The campaign for Madison County Board Chairman has gotten heated between incumbent Kurt Prenzler and Treasurer Chris Slusser, both Republicans.
With early voting underway in select locations across Madison County and the March 19 primary just weeks away, the candidates answered a questionnaire provided by the Record to help voters make an informed decision in the ballot box.
What is your background?
Prenzler
Family: Married with three children: two sons at SIUE and a daughter at University of Arkansas.
Politics: County Treasurer, lost in 2006, won in 2010 and 2014, County Chairman, won 2016 and 2020
Education: CPA – Certified Public Accountant, B.S. in Economics – accounting major, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, J.D. (law degree), University of Illinois.
Slusser
I’m a graduate of Roxana High School, Lewis & Clark Community College and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I worked as a police officer from 1999-2002, as a registered investment advisor from 2002-2011, as Chief Financial Officer of ROI Realty Partners from 2011-2013, and then Vice President of RLP Development Company from 2013-2016.
I was elected to the Madison County Board in 2008 and again in 2016. While on the County Board, I led efforts to put the county’s “checkbook” online for public viewing in 2010, and I voted against every single property tax increase. In 2014, while serving as Chairman of the former Wood River Township Hospital Board, I wrote the legislation to take the historic step to dissolve the taxing district and returned all $8.5 million in excess funds back to the taxpayers in Wood River Township in the form of a check, despite huge opposition from local Democrat legislators, who wanted to disburse the money to local politicians to spend as they wished. I also served as Chairman of the Madison County Republican Party from 2014- 2017. During my tenure, we flipped the County Board from the super-minority to a Republican majority in 2016, the first time in 84 years. I also co-led two campaigns to defeat the 1% sales tax in Madison County.
As County Treasurer, I overhauled the county’s investment portfolio, which was greatly underperforming under the management of my predecessor, who had only earned $4.5 million in interest income over 6 years. In my 7 years as Treasurer, we have now earned more than $34 million in interest income, which has allowed the County Board to keep the county government’s tax levy flat for 7 years. We’ve had the top performing investment portfolio in the state for the past 6 years and I advise county and city treasurers around the state on structuring their investment portfolios.
I live in Wood River with my wife Megan and two daughters (ages 8 & 7). We’ve owned and operated a restaurant in Edwardsville for the past 4 years. We attend First Baptist Church Bethalto, where I serve as a deacon, assistant treasurer and on the security team. I currently serve on the board of trustees for the Illinois Metropolitan Investment Fund (IMET) and the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services board of trustees. I serve on the advisory board of Riverbend Family Ministries in Wood River, where I also previously served as board president and treasurer. I previously served as Vice President of Finance for the SIUE Alumni Association, and as board president for RAVEN (Rape & Violence End Now).
What makes you qualified for the position?
Prenzler
See above and other answers.
Slusser
I served previously on the county board. The current chairman is the first county board chairman in history who never served on the county board prior to becoming chairman. I have a good working relationship with the board members and with a Republican supermajority, I look forward to accomplishing a lot to demonstrate how efficient, conservative limited government works. I’ve also worked as County Treasurer for the past 7 years, so I have a deep understanding of the county’s finances. I have strong ties to the business community throughout the
Why should the voters choose you?
Prenzler
Because I have consistently fought for the taxpayers – to lower taxes, and:
- 2011, 2017 and 2018 – three times led campaigns that defeated 1% sales tax.
- 2013 – led collection of 23,600 signatures on petitions to defeat backdoor referendum, blocking an $18.8 bond issue – and keeping the county debt free.
- 2016 – led collection of 10,000 signatures on petitions to put tax cut referendum on ballot. Voters approved (4 to 1) reducing general fund tax rate from .25 to .20.
- 2022 – 2023 – opposed drag queen story times held June 2022 in Collinsville and Glen Carbon libraries. Led collection of signatures to put this advisory referendum on the Glen Carbon ballot: “Shall tax-supported libraries and schools promote drag queen event to children?” 70 percent of Glen Carbon voters said NO. Helped elect four family-friendly library trustees in Collinsville.
- 2024 – Opposing “multi-gender” bathrooms in Edwardsville, which, if approved as proposed, would be the first in the State of Illinois.
