Gerald Smith is running for state representative from the 110th District to fight what he calls “the waste and abuse” he sees in the government.

An English professor at Milliken University in Decatur for 21 years, Smith is running against four other republican candidates in Tuesday’s primary election. One democrat is also vying for the office.

Smith said he has been appalled by how the government mishandles funds.

“I see a lot of things going on in government that I don’t like, like frequent waste, abuse and mismanagement,” he said.

Tax reform is another top priority of Smith’s. Like the other Republican candidates for state representative, Smith favors a reduction in property taxes.

“Farmers have a lot of property, and they are taxed too heavily for it,” he said. “Lowering property taxes will give farmers a break.”

However, Smith proposed making up for the property tax cut with an increase in the income tax, which spreads the tax burden more evenly among rural and urban residents.

“I can foresee that there will have to be a tax increase,” Smith said. “I know a lot of politicians say that ‘I don’t want to raise taxes,’ but they will, because people don’t want to hear that.”

Another priority of Smith’s is strengthening the local economy.

“We need to do everything we can to help the economy develop,” he said. “What’s good for the economy is good for the region.”

Specifically, Smith said he would focus on luring agribusiness and other industries to eastern Illinois through tax offsets and deferments.

“If we can draw new industries to come to east central Illinois, eventually we’ll be building an economic base,” he said.

Smith said there is a lot that can be done to bring increased funding to Eastern, including increased enrollment.

“Eastern has a good teaching school, and we need more teachers,” he said, “Eastern is a low-cost school, so why not send more kids to the lower cost school?”