| Chris Lauzen | |
| Office1: | Chairman of the Kane County Board |
| Predecessor1: | Karen McConnaughay |
| Successor1: | Corinne Pierog |
| Office2: | Member of the Illinois Senate from the 25th district |
| Preceded2: | Forest Etheredge |
| Successor2: | Jim Oberweis |
| Birth Date: | 30 December 1952 |
| Birth Place: | Aurora, Illinois, U.S. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Spouse: | Sarah Longley |
| Children: | 4 |
| Education: | Duke University (BS) Harvard University (MBA) |
| Profession: | Certified Public Accountant |
| Website: | Official |
Christopher John Lauzen is an American politician, businessman, and Certified Public Accountant who served as the chairman of the Kane County Board in Illinois from 2012 to 2020.[1] Lauzen was first elected in 2012. He previously served as a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate, serving from 1993 to 2013. He ran unsuccessfully for Illinois Comptroller in 1998 and for United States Congress in 2008.[2]
Born and raised in Aurora, Illinois, Lauzen earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University in 1974 and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1978.
Lauzen's grandparents emigrated from Romania to the United States in the early 20th century.[3] On July 28, 2006, Romanian President Traian Băsescu awarded Lauzen the Order of the Star of Romania Medal, Commander Rank (the highest commendation granted to a foreign citizen by Romania), in recognition of his work to "build bridges of friendship and commerce between the people of Romania and the United States."
After receiving his degree, Lauzen returned to Aurora and worked as the president of Comprehensive Accounting Corporation, a franchisor of accounting services. He and his wife, Sarah, later purchased a Comprehensive Accounting franchise in Geneva, IL.[4]
Chris Lauzen was first elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1992. He joined a group of newly elected conservative State Senators called the "Fab Five", including Dave Syverson, Steve Rauschenberger, Patrick O'Malley, and Peter Fitzgerald.[5] Throughout his political career, Lauzen has been a supporter of Christian views of marriage and stands against gun control and is pro-life.[6]
Lauzen served on several committees, including the Property Tax Reform Committee, Appropriations I, II, and III, and the Revenue Committee, where he was the ranking Republican spokesman.[7] In recognition of his work on these committees, Lauzen was honored by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce with the "Champion of Free Enterprise" award and the NFIB with the "Guardian of Small Business" award.[8]
Lauzen sponsored a large tax reduction for employers and a property tax assessment freeze for homeowners over 65 years old with income less than $35,000. He worked to reduce property taxes on VFW and American Legion veterans' posts by 85% and placed a cap on future increases. Lauzen also started "Illinois Porkbusters," which sought to cut $5,000,000 in wasteful spending each year from the state budget.[9]
Lauzen helped secure over $48,000,000 for school construction grants, sponsored education license plates for future teachers' scholarships, and was the only senator to speak against and vote "No" on providing 2/3 tuition discounts to illegal immigrants at public universities.[10]
Lauzen launched a Prescription Medication Pilot Program that saved participants an average of 50% on the cost of prescription medication.[11] He was also the original lead sponsor of the Breast Cancer Research voluntary check-off on the state personal income tax return.
While in the state senate, Lauzen also sponsored a ban on partial birth abortion and supported term limits for State Legislators.[12]
In 1998, Lauzen ran for Illinois state comptroller to replace retiring Republican comptroller Loleta Didrickson. He won the Republican primary election by defeating Harry J. Seigle of East Dundee but lost in the general election to Democrat Dan Hynes.[13]
See main article: 2008 Illinois's 14th congressional district special election. Lauzen officially began his campaign for congress in Illinois's 14th congressional district on September 19, 2007.[14] Lauzen ran to replace Dennis Hastert, who retired mid-term. Lauzen lost the Congressional campaign, receiving 44% of the Republican vote to Jim Oberweis' 56%.[15]
Lauzen managed the County during the second year of a freeze on the property tax levy for the county, Forest Preserve, and the Fox Valley Park District.[16] In March 2013, he also led members of the Kane County Board to a unanimous decision to refinance a large number of county bonds.[17] Lauzen has been involved in the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor, a proposed project to build a bridge in northern Kane County over the Fox River.[18]
In 2018, Lauzen raised questions regarding possible insider payments from the executive director of the Upper Illinois Valley River Development Authority to companies he owns. The authority is one of 10 regional development authority bodies in Illinois. Its executive director is Andrew Hamilton and he is the head of 8 of the 10 bodies, including the Upper Illinois Valley agency that includes Kane County. The Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) had published two reports that focus on over $2 million that IPI says has gone to Hamilton and companies he is affiliated with. Lauzen questioned the liaison to the authority but did not receive satisfactory answers, according to him, and called for a closer investigation. According to the Daily Herald, "The institute [IPI] found Hamilton operates a related private business that has resulted in $2 million in pay and reimbursements since 2010. That total includes an average of about $241,227 in annual pay and reimbursements to Hamilton from the eight authorities combined during the past eight years. It also includes $151,078 paid to one of Hamilton's side businesses, Opportunity Alliance."[19]
Lauzen and his wife, Sarah, have four sons.[20]