The Madison County Central Committee passed a resolution denouncing anonymous political mailers, which Madison County Republican Chairman Ray Wesley called "unethical and illegal."
The resolution states that the Illinois Election Code requires the name of the committee paying for the political advertisement to be clearly identified.
“[T]he purpose of disclaimer laws (which are in effect in all 50 states), are intended to foster transparency and accountability in the political process and provide voters with accurate and useful information about who is behind the political advertising they see or hear,” the resolution states.
“The Madison County Republican Central Committee hereby denounces any mailings or communication done without a disclaimer,” it continues.
Wesley urged Republican voters to be aware of anonymous campaign materials.
“It is at the core of the Republican ethos to promote accountable, lawful elections,” Wesley said. Therefore, it is very concerning that there have been some reported instances recently where anonymous mailings have been sent to Republican voters in support of (or attacking) certain Republican primary candidates, with no group or person taking responsibility for the claims they contain.”
Wesley called anonymous mailings “unethical and illegal” for failing to take responsibility for the claims asserted in the mailings.
“Anonymous mailers destroy the fundamental honesty that must mark our intra-party disputes, so that once the primary election is finished, we can come together and take the fight where it belongs: ensuring Republican victories in the general election,” he said.
“Our Central Committee is taking a strong stand that the law is the law and everyone should abide by it and not hide behind anonymous fake news communications,” Wesley added.
There are two county-wide seats and five county board seats in Madison County with contested races in this year's Republican primary. Notably, the campaign for chairman between incumbent Kurt Prenzler and current Treasurer Chris Slusser has become heated.
The other county-wide contested race in the Republican primary is between Patrick McRae of East Alton, son of current Circuit Clerk Tom McRae, and Stephen J. Adler of Godfrey for circuit clerk.
The contested county board seats in the Republican primary include District 7 between incumbent Michael Turner of Godfrey and Linda Ogden of Brighton; District 15 between incumbent Terry Eaker of Bethalto and Bob Coles of South Roxana; District 22 between incumbent Ryan Kneedler of Collinsville and Linda Wolfe of Collinsville; District 24 between former state representative Dwight Kay of Glen Carbon and former Edwardsville Township Supervisor Fred Schulte of Edwardsville; and District 26 between incumbent Jason Palmero of Glen Carbon and Douglas Matthews of Glen Carbon.