URBANA – There is less than a week left until Illinois Primary on March 19th. Two Republicans, Joshua Lloyd and Thomas Clutterbuck, are running for Illinois' 13th Congressional District. They hope to challenge incumbent Democratic Rep. Nikki Budzinski in the November general election, which will be held March 19.
Lloyd, 27, describes himself as an entrepreneur. He and his wife run a photography business. After serving in the Army, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he earned a degree in business administration. He previously worked on the campaign of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro). Click here to read a profile of Lloyd and Clutterbuck by St. Louis Public Radio reporter Will Bauer.
Lloyd spoke to Illinois Public Media political reporter David Pearce about the economy, minority history taught in schools and resources to prevent mass shootings. I've also embedded a video version below of Lloyd and Clutterbuck addressing various issues.
Lloyd: Actually, there is a lack of skills right now. So we need to get more people into these careers. Construction sites and piping work, [and] To cosmetology. These occupations need workers, but they don't have enough. And they are unemployed. Let's give them the ability to get that education. It only takes a year or two to get that education, but you can earn $70,000 above the Illinois cost of living standard.
david pierce: Illinois requires schools to teach about Black history, Native American history, and Asian history. So, would you prefer your state to be like this, or would you prefer it to be like Florida or Texas, which have banned diversity initiatives in higher education?
Lloyd: “I don't think diversity in education is a problem. I think it's gotten to the point where we're trying to help some people at the expense of others.'' I have no problem with celebrating sexuality, and I think we should definitely celebrate individual uniqueness and the pursuit of freedom throughout history.
DP: Now, you mentioned sacrificing someone, but what does that mean?
Lloyd: So if you look at something like affirmative action. Registering one student over another deprives that student of that opportunity. And if you base that decision on race, that's not a very good indicator for making enrollment decisions. Education must be about the heart. You must put your heart and soul into education. It's not a standard you can't control. I don't like the word meritocracy, but that's what education is all about. And to get into these universities, Ivy League and other universities, there are admission criteria. And the criteria should be how well students learn, how quickly they learn, and how well they can implement that education into their working standards.
DP: But if you think about universities trying to increase diversity, the reason universities are trying to admit students based on race is because that student, that particular demographic, expresses that to others. This is so that they can not only show their personality, but also give them social evaluation. A universal experience of the nation and the world. In that regard, do you think race should be considered in admissions?
Lloyd: No, but I think you should consider where someone is from. So if you come from a community where the average income is below the state or national average, you should definitely take that into account. If you come from a tougher background than someone from a very privileged background, you have to take that into account. On the other hand, we are in the 21st century and we know that there are still racial tensions. But we can address that and at the same time address the economic standards that some people come from.
DP: In light of the continued mass shootings in the United States, Josh, could you tell us what legislation you would support if elected?
Lloyd: We must therefore give service providers more incentives to serve a wider range of people and bring mental health into schools and universities and other areas where people need it. Have you ever heard of the term “going post”?
DP: yes.
Lloyd: That's because postal workers were working such long hours that riots broke out in the workplace and they were literally “going to the mail.” And unfortunately, something negative happened.
