Republican Max Solomon will appear on North Shore ballots Nov. 3 as the GOP nominee for Illinois treasurer. The office manages state investments, college savings programs and unclaimed property on behalf of every Illinois taxpayer.
Solomon, an attorney from the south suburbs, said he is running to reduce the tax burden on Illinois residents through fiscal responsibility and transparency. He immigrated from Lagos, Nigeria, in 1992 at age 21 and said he arrived with $40.
"Illinois does not have a revenue problem. It has a spending problem," Solomon said in a candidate questionnaire.
Candidate information
Party: Republican
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Associate's degree, South Suburban College; bachelor's in political science, DePaul University; master's in theology, Valparaiso University; JD, Valparaiso University School of Law
Endorsement: Madison County GOP
Experience and public service
Solomon has worked as an adjunct professor of political science and law at South Suburban Community College. He previously served as committeeman for the Bremen Township Republican Party and as a trustee of the Grande Prairie Public Library.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Solomon's questionnaire responses and his campaign website.
State finances: Solomon said he would focus on fraud investigations and eliminating wasteful spending. He supports a balanced budget, tax cuts, a flat-rate income and business tax, and a property tax freeze. He described himself as a conservative Republican who believes in smaller government.
Investment transparency: Solomon said he wants to create a real-time public dashboard so taxpayers can track state investments. He said he would modernize the state's investment strategy to maximize returns.
Community banking: Solomon said he would direct state deposits to community banks and credit unions across all 102 Illinois counties to expand access to capital in underserved areas.
Education savings: Solomon said he would strengthen the Bright Start and Bright Directions college savings programs. He supports school choice.
