Republican Incumbent Mike Bost of Murphysboro is defending his seat against Democratic Challenger Ray Lenzi of Carbondale. WSIU partnered with The Southern Illinoisan to ask them these questions:
1) –Do you support the candidate at the top of your party’s ticket? What are your top priorities, and what makes your party stand out against the others?
Bost:
Lenzi:
2) –COVID-19 has infected more than 7 million people across the country, and killed more than 200,000. What role should the federal government play in this? Should there be a national mask mandate, for example?
Bost:
Lenzi:
3) –At the same time, the economy has taken a dramatic hit due to COVID-19. How would you rebuild the national economy, and what would you add to the mix so that southern Illinoisans could get a boost?
Bost:
Lenzi:
4) – What should this country's energy strategy look like? Is the future coal? Natural Gas? Solar?
Bost:
Lenzi:
5) –Colleges and Universities across the country are weathering COVID-19 like the rest of us, but they’re also dealing with a decline in investment at the state and national level, along with a shrinking college-age population. Students are graduating with mountains of debt, and many are unable to pay that back. How would you restructure higher education?
Bost:
Lenzi:
6) –Polling shows Americans think change is needed in the US Healthcare system to improve access and affordability. How would you accomplish that?
Bost:
Lenzi:
7) –People have taken to the streets this year, protesting systemic racism and overuse of force by some in law enforcement. What reforms would you suggest, not just in policing but across the board to address racism and inclusivity?
Bost:
Lenzi:
8) – Gun violence continues to be a problem on the local, state, and national level. How would you fix that?
Bost:
Lenzi:
