Will County Gazette

GOP Congressional hopeful Mike Fricilone is slamming Democrat opponent Marie Newman as being too radical for the 3rd District residents she’s seeking to represent.

“She wants to work with AOC (U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) and The Squad and their extreme agenda of defund the police and to take over oil companies so the government can run them,” Fricilone told the Will County Gazette. “That’s clearly not what the people of the district want to see.”

With just two weeks remaining before voters go to the polls, Fricilone believes the contrast between himself and his rival couldn’t be more pronounced.

“I think I represent the mainstream, common sense values of the district, which is composed of a lot of union people that don’t want to lose things like their healthcare benefits to a Medicaid plan for all,” he said. “They want public safety, don’t want police defunded. If anything, they want more police for the community.”

Between now and Election Day, Fricilone said he plans to do all he can to make the differences between the two as clear to voters as he can.

“We’re getting out and reaching out to people to make those distinctions know,” he said. “I truly believe if people are made aware of the differences they won’t be willing to cast a vote for her.”

Throughout his campaign, Fricilone hasn’t been shy about raising his voice on the issues he thinks are critical to the district. He recently blasted Gov. J.B. Pritzker over his progressive tax proposal and more recently took Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton to task when she threatened voters with a 20% state income tax hike if the measure doesn’t pass when it appears on Nov. 3 ballot in the form of a referendum question.   

“The problem with the other side of the aisle right now is everything is about scare tactics,” he said. “That’s all there is, forcing people to go along with your agenda.”