruption investigation that centered on their alleged spying of internal emails and data breach.
Hulme and Dorman were never charged in the case investigated by the Illinois Attorney General, but nevertheless, the county board voted 26-1 to end their employment after being briefed by the head of a special task force that raided offices of the county administration in January 2018, and which conducted witness interviews.
Slusser testified against Hulme before a grand jury and wore a wire in conversation with Hulme in 2018.
Slusser explained his reasons for doing so:
"In 2017, I learned of what I believed to be improper activity occurring in our county building and stepped forward to report what I knew to law enforcement. This was not a decision that I took lightly. Madison County has had a reputation involving corruption in the past, and there were instances in past scandals in which elected officials knew what was going on, but remained silent.
"I made a decision to come forward based on the type of example I want to set for my kids, and because I want to be the type of public servant the citizens who put their trust in me deserve. Corruption and unethical behavior at any level can not be tolerated, no matter the person or the party."
Hulme, and Dorman, have filed several lawsuits involving their firing, many of which have been dismissed. Hulme has called the special task force investigation a "miscarriage of justice."
He said the task force "was a fishing expedition and smear campaign for political purposes."