- 2023 – 2024 – Opposing State of Illinois and Chicago “sanctuary” policies for illegal migrants. I, Mike Turner and Paul Nicolussi pushed for a county board resolution opposing Illinois migrant policy – passed Feb. 21
Slusser
Unlike my opponent, I have a track record of successfully getting things done without scandal or chaos. He has constantly feuded with the conservative Republicans on the County Board, which has led to total dysfunction. I always like to say, “It doesn’t matter how good your ideas may be, if you have no ability to get them implemented.”
I’m a staunch fiscal and social conservative, committed to limited local government that cuts red tape and stays out of people’s lives. I have always kept the taxpayer in mind during every spending decision I’ve made since taking office. I’m tight with my personal finances, and I’m very tight with taxpayer money as well.
If elected, what are your goals for the office?
Prenzler
To keep fighting taxes and to fight to protect our freedoms: a) second amendment, b) covid freedom and c) protecting us from Chicago migrant policies.
I will continue to push the county board to put PTELL property tax caps on the ballot – they have resisted my request four times: 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023. (“R’s” joining with “D’s” to keep tax caps off the ballot.)
And we need this! County districts just passed property tax hikes: 10, 11, 12, 13, 15.4 percent (Collinsville #10) and even 17.15 (Granite City #9).
Defend Covid freedom. I led the county board to re-open Madison County in May of 2020 – against Gov. Pritzker’s one-size-fits all lockdown policy. I led the county board to pass resolutions for mask freedom and against forced covid shots. I never closed the county administration – despite Pritzker lockdowns – and we never required county employees to get the shot.
Defend second amendment. We put this resolution on the Nov. 2018 ballot: shall Madison County be a second amendment sanctuary county? Voters said yes 2 to 1.
Chicago migrant policy. Chicago and Gov. Pritzker are inviting illegal migrants to Illinois. I support legal immigration, but will not spend county money for illegal migrants.
Slusser
I will be laser focused on two things: property tax reform and economic development. With these two things in mind, I was urged for more than a year by numerous business and community leaders and taxpayers to run for chairman.
Property tax reform is number one. We have the second highest property taxes in the nation here in Illinois. The only way to change that in a meaningful way is to change the way we fund schools. Period. End of story. The State of Illinois has failed to meet its school funding obligations and puts much of the burden on local property taxpayers. The property tax reform plan I’m proposing is modeled after the reform Indiana put into place 15 years ago. It’s a three part plan: 1. Schools will no longer levy property taxes for day-to-day operations (mostly salary and pensions), 2. The revenue will be replaced by a sales tax (a revenue-neutral shift), and 3. Property taxes will be capped at 1% of your home value. Our property tax bills would be cut in half immediately, and retirees will be able to afford to stay in their homes. I have already begun to lobby legislators for these changes.
Economic development is our greatest opportunity. There has been zero effort on the part of the current chairman to even attempt to recruit any businesses to Madison County, despite the golden opportunities the City of St. Louis has presented us with their massive crime wave the past 7 years. Under the proper leadership, we’re capable of so much more without missing out on so many opportunities due to misplaced priorities and distractions. While the State of Illinois creates many challenges for us with their poor public policies, Madison County remains a great place to live, raise a family, work and do business. We just need the right leader to sell that message. I want our kids and grandkids to be able to grow up and have ample job opportunities right here in Madison County so they don’t have to flee the state for greener pastures. Then they can remain here, raise their families and be a part of building a better community for their generations.
What do you think is failing within the office you seek, and how would you change it?
Prenzler
Four times (2018, 2020, 2022, 2023) I have asked the county board to put PTELL property tax caps on the ballot, and each time enough R’s joined with the D’s to keep PTELL off the ballot. The Madison County Conservative Caucus formed – in part – to promote candidates who promise to put PTELL on the ballot. There are five contested Republican county board races and the MCCC is endorsing a candidate in each race. PTELL is the issue.
1. On June 28, 2022 Republican primary, pro-PTELL Republicans won their primary races, angering defeated incumbents. In just 2 to 3 days, these Republicans called for some powers of Chairman to be taken away. This has not improved county government. And the voters elected me in 2020 with those powers. In 2003, voters decided 4 to 1 that the Chairman should be elected by the people, not the county board.
2. An expensive boondoggle – the repair of the Wood River Hospital building – is being proposed. One proposal is to repair the entire building for $30 million, and enter into a lease-back agreement that could cost $70 million. It was a mistake for the county to buy this building in the first place. It was bought by Rudy Papa in 2000 for $800,000. We should leave the building and relocate what operations are there to buildings we already have or lease others. EMA and the coroner’s office could continue to use another building on the property. Another building could be built on the property, but the county doesn’t need the 185,000 square foot old hospital.
