EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Treasurer and Board Chairman candidate Chris Slusser is drawing attention to contributions made to incumbent Kurt Prenzler’s campaign committee in light of a promise he made in 2016 not to accept money from county vendors.
Prenzler confessed embarrassment but didn't intentionally break his promise.
He said that when he made the statement, he didn’t understand the difference between his former job as treasurer and the job of board chairman.
He said he made all purchasing decisions in the treasurer’s office and he makes no purchasing decisions as chairman, so he doesn't know all of the vendors the county enters into contracts with.
The county’s check register identifies about 3,000 vendors.
Slusser issued a press release claiming vendors contributed $82,440 to Prenzler’s campaigns from 2017 through 2023.
Along with direct contributions from vendors, Slusser included $32,050 in contributions from owners of those businesses and their spouses.
He listed $12,000 from Truck Centers, $10,800 from its chief executive John Hopkins, $6,800 from Michele Hopkins, and $1,900 from Justin Hopkins.
Their total of $31,500 accounted for 38% of the total Slusser is drawing attention to.
Truck Centers received about $1 million as a county vendor for six vehicles.
Justin Hopkins responded to an inquiry by providing certificates that the highway department bought them through competitive bidding.
Slusser attributed $2,150 in Prenzler’s contributions from Dale Hamil and Fran Hamil to Illinois Electric Works, which received about $14,000 to improve lift stations.
He attributed $1,350 in contributions from Greg Tinsley and Mindy Tinsley to Tinsley Steel, which received about $3,000 for repairs, supplies, and maintenance.
He also attributed $900 in contributions from William Schrimpf and Matt Schrimpf to Piasa Motor Fuels, which received about $200,000 for fuel and lubricants.
Slusser’s list of contributions included Heyl Royster lawyer Martin Morrissey, who gave Prenzler $2,350. Morrissey is not a listed vendor, but Heyl Royster is.
Vendor Keller Construction was also included on the list for giving Prenzler $1,550 in six years. The vendor did not receive county funds during that time period but was later paid $900,000 for work last year.
The list of vendors also included banks that hold county funds.
State Bank of St. Jacob gave Prenzler $1,000, First Waterloo Bank gave $400 and Best Hometown Bank gave $250.
Carl Abrahamson of Associated Bank gave Prenzler $650, Kevin Powers of Bank of Edwardsville gave $250, and Bill Barlow of Carrollton Bank gave $200.
Some contributors on the list received smaller amounts as vendors.
The county paid about $5,000 for repairs and supplies at Erb Equipment, which gave Prenzler $3,900.
The county paid about $5,000 for equipment and furnishing at Mark’s Appliance, which gave Prenzler $500.
The county paid about $3,000 for data processing and maintenance at Madison Telephone, which gave Prenzler $250.
The county also paid about $3,000 for improvements by Vallow Floor Coverings, which gave Prenzler $200.
Further, the county paid for various items at McKay Auto Parts - most of which were less than $10. The auto parts store gave Prenzler $400.
Millennia Professional Services, a regional engineering firm, was also included on the list because local director Gary Hoelscher gave Prenzler $1,200. The business sold services to the county board for $384.
The county also paid $266.08 for items at Ace Hardware of Troy, which gave Prenzler $1,000.
Contributions from builders and engineers were also included on the list.
Builder Korte and Luitjohan gave Prenzler $5,350, second only to Truck Centers, and Greg Korte and Celeste Korte gave him $400.
Korte and Luitjohan received a single contract in 2018 for about $28,000.
Engineers at Juneau Associates, which gave Prenzler $4,750, received about $500,000 from the county.
Plocher Construction gave Prenzler $2,850 and received about $10 million in contracts with the county.
Additionally, Lochmueller Group engineers gave him $2,100 and received about $800,000.
Further, Engineers at Henegahn and Associates gave Prenzler $1,400 and received about $700,000.
Primary election day will arrive March 19.