Timothy O. Schneider is the former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party and a former member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners representing the 15th district, which includes all or parts of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Schaumburg, South Barrington and Streamwood.[1]
Tim Schneider | |
|---|---|
 Schneider in 2013 | |
| Chair of the Illinois Republican Party | |
| In office May 17, 2014 – February 6, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Dorgan |
| Succeeded by | Don Tracy |
| Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 15th district | |
| In office December 2006 – December 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Carl Hansen |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Morrison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 11, 1955 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (BS) |
| Website | Official website |
Education and personal life
editSchneider graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree.[2] Schneider serves as general partner/owner of The Golf Club of Illinois in Algonquin, and Waterwerks Car Wash in Elgin, Illinois.[2]
Political career
editCook County Board of Commissioners
editIn 2006, Schneider was elected to the 15th district seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. He was reelected in 2010 and 2014. In 2018, Schneider was defeated in his re-election bid by Democrat Kevin B. Morrison.[3] CBS News regarded Schneider's defeat by Morrison to be a significant upset victory for the Democratic Party in what was regarded to be a strong year for Democrats.[4]
As a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, he was also a de facto member of the board of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
Commissioner from the 15th District of Cook County, Illinois
editUpon election he quickly established himself as a strong advocate for the taxpayers of Cook County. The Chicago Tribune called Schneider "a strong and absolutely unwavering voice for streamlining county government" and "an extraordinary member of a Board that could use many more like him."[2]
According to his constituency site, during his first term as commissioner, Schneider lead the fight to repeal President Todd Stroger's sales tax increase.[5] Schneider authored legislation that reduced campaign contribution limits for companies doing business with Cook County in half.[5] As Chairman of the Finance Subcommittee on Workers Compensation, Schneider championed legislation that combats workers compensation fraud by requiring injured employees to submit to recorded interviews detailing each workplace accident.[5]
In 2015, Schneider sponsored a resolution opposing a property tax increase to fill the 2016 budget gap.[6] The resolution was prevented from coming to a vote by political maneuvering at the April 1, 2015 Cook County Board meeting.[6]
Schneider opposed the positions of Toni Preckwinkle (the county board president) and Chuy García (who served as Preckwinkle's floor leader) to a significantly greater extent than his colleagues on the board. However, the county board tended to very few divided votes.[7]
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
editAs a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Schneider also served as a commissioner for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.[citation needed] The Forest Preserves encompass approximately 68,000 acres (275 km²) of open space throughout the county. It contains facilities for recreation and camping, as well as a zoo and a botanic garden.
In 2009, the Cook County Forest Preserve District purchased land owned by Schneider's family for over $10 million. Schneider was called out by many board members, even ones in his own party, for violating ethics.[8]
Illinois Republican Party
editIn 2013, Schneider expressed interest in running for Chairman of the Republican Party of Illinois, but pulled out before the vote.[9]
In 2014, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Jack Dorgan decided to resign as chairman so he could join Bruce Rauner's campaign for governor.[2] Both Dorgan and Rauner threw their support behind Schneider to be the next state chairman.[2] Schneider was elected Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party on May 17, 2014 with little opposition.[9][10]
When beginning his tenure as party chairman, Schneider said that uniting the Republican Party of Illinois, which had been divided geographically and ideologically, as a top goal.[9]
Schneider announced in early December 2020 that he would step down as chairman.[11] On Feb. 6 2021, the Republican State Central Committee elected Don Tracy of Springfield to be chairman.
Other public offices
editPrior to serving on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Schneider served as Hanover Township Trustee from 1984 to 1997.[2] Additionally, Schneider served as Hanover Township Highway Commissioner from 1997-2006.[2] As highway commissioner, he embarked on an extensive program to improve township roads without impacting the highway commission's bottom line, and he left office with a $2,000,000 surplus of funds.[2]
Political positions
editSchneider is a self-described social moderate and fiscal conservative.[12] He supported the 2013 immigration reform bill which was mainly backed by Democrats, but also received some Republican backing.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Cook County Commissioner District 15 Municipalities" (PDF). Cook County Board. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Who is Tim Schneider? - Illinois Review". Illinoisreview.typepad.com. 2014-05-15. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
- ^ Lisa Donovan and Gregory Pratt. "In Cook County Board races, Republican strongholds lose grip to blue wave — and a lot of green". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
- ^ "Cook Co. Board Now Has Its Youngest And First Openly Gay Member". CBS News. November 8, 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ a b c "About Tim | Tim Schneider". Timschneider.us. 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
- ^ a b "Preckwinkle avoids symbolic property tax vote pushed by Rauner ally". Chicagotribune.com. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
- ^ Mouritsen Zmuda, Melissa; Simpson, Dick; McKevitt, Kelly; Gradel, Thomas J. (January 25, 2018). "The Cook County Board During President Preckwinkle's Second Term Cook County Board of Commissioners Report December 2014 – December 2017" (PDF). pols.uic.edu. University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Political Science. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ^ "Golf Course Purchase Draws Penalty Shot". Chicago Talks.
- ^ a b c "New GOP chairman Schneider: Governor's race will be decided in Cook County". DailyHerald.com. 2014-06-23. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
- ^ "About our Chairman — Illinois Republican Party". Weareillinois.org. 2014-05-17. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
- ^ Pearson, Rick (5 December 2020). "Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider says he'll step down amid hard-liner push to replace him". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Illinois GOP Leader Tim Schneider: 'We're Going to Win in November'". Nbcchicago.com. 2014-05-21. Retrieved 2015-05-01.
External links
edit- Tim Schneider Cook County Commissioner website