Madison County voters elected Chris Slusser over Doug Hulme by a margin of 68-32 in the Republican primary for Treasurer.
Slusser received 14,794 votes to Hulme's 6,954 votes, according to unofficial results posted on the county Clerk's website.
"I want to thank the Republican voters in Madison County for trusting me with their votes," Slusser said. "We ran a very strong campaign, based entirely on the good work that we've done in the Treasurer's Office and what we will continue to do. From day one in office, my mission has been to run the best County Treasurer's Office in the state. I have a great staff that bought into my philosophy and committed to excellence. I think the voters took notice and rewarded the great work that we've done.
"My opponent chose to run the most dishonest and racist campaign we've ever seen in Madison County politics. I had no doubt that the Republican voters in Madison County would overwhelming reject his disgusting and juvenile campaign. There's no room in Madison County for that type of conduct and now we can move forward to do the people's business."
Madison County Democrats did not field a candidate for the Treasurer's race, but party leaders could slate a candidate ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. If not, Slusser will coast through the general election to a second elected term.
The Treasurer's race was the most contenious contest in Madison County this campaign season, highlighted by a barrage of negative messaging from the Hulme camp, and in the end, a stinging counter-attack from the Slusser camp.
A few days ahead of the election, Hulme's supporters, county Board chair Kurt Prenzler and former State Rep. Dwight Kay, criticized Slusser ally, Rep. Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg), for spreading "disinformation" in a pro-Slusser mailer touting his record.
"Slusser falsely claims that he has reduced expenditures every year he has been Treasurer," Prenzler and Kay wrote. "This is nonsense. Slusser has evaporated most of the 30% savings from Kurt Prenzler's administration as Treasurer. Spending in the Treasurer's office has gone up 20% since Slusser was appointed. The bulk of that increase is patronage hiring.
"He moved tens of millions of dollars of county deposits out of local banks; that money was no longer available to make loans to local residents..."
In Slusser's counter-attack, he called Hulme "dishonest, reckless and corrupt."
"As Chief Deputy Treasurer under the previous Treasurer (2014-2016) Hulme mismanaged county investments and generated the worst investment returns in county history," the mailer read.
"As County Administrator (2017-2020), his office was raided by the Public Corruption Task Force.
"When details of the corruption investigation were released, Hulme was suspended by County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler and fired by the Republican-controlled County Board by a vote of 26-1.
"Hulme has not worked since being fired more than two years ago and instead chose to collect unemployment, at taxpayers' expense.
"In his 'free time' since being fired, Hulme has filed nearly a dozen lawsuits against the county, costing taxpayers more than $140,000 to defend. Every suit has been dismissed."