CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — A Republican state Senate candidate from eastern Illinois said at a political forum that minority men were more interested in drugs than education, and the local party has called for him to step down.
Al Reynolds of Danville made the remark Wednesday night at a forum co-sponsored by the county NAACP and League of Women voters, The News-Gazette newspaper in Champaign reported.
Reynolds and Democratic incumbent Mike Frerichs had been asked how to increase minority enrollment at the University of Illinois.
“I’ve been in the city and the dichotomy of the women and the men in the minorities, there is a difference in the fact that most minority women, either the single parent or coming from a poor neighborhood, are motivated more so than the minority men,” the 65-year-old Reynolds responded. “And it’s a pretty good reason. Most of the women who are single parents have to find work to support their family. The minority men find it more lucrative to be able to do drugs or other avenues rather than do education. It’s easier.
“We need to provide ways that are more incentive, other than just sports avenues, for the men for the minorities to want to go to college and get an education and better themselves before the women have to support them all,” he added.
Champaign County Republican Party Jason Barickman on Thursday called the comment offensive and said Reynolds should quit the 52nd District race.
“Mr. Reynolds’ opinions are in stark contrast to the core values of the Champaign County Republican Party and are personally offensive to me,” Barickman said.
Reynolds did not immediately respond to a message left Thursday at his office telephone by The Associated Press.
The forum audience of about 25 people didn’t directly respond to Reynolds’ comment, but applauded loudly when Frerichs, a few minutes later, countered his opponent’s assertions.
“I’ve been working in this community for a long time and I’ve worked with a lot of African-American men,” Frerichs said. “They’re not pursuing careers in sports. They’re not trying to sell drugs. They’re trying to support their families.”
Reynolds is a former leader of a local tea party group, East Central Illinois Tea Party, and became the Republican nominee through a write-in nomination.
The local Republican Party hasn’t supported him financially, a point he’s complained about.
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Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.