North Cook News

Brad Schneider does not really represent the fine citizens of the 10th Congressional District of Illinois. Instead, he views elected office as an entitlement, and he personifies the permanent political class that views itself as above the rules that everyday Americans must follow.

Let me be specific here. Schneider knowingly and willfully filed fraudulent nominations petitions and paperwork with the Illinois State Board of Elections to file for re-election. He claimed his legal residence as a Highland Park home that he owned, but did not occupy. In fact, as reported by the Daily Herald, this home was not even licensed for occupancy at all until after the filing that Schneider submitted.

Brad regularly accuses me of supporting election conspiracy theories when he himself committed an election fraud upon the people of the district. Schneider swore under oath in his statement of candidacy that he was living at an address in Highland Park as of March 4, 2022 -- which was a clear fabrication.

This discrepancy cannot be simply explained away as some oversight or a clerical error. How do we know? Because Schneider also perpetrated a dirty tax avoidance scheme with his dishonesty about his actual residence. He claimed the property tax “homestead” exemption for both the home he really lived in, as well as the vacant home he claimed to occupy, the one in Highland Park.

Once caught red-handed with his hand in the public cookie jar, Schneider confessed about this fraud against the very taxpayers he is supposed to be serving. His attorney relayed to the Lake County assessor: "Upon receiving notice from your office, Congressman Schneider and Ms. Dann [his wife] will immediately submit payment for the full amount of the benefit, along with any interest and/or penalty that you indicate is owed."

So, a pattern emerges for Schneider, one of an entitled ruling class crony who plays fast and loose with the rules…those pesky regulations that people like him institute, and then conveniently fail to observe. Schneider lied to the people in his election filings and he cheated the public with his illegal tax dodge. But wait, there’s more…

Schneider also blatantly violated Congressional rules regarding stock trading. Before getting into those details, let me stipulate that member of Congress and their spouses should be barred from all single-company stock transactions. Public service should not accrue private benefits. It is outrageous that House members from Pelosi to Schneider have gladly gamed the system to exploit their insider status for personal profit.

Schneider sold a large stake in a pet insurance company called Trupanion just a few months ago in early December. As this chart from CNBC.com below details, he sold the stock extremely close to its all-time high, and the company’s listing cratered thereafter.

Was Brad that smart about this little-known foreign firm, Trupanion? Perhaps. Or, was he just lucky? Did he have some insider knowledge gleaned from his role in Congress? We do not know, but the timing sure seems suspicious.

Regardless, what we do know for certain: he skipped the filing deadline to disclose this trade. As even the liberal-leaning publication Business Insider detailed, “Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois violated a federal conflicts-of-interest law” with his failure to disclose this very fortuitous stock transaction.

Schneider represents the worst aspects of politics. He is a kept man who clearly views his elected position as an entitlement rather than a vocation of service. He regards sensible safeguards upon election qualifications as annoyances. He also cheated on his property taxes.

I present voters of the 10th District with a totally different approach.

I come to politics as a concerned citizen who sees a disaffected government more intent on serving powerful ruling class interests instead of protecting the prosperity and safety of American citizens. Our people grow poorer by the month as inflation ravages personal budgets and our country’s sovereignty and safety suffer as open-borders policies plague our land.

Unlike, Schneider, I am a self-made businessman, an entrepreneur who brings the perspective of an outsider to politics. I will never defraud the people of the 10th District. I will serve for free, donating my salary. I will follow all relevant rules and safeguards and I will fight for your prerogatives and not the whims of the permanent political class.

– Joe Severino is a Republican candidate for Congress in the Tenth District of Illinois