Secretary of State’s Race: Candidates talk elections, other issues
By JERRY NOWICKI
Capitol News Illinois
jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com
SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of state candidates Alexi Giannoulias, a Chicago Democrat and former state treasurer, and Dan Brady, a Republican state representative from Bloomington, each spent 45 minutes before a panel organized by the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors in recent weeks.
A full story about their plans for modernizing the office can be found here, but here are some of their stances and statements regarding elections, libraries and other topics.
ELECTIONS: In Illinois, the secretary of state’s office doesn’t have much to do with elections, aside from administering the state’s automatic voter registration program. Most election administration is done through the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Giannoulias said he would like to make the automatic registration system one that voters have to opt out of when they get a driver’s license or ID, rather than one they must opt into. He’d also like to pass legislation allowing pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds.
On the topic of election integrity, he said his office would “continue to push back on dangerously false election deniers.”
Brady, meanwhile, said he’d like to coordinate the secretary of state’s death record database with its driver’s license system and voter rolls to purge those systems of information on deceased individuals. He’d also like to partner with local election authorities to ensure elections and mail-in voting run smoothly.
He said he didn’t believe there was rampant voter fraud and he believed Joe Biden to be the rightly elected president. But he also said the secretary of state’s office currently provides signatures to election authorities so they can match them with a voter’s signature, and he’d look to provide driver’s license photos with those signatures.
“Certainly, we have to have permission which that voter would allow, an individual would allow, a picture from their ID card or their driver’s license,” he said. “But that would certainly give a more enhanced visual for an election judge and, secondly, would cut down on any type of discussion or debate, if you will, on whether that’s truly his or her signature.”
LIBRARIES: The secretary of state is also Illinois’ chief librarian. Brady said he’d like to see libraries as a remote site for driver service facilities. Giannoulias said he’d like to see kiosks and pop-up offices in those facilities as well.
Giannoulias said he’d try to work with lawmakers to give the office authority to negotiate fees charged by publishers to libraries for the use of their materials. He said as secretary he’d do everything in his power, “whether it requires legislation, whether it’s using the bully pulpit of our office,” to eliminate book bans. He’d also try to visit as many of the state’s libraries as possible.
ORGAN DONATION: One of retiring Secretary of State Jesse White’s major initiatives was increasing organ and tissue donation participation. Brady said he worked with White on issues such as expanding that program to 16- and 17-year-olds.
His experience working with the secretary and serving as coroner in McLean County and as partner in a Bloomington funeral home give him insight as to how he can improve the program further, he said, noting efforts to educate the public could be improved.
Giannoulias said education could improve there as well, especially in minority communities “that don’t really trust the system or there’s a stigma culturally in certain communities.”
“So I think getting out to these communities and reinforcing the power of organ donors and how it can literally save lives will be crucial,” Giannoulias said.
SAFE DRIVING: There were more than 1,300 fatal crashes in Illinois in 2021, the most since 2005.
Brady said he’d consider changes to the driver’s education curriculum, perhaps partnering with private entities that provide dangerous scenario-based training. He said he’d also like to send secretary of state police officers to driver’s education courses throughout the state to aid in education.
He said he also sponsored a law allowing seniors to take certified driver safety courses online, potentially qualifying themselves for insurance discounts and improving road safety.
Giannoulias said he’d look to use the “bully pulpit” of the office to better educate Illinoisans on safe and distracted driving, but he also noted he’d consider working with lawmakers for new, unspecified laws to improve safety. Otherwise, he said, much of it comes down to enforcing current law.
75-PLUS DRIVER TEST: Both candidates said they would consider changes to Illinois law as it pertains to mandatory on-road driving tests for individuals aged 75 and older.
“I have certainly said that I would look at that particular policy barring some type of medical issue with those individuals,” Brady said.
Giannoulias said he’d examine studies on this issue, but road safety would be paramount.
OTHER ISSUES: The secretary of state also operates a police force and bomb squad, polices securities fraud, oversees registration of businesses and registers lobbyists.
“And the operations of the office, from the index division to just trying to become a notary public, to Capitol security we’re talking about, there’s areas and room for improvement,” Brady said. “And I think it really starts with having a secretary who’s going to be engaged and involved on a daily basis on some of these major issues.”
He noted he’d solicit advice from current employees, which he said he’s learned in the General Assembly often have the best ideas for improving things.
Giannoulias specifically noted he’d like to hire more investigators, auditors and lawyers in the securities division. He’d also like to improve ethics laws when it comes to lobbying and spouses of elected officials lobbying.
While Giannoulias said he’s a believer in requiring more transparency from elected state officials, he doesn’t plan to release tax returns, because “my wife and I have some things that she wants to keep private, which I respect.” He noted he’d fill out all required disclosure reports. Brady said he would release tax returns, but he had not done so as of Wednesday.
