Normal Town Council candidates spoke to laborers Wednesday night. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Four candidates are fighting for three seats on the Normal Town Council in the April election.

Two are incumbents, two are challengers, and all agree right to work zones are a bad idea.

Incumbent Jeff Fritzen said the local community is "blessed" not to have a lot of "strife" between labor and management.

"My preference would be that our community could be a model for the rest of the state," said Fritzen. "The cooperative relationship that exists locally comes through communication."

Fritzen's fellow incumbent, Chuck Scott, said he constantly experiences the high quality of work from laborers.

"Within the eight unions in my department alone management and labor often do agree," Scott said.

Challenger R.C. McBride does not believe right to work zones provide any benefit for either side.

"Personally, I am hopeful that Governor Rauner will turn his attention to more constructive conversations," McBride said.

Another newcomer, Kathleen Lorenz, had similar thoughts.

"(I've) read up on a lot of publications, both for and against," said Lorenz. "Coming away from that research, I am not convinced that it is an effective means towards competitiveness."

All four candidates spoke to laborers Wednesday night during a forum held at the Laborers Local 362 Hall in Bloomington.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].