By ALEX ORTIZ

#twill #tcot #sbalich #3rdCongressional

Mike Fricilone

The Republican leadership in the Illinois General Assembly endorsed Will County Board member Mike Fricilone in his race for the 3rd Illinois Congressional District.

Both Republican State Senate Leader Bill Brady and State House Leader Jim Durkin backed Fricilone in the GOP primary race, according to a news release.

Fricilone is running against Arthur Jones, a controversial candidate the party has widely denounced because of his anti-Semetic views.

Fricilone, R-Homer Glen, has served on the Will County Board since 2012 and serves as the minority leader. He sought to distance the party from Jones’ views.

“Our party needs a nominee who can show the public what real Republican values are,” Fricilone said in the release.

Both state legislators cited Fricilone’s emphasis on fiscal responsibility at the local government level.

“Mike has been a leader on the Will County Board in passing budgets that both cut taxes and improved services,” Brady said in the release. “Republican voters must know that the party in our state stands with Mike and not his fake Republican opponent who has been a Nazi leader and denies the Holocaust.”

Durkin pointed to the Will County Board reducing its tax rate while investing in major capital projects like the new county courthouse and health department facility while Fricilone chaired the board’s finance committee.

“Mike has fresh and bold ideas for our community, state and nation,” Durkin said in the release. “He is a proud, forward-thinking conservative.”