Giannoulias said he’d also like to “make it as easy as possible” to start a business by improving the state’s business services division. He also said he’d look to repeal a law making it illegal to hang objects on a rearview mirror and look to make it easier for people exiting prison to obtain a state ID.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government that is distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Local News
Lyons man ‘accomplished something’ with Kilimanjaro climb
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Stephan Alheim of Lyons learned a lot about himself while making the 19,341-foot climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He learned preparation is important, especially when it comes to breathing properly. He also learned to have faith in the climbing guides. And he learned to always bring…
Lyons to raise water rate as Chicago charges more
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch With its hand forced by Chicago, the Lyons Village Board has unanimously approved an increase in the water rate. The new rates will take effect March 1. Lyons has no choice but to raise the rate since Chicago raised the rate it charges water suppliers that sell water to the…
2 hurt in Justice house fire
Spread the love By Carol McGowan Two adults were taken to the hospital in good condition, with possible smoke inhalation, after a house fire at 8217 S. 85th Court in Justice last Thursday. The Roberts Park Fire Protection District was called to the fire just before 12:30 in the afternoon on February 10. Firefighters arrived…
Girls Bowling: Shepard, Stagg both heading to first state finals
Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent The Stagg and Shepard girls bowling teams had coming into sectional weekend never advanced to the IHSA state finals. But with an opportunity to do that last week, both squads stepped up with great performances down the stretch and punched their tickets to the state finals. The Chargers and…
Mt. Carmel tops Rice in big Blue battle
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent On a night when Mount Carmel honored one of its all-time best point guards — retiring the jersey of former Caravan and Illinois star Tracy Abrams at halftime — two of the Chicago Catholic League’s current top point guards staged an epic duel. Brother Rice junior Ahmed Henderson scored…
Girl wrestlers make history as first IHSA state qualifiers
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent For Morton senior Karla Topete, Feb. 12 was a special day for a greater reason than just her winning a sectional wrestling championship. Topete and her teammates competed at the Andrew Sectional, one of four sectionals that marked the start of the IHSA’s first individual girls wrestling state series.…
High School Hockey: St. Rita drops two of three to Carmel, bows out of Kennedy Cup
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent St. Rita came out angry for Game 2 of its Kennedy Cup playoff quarterfinal series with Carmel. Two days earlier, the fifth-seeded Mustangs were run off the ice by the fourth-seeded Corsairs in a 5-0 loss in which they gave up three first-period goals and were never really in…
College Report: Former Stagg standout Kazanecki gives hoops one more year
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer The idea was for Tom Kazanecki to finish his basketball career at St. Ambrose in 2021. The former Stagg hoops standout was even toying with the idea of starting a military career, even though he had an extra year of athletics eligibility remaining, thanks to seasons getting snipped…
Area Sports Roundup: Marist leads way with 11 wrestlers heading to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer An army of area wrestlers is headed to the state tournament, with 49 set to hit the mat in Champaign. During sectional action on Feb. 12, area wrestlers feasted on opponents. Marist will send 11 to the tournament, which begins Thursday at State Farm Center on the University…
Neighbors
Beware, piano lovers, BBB says
Spread the love. By Better Business Bureau staff . If you’re in the market for a piano, then you know that the instrument can cost a hefty price and is not easy (or cheap) to transport. Scammers are targeting music lovers, businesses, schools, and churches with a new scam that claims to offer a piano…
Rashid calls college demonstrators ‘student heroes’
Spread the love. Rips Israel over “apartheid’ and ‘genocide’ . From staff reports The crisis in Palestine is taking a terrifying turn as the Israeli military is preparing to invade Rafah where more than one million Palestinians have been forced to after their homes in northern Gaza were destroyed, State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-21st) said…
Titanic memories haunt Worth Library
Spread the loveBy Kelly White This year marks the 112th anniversary of the Titanic’s fateful ship crossing. Bringing the ship back to life was the Worth Public Library on April 15 with a program called, The Haunted Titanic, with local historian Bob Trzeciak, who walked patrons through the history, the lasting impact, and why it…
Spring cleanup day in Bridgeview set for Saturday
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Any Bridgeview resident with clutter to clear will be busy Friday night, May 10. That’s when they will be putting all kinds of things on the parkway as the village prepares for its annual spring cleanup day set for Saturday, May 11. All items must be at the curb by…
Family of man killed in McCook struggling with his absence
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch On what would have been his 37th birthday, the family of Morales Ricardo Lopez gathered at his grave in Evergreen Park Cemetery. Lopez, of Blue Island, was gunned down in McCook early Feb. 17, leaving behind a widow and three children. His family, other relatives and friends gathered at his…
Southwest Symphony presents ‘American Song Book’
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Southwest Symphony Orchestra will perform “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity College in Palos Heights. The performance will feature Grammy nominated Helen Welch under the direction of David Crane at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Auditorium. Welch will perform some of America’s best loved classics.…
Shoppers welcome back Evergreen Park Farmers Market
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Rain was forecast for the morning of May 2, but nothing could dampen the spirits of customers who dropped by the Evergreen Park Farmers Market. The large crowd that attended were instead greeted with mostly sunny skies. Beth Novotney, director of the Evergreen Park Office of Citizen Services that oversees…
Evergreen Park recognizes police for valor
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle The Evergreen Park police have been cited for valor after several key arrests that occurred the past couple of months. Police Chief Michael Saunders requested commendations for the officers during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night. Mayor Kelly Burke and the board applauded the efforts of the force.…
Hickory Hills police bid adieu and say welcome
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam The Hickory Hills Police Department bid a fond farewell to Lieutenant Glenn Tienstra and welcomed new Officer Daniel Balzhiser. On a memorable Thursday evening, April 25, city hall was filled with the warmth of community family, friends, officers, and council members, all gathered to joyfully celebrate Officer Balzhiser and respectfully…
Mother Mac unveils new lights and scoreboard
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Across the nation, women’s sports are on the rise in terms of viewership, enthusiasm, sponsorship and excitement. Mother McAuley is no stranger to the impact that women’s athletics has on the development of an individual, strengthening of a team and key skills and attributes developed along the way. South Side…