About Willie

74 years old

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Although only finishing the 7th grade, Willie Wilson holds 5 honorary doctorates from schools around the country. Wilson started his career in business as the franchise owner of 5 McDonalds restaurants and went on to found the first nationally syndicated African American gospel entertainment program on commercial television. He has since become the founder and CEO of a medical supply company based in Chicago.

If elected, Wilson supports the implementation of an elected school board. Wilson also supports utilizing some of the 50 closed city schools to establish a "vigorous" trade school and alternative school program that would teach para-medical, mechanical, culinary, and other trades while allowing for the review and study of the GED for any resident without a high school diploma.^[1]

Wilson does not support the hiring of more city police officers as it would result in a tax increase to support the additions. He believes that more innovative management is needed to increase the effectiveness of the existing police force. Wilson supports the implementation of stronger penalties for illegal firearms and a buyback program in order to address the problem of gun violence in the city.^[1]

If elected, Wilson supports increasing the minimum wage to $13 an hour by 2019. and the implementation of the "LaSalle Street tax" which would provide revenue from electronic financial transactions on Chicago’s trading exchanges. He also supports brining in a financial and pension expert to examine the current city pension situation and create "innovative, legal ways" to fully fund the pension system without raising taxes to support it.^[1]

Wilson supports a number of initiatives to increase economic development in the city. These include establishing a Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board; Selling vacant city owned lots for one dollar to community run small businesses; and creating mentorship programs to assist and supervise those who want to start a local business. Wilson also supports building a casino in the city to create jobs, revenue and bring tourists to the city.^[1]

No specific policy has been suggested in the party's current platform.

If elected, Wilson says he will overhaul the way city contracts are handed out to reduce corruption. He would also investigate proposals calling for the reduction the size of city council.^[1]