Joshua Griffith is from Abingdon. He manages a roofing company in Galesburg. He said this is the first time he has run for public office.
Griffith said he was inspired to run because of the income tax increase approved by the General Assembly last year. It increased the personal income tax rate in Illinois from 3.75% to 4.95%.
“I’m running in opposition to the 32% tax increase that was signed in with the budget bill last July. It cost my family about $1,200.”
Griffith described the tax increase as “massive” and said it was not accompanied by reforms to provide a long-term fix to the state’s budget problems. He would like to repeal the income tax hike and reform the public pension system to provide long-term financial security for the state.
Griffith said Illinois should reduce its taxes to encourage people and businesses to move to the state. He said worker compensation reforms could also attract more businesses to Illinois.
Griffith is running in the Republican primary in District 93 against current State Representative Norine Hammond (R-Macomb). Early voting for the March 20 primary is already underway.
The winner of the Republican primary will face John Curtis of Macomb in the November general election. Curtis is running unopposed for the Democratic Party nomination.
