2024 Voter Guide: Candidates for Madison County Board District 26 Republican primary

Belleville News-Democrat
·2 min read

Douglas Matthews

Office running for: Madison County Board District 26

Occupation – Certified Public Accountant

Background – Family: Married with six children and seven grandchildren.

Background – Retired veteran; Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1998, licensed in Illinois and Missouri; Treasurer for the Greater St. Louis Area Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners; Treasurer for Madison County Citizens for Sustainable Education (PAC).

Background – Education: B.S. in Accountancy from SIUE; Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credentialed through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE); Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) credentialed through the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Background -- Organizations: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), National Rifle Association (NRA) (Life), Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA), US Army Retired Reserve.

What makes me the ideal candidate for this office?

  • Strong sense of civic duty to represent the residents in my district

  • Conservatarian principles (a fusion of conservatism and libertarianism)

  • Solid business background

Why did I decide to run again? Issues I find important? My wish list is to accomplish?

  • Voting to limit annual tax increases by putting the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) on the ballot, so that county residents have the opportunity to vote on it. If enacted, PTELL would limit annual increases by taxing districts to the lesser of the consumer price index (CPI) or 5 percent, and it would place strict limitations on payments for bonds issued without voter approval. [Illinois Department of Revenue, An Overview of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law by Referendum]

  • Voting to restore the county board chairman’s powers, which were limited by county board action after the last primary.

  • As a lifetime National Rifle Association member (NRA) I will work to oppose, whenever possible, the state’s attempts to limit residents’ Second Amendment rights.

Issues I find important?

  • Fiscally responsible county government.

  • Limiting government overreach

  • Limiting tax increases of any type

  • Reducing government waste

Why should people vote for me?

Because I am a conservatarian Republican who will work to reduce taxes, limit government interference in our daily lives, and defend our freedoms.