Fred Bathon News Today

“You’re misleading the public that there’s people coming after you. You did this to yourself,” a board member told Prenzler.

The News-Democrat has contacted candidates in contested races in the March 19 Illinois primary and asked them to complete a detailed questionnaire.

Madison County Chairman Kurt Prenzler says Treasurer Chris Slusser is “making a mountain out of a molehill” after Slusser called on Prenzler to cooperate with an ethics investigation involving allegations that the chairman improperly distributed campaign materials.

Attorneys from three law firms who have worked as class counsel in a Madison County bid-rigging suit are asking the court to approve their fee request after two tax buyer defendants reached a $300,000 settlement agreement.

Madison County Chairman Kurt Prenzler responded to Republican county officials’ support of an effort to increase oversight of his administrative authority, saying the officials are “meddling in county board politics.”

Several tax buyer defendants accused of participating in a Madison County bid-rigging conspiracy from 2005 to 2008 are opposing a proposed $300,000 partial settlement agreement, arguing that the proposal asks the court to approve the notice rather than the substance of the settlement.

Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser, Republican, announced his campaign for re-election, saying he has plans to build on his track record of success.

Tax buyer defendants accused of participating in a bid-rigging conspiracy with former Madison County Treasurer Fred Bathon have reached a proposed settlement agreement for $300,000 to settle claims filed by a class of property owners.

Attorneys for deceased tax buyer Barrett Rochman argue that he should be dismissed from a bid rigging suit because class counsel failed to ask the court to appoint a special representative for the defendant.

Collinsville attorney Steven Giacoletto argues that because a special representative has not been appointed for the estate of deceased tax buyer Barrett Rochman, he should not be dismissed from a bid rigging class action alleging he participated in a conspiracy with former Madison County Treasurer Fred Bathon.