Campaign Smearing and Dirty Politics: Cox Seeks to Set Record Straight

By Devese “Dee” Ursery
[email protected]

COLLINSVILLE TOWNSHIP — Turmoil is brewing in Collinsville Township as allegations of malfeasance and dirty politics take center stage in this year’s election.

Two opposing factions have emerged: Township Supervisor Derrick Cox on one side, and Charles Oberkfell, along with Trustee Matthew Guenther, on the other.

Both sides issued press releases, with one alleging malfeasance and the other denying any wrongdoing. Cox calls the accusations against him unwarranted and false.

“This is a total smear campaign just before the election by my opponent and his trustee candidate,” Cox said. “Trustee Guenther made a completely false allegation that I set up a secret account and was draining money from it.”

In a press release, Guenther claimed Cox disregarded his duties under the law and misused township resources for personal benefit.

“Cox has opened two checking accounts using the township tax ID number,” Guenther said. “These accounts were kept secret from the township board.”

Guenther explained that every township checking account uses the same tax ID number and requires two signatures to draw funds. Expenditures from those accounts are approved by the township board of trustees in public meetings.

Cox denies the allegations and called for a special emergency audit. The audit was conducted by the township’s official auditor, C.J. Schlosser, whose company also works for Madison County.

“This account was set up for all seniors who were going on a bus tour to Savannah. This ensured that all taxpayer money was kept separate,” Cox said. “Trustee Guenther claimed it was secret only because he never voted on any bills from this account. There were no bills to vote on — it was 100% their money. Furthermore, every potential tripgoer who had to cancel verified they received their full refund.”

Schlosser verified every receipt and document, confirming that all funds in the CSC Trip Fund bank account — related to the Savannah and Branson trips planned in 2024 — were accounted for.

“I was provided with supporting documents that show the timeline of expenditures and the purpose of those trip-related costs,” Schlosser said. “The payments made and deposits taken appear appropriate for the purpose of this account.”

Schlosser noted that cash transactions can be hard to support and are often criticized due to limited controls.

“Under the circumstances of the trip and the related customary cash payments, it is my belief that sufficient controls were in place to document all cash payouts with a supporting summary of expenses that were witnessed by at least two individuals and signed off as proper expenses,” Schlosser said. “The bank account in question was opened and used solely to track senior trip expenses as a means to not intermingle these payments with regular township operating funds.”

Cox said Guenther never asked for receipts or documents related to the account. Instead, Cox alleges, Guenther kept it secret and announced at a Collinsville Township Board meeting that the issue had been turned over to the State’s Attorney’s Office.

“This would create the illusion of wrongdoing to the public without presenting the facts of this totally legitimate account,” Cox said.

Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office Communications Director Brian Brueggemann said issues are not brought directly to the state’s attorney’s office. Any broken laws or complaints are first handled by the police department and, if warranted, petitioned by the state’s attorney’s office.

Cox said Guenther also called both county auditor’s offices, yelling at staff. Schlosser said he would send the board a letter addressing this alleged harassment.

“These desperate tactics reflect the worst of politics,” Cox said. “Instead of engaging in fair discussions, my opponents are resorting to lies and backroom maneuvers to manipulate public perception. The people of Collinsville Township deserve better.”