State House, District 10

Education:

I graduated from Lake Forest College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and earned honors on his thesis "Principals of Equality". I received his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and was a member of Law Review. I'm admitted to practice law in Illinois, Wisconsin and the Northern District Court of Illinois.

Civic, professional, fraternal or other affiliations:

Mr. Tyson is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and former board member to Mount Sinai Hospital, Loretto Hospital and the Interfaith House of Chicago.

Have you held elective or appointive political office or been employed by any branch of government?

From 1997 to 2001, I served as Legislative Counsel to the Chicago Mayor. I utilized chamber rules to stop or advance bills that impacted the City; drafted and passed the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit, the CHA Bonding Expansion legislation, Enterprise Zone Extension and Anti-dumping Penalty Increase.

Furthermore, from December 2006 to May 2008, I served as Chief of Staff to the President of Cook County where I: (1) passed two $3.6 billion balanced budgets and upon resigning, the County had the highest credit rating of any local government in the State of Illinois; (2) drafted an ordinance creating the Independent Health Board; (3) drafted Procurement Codes of the County and Forest Preserve raising MBE participation from 12% to almost 35%; (4) passed state legislation transferring the Juvenile Detention Center to the Chief Judge; (5) passed the Independent Inspector General Ordinance and funded additional agents; (6) consolidated clinics from 26 to 13, while continuing to fully serve 96% of their patient base and eliminating $10 million in costs from ambulatory health care system. Presently, I serves on the Cook County Sheriff's Merit Board and (1) was unanimously confirmed and (2) passed a FBI, State and City background check.

Please list jobs or contracts you, members of your immediate family or business partners have had with government.

My wife works for a law firm who represents units of local government.

Campaign headquarters: 2620 W. Washington
Website: lancetyson.com
Campaign manager: Maze Jackson
Campaign budget: $300,000
Name your five biggest campaign contributors and the amount they contributed.
I had my first fundraiser on July 24 and such amounts should be available under the Board of Elections. All staff and legal help is self funded.

Not an incumbent

I would offer streamlined cuts to State government and gradual revenue enhancements to pay for the difference. Once paid, I would offer a constitutional amendment requiring funding thresholds. It's easy to call for drastic reforms but what we don't want is to take away the futures of hard working taxpayers. We need to find solutions that protect taxpayer investments as well as provide a secure future.

I would not support 1673. I don't believe our pension systems should be punished for the shortcomings of our state government if it can be avoided. I favor a more gradual rather than a drastic approach. These problems didn't happen overnight and are not going to be solved overnight.

Did not respond

Yes, I support the Medicaid reform package. The key factor is making sure the people in the most need have access to adequate care. We will need to work with the implementation of Obamacare and monitor both as they progress to make sure the safety net is not frayed.

I would not repeal the tax increase before 2014. I would extend the full increase if earmarked to satisfy unpaid past obligations. I would phase down the rate so long as the credit agencies concluded the State was on solid financial footing.

The State needs to stop picking favorites in the way it gives businesses tax breaks. I support fair tax breaks across the board so that all businesses can compete equally. It's not right that companies like Motorola get $100 million when all the small and medium businesses who are the backbone of our economy struggle without equal treatment. Businesses shouldn't have to hire corporate lobbyists to be treated like valuable contributors to our state.

I would also support revenue enhancements with matching governmental streamlining. The State can move closer towards balancing its budget with streamlining and revenue enhancements.

If i was in office at the time of the vote I'd have voted yes. That doesn't necessarily mean I don't support the Governor's calls for tougher oversight, but I understand that there's a process to get a bill passed. Getting revenue to the areas most in need is what's most important.

We've got to make sure our schools are properly educating our kids and that we have a state college and community college system that allows Illinoisans to compete. We need to focus on the core jobs of state government; providing for the education and safety net of our citizenry. I don't have all the answers, but I know we've made cuts to Medicaid and other programs and I'm concerned that we may have cut too much and hurt those that are most vulnerable.

In addition, I'd close certain prisons and other State facilities as well as reduce or eliminate mandatory sentencing.

I want to everybody to play by the same rules whether they're a leader or a rank and file member. It's obvious that money has come in and taken control of the system. I'm open to looking at all solutions up to and including publicly financing campaigns.

I'd like to see the a progressive tax but in general, I think people should pay based on means

If i had a concrete plan for that I'd be running for governor. This is a 40 year problem and there's no doubt we need to do something to change the inequities in the school system. Kids on the West Side should have the same opportunities to succeed as kids on the North Shore.

I support gay marriage