Letter to Editor
Steve Jellen submitted the enclosed letter to the editors of the Telegraph and BND
A vibrant local Republican Party would be an asset to voters who would relish having more choice. But as it stands, many of the folks who run locally as Republicans hurt the Republican cause more than they help it. Kurt Prenzler is a good example. Kurt Prenzler is the Republican candidate for Treasurer of Madison County. But Mr. Prenzler runs not to do the Treasurer’s job, but to prevent it being done.
Kurt Prenzler got his start in politics resisting for many years the Edwardsville school district’s construction program. A religious fundamentalist, Mr. Prenzler home schools his own children in order to control what they learn. He then resents having to pay property taxes for schooling other people’s kids. His record is long and clear. He wishes for public schools to expire, not to continue and to grow so that he must pay school taxes forever. 60% of the taxes the Treasurer collects are disbursed to public schools.
Apart from accusing two incumbent Treasurers for their real and imagined shortcomings, Mr. Prenzler’s only program is to cut 30% out of the Treasurer’s office immediately. While that might accord with Prenzler’s hatred of government and taxes, it would not serve the public. If he burned the tax collection office to the ground it would not lower taxes. Mr. Prenzler should run for the legislature where tax and education policy is decided. Kurt Prenzler’s candidacy hurts the reputation of the local Republican Party. Future Republican candidates with something worthwhile to offer will first have to live it down.
Stephen Jellen
Edwardsville
