Tio Hardiman: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: HillsideWebsite: www.hardimanforillinois.comOffice sought: Governor Age: 51Family: MarriedOccupation: Violence Prevention SpecialistEducation: Associates Degree in Liberal Arts (Harold Washington Junior College), Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts and Master's Degree in Inner City Studies (North Eastern University)Civic involvement: Worked with various organizations and civic leaders in Illinois. Former board member of the Public Defenders Program.Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Yes, I have been arrested and charged with a crime. I have no convictions and never served jailed time. I was charged with Domestic Violence in May of 2013 and the charges were dismissed in thirty days and since then a judge expunged the charges from my record on December 12, 2013.Questions Answers Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is that?I'm running for office because the state of Illinois is sick and my administration represents the cure. All of the so called experienced politicians are leading the state to bankruptcy and it's time for some serious changes in Illinois. I am not part of the status quo or machine politics. The time has come for someone that can represent the people on all levels. I have a 20/20 Plan for Illinois which represents a perfect vision for the people. Additionally, I'm tired of political leaders balancing the budget crisis on the backs of the working class people. The pension crisis will not be resolved until we make some major changes in the leadership structure in Springfield. The current administration offered a 30 year plan and this is ridiculous especially when nobody will be around in 30 years to be held accountable for another failed policy. The Hardiman administration can solve the pension crisis in eight to ten years by making sweeping changes in the way we allow private investors to profit on the various gaming opportunities in the state. I'm running to bring integrity back to the state and real leadership with backbone. Additionally, we plan to make education one of our number one priorities by identifying additional funding streams to fund education on the highest level. The Hardiman Administration will also place a cap on the number of Charter Schools in Illinois and support the Teacher's Union to the fullest capacity. I would never sit back and allow a big city Mayor the opportunity to fire 2200 teachers and not say a word.What differentiates you most from your opponents in the race?I'm totally different form the other candidates in the race. I come from a different background and I have a 20/20 Plan for the state which represents a perfect vision for the people of Illinois. The experienced politicians are leading the state to bankruptcy.Would you support making Illinois' temporary income tax hike permanent before it expires in January 2015? If not, how will you replace the billions of dollars the tax hike brought in, or what cuts would you make?Yes.Which of the following do you support: New casinos, slot machines at horse racing tracks, gambling on the Internet? Would you approve legislation that includes all of the above in order to compromise and get the parts that you want?I would support building five new Casino's only if they are state owned and operated. Why allow individual investors or a group of investor to profit when the state is broke. All revenue from the new Casino's should be placed in the pension fund, funds schools, and help reduce the state deficit.Would you make any changes to the state's new concealed carry law? Would you change exempted places where people cannot carry? In what way? Would you change training requirements? In what way? Do you support restricting assault weapons? High-capacity magazines?I would not make any changes to the state's new conceal carry law other than making it mandatory that all people filling out their applications also have a finger print check. I would not change exempt places where people cannot carry. No changes to the training requirements. I do not support restricting legal gun owners at all. This includes assault weapons and high capacity magazines.Please outline your views on public pensions in Illinois.Part of my solution to the pension crisis would include opening up state operated Casino's to help offset the pension crisis on a yearly basis by placing all of the profits from three to five new Casinos' in the pension fund every year to ensure that people's pensions will not be impacted by a shortfall of funding. The five new Casinos' could actually bring in over $3-$5 billion in the first two years of operating in Illinois. The lawmakers recently passed a thirty years plan for the people and this is not right. Once again, the working class people will be penalize for failed policies by their elected officials. We cannot continue to balance the state's budget problems on the backs of the working class people.What other states' governors would you borrow ideas from and why?Governor Jerry Brown of California because he worked a miracle reducing California's deficit and turning the deficit into a surplus. This is very important because Illinois has been struggling with this issue for a long time.Is there a better way to pay down the state's unpaid bills? What is it?The solution to the unpaid state's bills is to open up state owned Casino's to offset the debt and make major cuts in spending in select areas of the state budget.What is your view of the tax breaks granted to companies like Motorola Mobility, Navistar and Sears, and should state tax breaks be given to companies moving from one Illinois municipality to another?Companies doing good business in Illinois for a period of ten years or more deserve some tax breaks fro the state. I have no problem providing tax breaks to companies like Motorola, Navistar, or Sears. Although not limited to the three companies mentioned in my answers. Tax breaks should be given to companies moving from one Illinois municipality to another. As lon as the businesses stay in Illinois.Finally, is there anything we haven't asked about that you feel we should know?I am a progressive Democrat with a 20/20 Plan for the State of Illinois which represents a perfect vision. I've had the opportunity to meet with people from all walks of life like; Prime Minister David Cameron, Queen Noor from Jordan, Former First Lady Laura Bush, and Prince Edward.