3. We have begun to use a “tipping fee” fund – not tax money – to clean up litter on 255. We need to encourage IDOT to pick up trash on the interstates, and better police trash trucks and other traffic and adds to litter along the roads. Over the past four years the county has given away 4,000 litter pick up kits (gloves, bags, grabbers, vests) to help people pick up litter in their neighborhoods. We have added to the Adopt-a-Highway program with the state, but can do more. We would like to encourage IDOT to hire contractors (like MDOT does) to pick up trash, freeing up IDOT workers to do other jobs for which they are trained.
Slusser
There has been nonstop chaos and dysfunction in the chairman’s office and constant feuding with the county board. I would end that on day one by working with the board and bringing them along as we implement a conservative policy agenda. Not just my agenda: our agenda. And we would do it together. It would no longer be a one-man show.
There has been an alarming rate of turnover amongst department heads and employees under the current chairman’s leadership (or lack thereof). This has led to turmoil and increase costs in many departments. It’s also led to numerous lawsuits due to his reckless hiring and firing decisions. We’ve paid out nearly $3 million in settlements and legal fees during his watch. This led to the county board stripping him of his powers in July 2022. I would solve these issues by leading with the same management style I’ve implemented in the Treasurer’s Office the past seven years, where we’ve been free of lawsuits and scandals.
The current chairman has failed miserably when it comes to economic development and recruiting of businesses to Madison County. He doesn’t seem to have the understanding or the patience for economic development, because it
typically doesn’t provide for immediate gratification. I worked for a large developer prior to becoming Treasurer, and I have deep understanding of what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to economic development. I also understand the red tape that we need cut so that local government can get out of the way of business people seeking to do business and create jobs here.
The current chairman has also had numerous ethical breaches, which led to the county board censuring him after a recent ethics investigation in which he admitted to multiple violations of ethics ordinances involving distributing campaign materials in the county administration building, on county time. I have always put ethics at the forefront and the public can be assured that I will always operate in an ethical manner above reproach, and will never so much as wade into a gray area.
On the other hand, what do you think is succeeding in the office you seek, and how would you see those positive movements grow?
Prenzler
- In first year (2017), cut property tax levy by $1.8 million. Not increased!
- County tax rate reduced 34% from $.73 (2015) (per $100/EVA) to $.48, this year. Lower next year.
- Millions more for public safety: more deputies, jailers, probation officers, public defenders, etc.
- Animal Control. Before I was Chairman, 2/3 of the cats and 1/3 of the dogs were put down. Today, we are “no kill” and have saved more than 8,000 dogs and cats since 2017.
- Purchasing. Saving money through honest and open bidding, although we can improve in this area.
- Repaired jail. $14.3 project complete and under budget. County has no debt.
- Requiring county employees to clock in and out, tracked by HR info system.
- MESD. My team repaired and automated pumps, improved levees. Unfortunately, the State of Illinois took away one of Madison County’s seats, and now we have only two – no majority.
- Wood River Levee District. Embezzlement under old board. Better management.
Slusser
There hasn’t been a lot of success out of the chairman’s office in recent years, as the County Board stripped him of most of his duties after a string of lawsuits in which the county paid out nearly $3 million of taxpayer money in settlement and legal fees, his inept and chaotic leadership which led to a lot of turnover amongst staff, and his multiple ethics ordinance violations that led to him being censured by the county board. In spite of the chairman, the county board has done an admirable job of running the county government and keeping the tax levy flat for the past 7 years. And while the chairman has refused to work with any of the other countywide office holders (all Republicans), I plan to work closely with all county officials to ensure we’re rowing in the same direction to deliver for the taxpayers in Madison County.
How will you cut costs or ensure the voters’ taxes are being spent properly?
Prenzler
- If my powers of Chairman were restored, I believe we would have a tighter budget. Spending has been increasing.
- Of course PTELL would put limits on many districts in the county.
Slusser
First, we’ll see an end to the nonstop costly litigation that has occurred due to the current chairman’s failed leadership. Second, I’ll reduce the administrative costs that have soared in recent years under his leadership. Third, I will develop a plan to consolidate and sell off some of the building and properties that the county currently owns. It’s very expensive to maintain some of these properties, some of which are located in prime real estate markets. By utilizing more efficient uses of space and consolidation, we can eliminate the need for some of these properties, which will greatly reduce overhead and liability.