By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A University of Illinois professor of religious history in America is part of a crowded field of five Democrats who want to replace incumbent Republican Central Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis.

Jon Ebel said religion influences his progressive political views. He says he’s a Christian and his wife is Jewish.

“I approach policy questions thinking about how are they going to make the world a better place? How are they going to help the needy? How are they going to heal the sick? How are they going to lift up the widow and the orphan? These are things that to me, are central to my faith, as it ought to be lived,” said Ebel.

Ebel told WJBC’s Sam Wood he would rip up the GOP’s tax reform plan, and perhaps set it on fire.

“It’s awful morally. It’s redistributing wealth up the income ladder, which is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing. It’s also wrong historically,” the candidate said.

Ebel said what sets him apart from the other candidates is that he’s a veteran. He said people in the military learn how to team up successfully with an ideologically diverse group of people.

Ebel is running for the 13th District Congressional seat which includes portions of McLean County and all of DeWitt and Piatt Counties.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]