Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A candidate for U.S. Senate in the November election told a meeting of two groups Tuesday Illinois is bad for business.

Springfield Republican Don Tracy is running against Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, a Democrat, for U.S. senator. The seat is open because another Springfield resident, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), is retiring.

Tracy told the annual joint conference of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association in Springfield that growing up in a family business was a key experience in preparing him to become a senator – and he said it’s the sort of experience Stratton doesn’t have. Tracy also railed against people whose job it is to set policy for businesses but have not been in business themselves.

“Respectfully, I think this election comes down to two fundamentally different approaches,” Tracy said. “One approach believes government creates prosperity through taxation, government mandates, regulation, centralized planning, and one-size-fits-all political management. The other approach, my approach, believes prosperity comes from empowering people like you, who built businesses, create jobs, innovate, invest, and take risks.”

Tracy finished his speech by saying, “Don’t vote crazy; vote for Tracy!”

Organizers said Stratton was invited but couldn’t make it.

Election Day is Nov. 3.