Congressional gridlock is the most common complaint that Democrat Conor Lamb says he hears from residents in his campaign for the 18th Congressional District — a high-profile race that pits him against Republican Rick Saccone in the March 13 special election. In a meeting with members of the Trib’s editorial board, Mr. Lamb, a former Marine and federal prosecutor, touched on a range of topics, from his disassociation with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to what he described as disingenuous campaign ads paid for by outside political groups. He says he’s part of a new generation determined to break congressional gridlock. And if elected, he said, job one will be instituting an infrastructure program that addresses the country’s deteriorating locks, dams and bridges.

“I come from the military school of thought, that if you don’t get things done you get relieved, and I think that has to apply to Nancy Pelosi and (Republican Speaker) Paul Ryan.”

“The (gun) laws we have on the books are pretty good. … Our enforcement of background checks is pretty flawed. … We need to put teeth and enforcement into those laws.”

“These outside groups have run these same ads all around the country. We’ve seen candidates disavow them, but we haven’t seen my opponent do it yet. I would hope he would.”

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