By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – A Springfield school board member running for Illinois’ 18th Congressional District believes he can bring more jobs to the district.

Adam Lopez told WJBC’s Terry James he is running on a pro-business platform.

“What we have to do is tax incentives for small businesses,” Lopez said. “Make incentives so people who have been on unemployment so long, businesses can hire those individuals, and put those people back to work.”

Lopez said he also wants to see more grants for small business, but tax increases won’t be on his agenda. Lopez said that’s where he differs from his opponent in the Democratic primary, Rob Mellon of Quincy.

“He’s been pushing of taxing on the middle class, trying to raise the gas tax,” Lopez said. “That really hits hard with the middle class. I’m not here to raise taxes, and I know he’s said it multiple times to raise taxes, and that’s not the answer.”

Mellon said last week in a meeting with McLean County Democrats that he favors a gas tax hike to pay for the highway fund, along with other reforms that restructure the tax code and tax those with higher incomes at a higher rate.

LISTEN: WJBC’s Terry James sits down with Democratic congressional candidate Adam Lopez.

The primary will be July 7. Three other candidates are running as Republicans.

The general election is scheduled for Sept. 10. The seat was vacated April 1 after Aaron Schock resigned amid questions about his use of campaign and taxpayer dollars.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].